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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Work colleague rant

45 replies

LetsTalkAboutBoris · 28/01/2021 18:59

I just need to rant here because it's really starting to irk me.

I work with two other people. That's it. And because of the pandemic our hours have been cut slightly and in theory, our duties have also been cut. We have a very short time to do our work in. Imo, it's not actually enough time now they've reduce the hours because although some duties have been cut, not enough to align with the reduction in hours. So that's one issue to start with.

The second is my colleagues, they take far too long to carry out each task. We need to do each task as quickly as possible to ensure it all gets done but they don't seem bothered about finishing in time and take things really slowly. To make up for this, I run myself ragged the entire time, doing things at lightening speed. We finish on average fifteen minutes late every day. If I didn't rush around at lightening speed, it would be even later than this. They also continue to do some duties that we don't actually need to do anymore which also adds extra time.

I know plenty on Mumsnet claim they work over their designated hours and fifteen minutes is nothing but for me, over the course of a week that's an entire extra shift in time that I'm not getting paid for and at minimum wage it makes all the difference.

To add another layer, my two colleagues work at a different site. There's supposed to be two of us at each site but my colleague left without notice one day so for the time being they've merged the three of us to work over the two sites together so that's already created a them v me situation which is bloody ridiculous but that's apparently how it is.

I also had to have several months off due to illness and I feel like this might have exacerbated this apparent divide between us. I feel like I can't really say anything to management because it'll end up being my word against theirs.

It's just all very frustrating. So AIBU to feel like this?

OP posts:
LetsTalkAboutBoris · 28/01/2021 19:15

Or perhaps this isn't controversial enough for Mumsnet at the moment. Hmm

OP posts:
XelaM · 28/01/2021 19:19

Sorry but working an extra 15 minutes is not a big deal at all by any standard. Also, just tell your colleague they need to be faster?

YesMeLady · 28/01/2021 19:22

Is it a business you own or is there a different owner, why are you running around getting all the work done. If the work isn't done because the hours have been cut then the manager needs to either increase the hours, reduce the workload or help out. Are they actively recruiting for another member of staff.

LetsTalkAboutBoris · 28/01/2021 19:27

As I said in my OP, the extra fifteen minutes certainly is a big deal to me, it's an entire extra shifts worth of time that I won't be paid for an at minimum wage, yes, it matters.

OP posts:
LetsTalkAboutBoris · 28/01/2021 19:30

No, it's not my business. We are all employees. The hours have been cut because the work has reduced slightly due to the pandemic but the work hasn't reduced enough to align with the reduction in hours. It would be just about manageable if we all dashed about at lightening speed the entire time but because the other two take ages to do each task and then do extra work that isn't necessary we ended up leaving fifteen minutes late every day.

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funnylittlefloozie · 28/01/2021 19:30

Have you got some sort of manager who you perhaps speak to about your concerns? If your colleagues can't cope with their workload then management need to be dealing with them.

Babyroobs · 28/01/2021 19:32

Speak to your manager about the unequal workload maybe? However whenever I go to my manager with similar issues he says I work fast and he can't expect everyone else to work at the same speed ! A tortoise would work faster than one of my colleagues.

LetsTalkAboutBoris · 28/01/2021 19:32

Management are nice enough but pretty useless tbh. And I also worry because of this 'them v me' situation with my colleagues that even if I speak to management, my colleagues could just deny, or blame me or whatever and there's two of them and one of me, so it's my word against theirs.

OP posts:
Niconacotaco · 28/01/2021 19:34

If you are at a different site does it matter if their tasks aren't finished? Can you leave on time anyway?

BlowDryRat · 28/01/2021 19:34

Is it cleaning? Whatever it is, if it's not done by the time you've finished then just leave. Email your line manager every time this happens with the reason why. Keep a note of all the tasks you've completed in the allocated time.

slashlover · 28/01/2021 19:35

Your shifts are an hour long?

What will happen if the work isn't done?

YesMeLady · 28/01/2021 19:36

If the work isn't done then that's the managers responsibility to investigate and find a solution why should everyone dash around, let the manager deal with it, you are no obligated to work unpaid overtime.

Beancounter1 · 28/01/2021 19:40

Just leave on time with the work unfinished.
Keep records - time spent, tasks done/not done, etc, but don't do anything with the records at this stage - wait for someone to challenge you about the situation. Then bring out your records and tell the truth.

LetsTalkAboutBoris · 28/01/2021 19:42

I was at a different site but since my colleague left, they've merged the three of us to cover both sites together. So we do my usual site together and then we all go and do their usual site together.

I did suggest to my colleagues that we leave on time and if things don't get done then that's managements problem to sort. But they dont want too, they're both quite happy to work the extra time without pay. I think they believe that we'll get into trouble for not getting everything done even if we explain it isn't enough time. We are supposed to all leave together at the same time so I can't really down tools and leave on time unless we all do.

OP posts:
zombieaccount · 28/01/2021 19:44

If you are on minimum wage and working 15 mins unpaid, your employer is breaking the law. That brings your wage to under the minimum. You could report them.

Abagisforlifenotjustfor · 28/01/2021 19:49

Exactly what pops have said: Don't rush. Do your own work. Leave on time. Keep detailed records and evidence of what you have done (emails, sign in sheets, photos if you are in a role like cleaning etc), date and file them - quick notes to self in an email are good for this as they have a time/date stamp in. Then wait and see. Pull records of your own good performance out if you are challenged about the work being done or asked about your performance. Don't say anything about your two colleagues - focus on yourself only.

YesMeLady · 28/01/2021 19:50

What sort of work is it, is it a caring role that can put vulnerable clients at risk of harm, if so speak to a union or governing body. You can leave when your hours are done, they can stay if they choose too, do management know, does it affect any liability insurance if only 2 staff are left and are they insured to work unpaid hours. Nothing will change unless you leave on time, work gets left and the business suffers.

Abagisforlifenotjustfor · 28/01/2021 19:50

Pps... not pops. Lol.

Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 28/01/2021 19:51

Good point, theres a world of difference between salaried staff on decent money working a bit of extra time. If you are hourly paid on min. wage, your employer is breaking the law.

Can you have the work divided per person, and ask why you aren't allowed to leave when you've finished. Can you put in a time sheet for the additional time? Say you wont work unpaid? Ask manager to list exactly what is expected so they stop the unnecessary tasks?

They are all taking the piss.

LetsTalkAboutBoris · 28/01/2021 19:52

No, not caring, as PP suggested, it is cleaning.

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YesMeLady · 28/01/2021 19:54

Ok so the worse that happens is you leave on time, the work doesnt get done or is a poorer standard because you're rushing about and short staffed, the client complains and the boss loses business. That's really not your problem.

Theunamedcat · 28/01/2021 19:55

Tell management its not possible to do the tasks in the time allotted ask to be paid for the 15 minutes extra

I'm assuming you clock in and out of site?

LetsTalkAboutBoris · 28/01/2021 19:57

I'm literally making £6.54 a shift since our hours have been reduced. If I at least got paid for that extra 15 minutes it would take it up to £8.72 a shift. I'm already getting paid 15 minutes less than my two colleagues because as well as reducing our hours they moved the start time forward by fifteen minutes and I explained I couldn't make the earlier time, so I've had to stay at my original time so I'm losing out on that extra fifteen minutes there too.

OP posts:
LetsTalkAboutBoris · 28/01/2021 19:58

The client our boss is contracted by is their biggest contract so they'd rather throw us to the wolves than lose their biggest contract.

OP posts: