To think she needs taking aside

[Iamthequeen82]

Work in a school kitchen.
Have this one lady who for some reason cannot get her appointments out of work time. We work 9-2. A few years ago she needed a cosmetic dental treatment, during work time, line manager said no, so she went about their head spoke to the head teacher who let her have the time off (paid). Another colleague wanted to go to a funeral but was told no, she just accepted it and that was that. This one lady always has to have blood tests, X-rays etc etc (nothing wrong with her). I’m feb she had a minor op and was off for 4 weeks paid. I’m April her dad died so 2 weeks off (totally 100% behind that and support the time off) paid. Last week she told line manager on Friday she might be half an hour late as she had a smear booked in for 8.30 Monday morning. Line manager just said ok, as felt it was too late to get her to change it. Monday morning comes round, gets to 10am still no sign, line manager goes into office and lady had txt them to say “app changed to 10.30 will be in later” in she waltzes at 11.15 no apology or naff all. And nothing has been said to her or anything. I feel it’s unfair on us that abide by the company rules. One colleagues daughter is going to hospital app alone, another has arranged her mammogram for out of works time. I’m just really fed up with the injustice of it.

[Flippittyflopperty]

Unfortunately there’s people who are not team players in every workforce. I can see why your upset as the job still has to get done when one person isn’t there and it adds to the pressure.
I’m with you, but it is management that’s really at fault by allowing it.

[thecognoscenti]

I'm with you. You're left to pick up the slack because she's not there to do the job she's paid for. Some people are just workshy.

[ChubbyLittleManInACampervan]

Yeah, yanbu but you can’t do anything

All companies have someone like this

As soon as you say anything you’ll:

• look like the bad guy (esp if it turns out she has an illness)
  
• be scrutinised for your own absences
  
• be seen by boss/colleagues as petty/resentful
  

The real issue is the spinelessness of your boss

[daisyjgrey]

@Iamthequeen82

Also to add, this lady has a little book, in it she writes down when people have been off sick, etc etc…..I couldn’t care less but Monday really got to me how she txt and then waltzed in over 2hrs late and was all smug

Isn't that you? You're the one keeping track of everyone 😂😂

[TheTuesdayPringle]

wrt the funeral, a lot of workplaces allow bereavement leave only for immediate family which might be why she had time off when her father died and you were denied leave for your funeral request. Not suggesting this is fair or OK, but may help you make sense of it.

[tommyhoundmum]

Leshan Agree.

[Thirstquenching]

Funny we have someone like this.........the manager! Extremely damaging for moral

[comebacksunshines]

As for the funeral….yes it was me…
It was my best friends father, who I had visited weekly in hospital and then daily once he came home
I'm sorry to hear this, but you could have challenged your employer on this, they often stipulate close family only in work contracts, but the closeness of relationships are often not that straightforward.
If you want to be noble and accept your managers opinion, as you put it. Then you can't be resentful of other people that don't feel the same way as you.
As much as I can appreciate your dutiful outlook, it is just a job. Other people will see it that way and prioritise their health, family and other relationships above it, which as long as your pulling your weight, is how it should be imo.

[vivainsomnia]

Most NHS appointments can be scheduled to fit around working arrangements. You have to ask though. I've worked with many staff who see appointments as a good opportunity to miss work time and would never even want to ask for another time.

There's nothing you can do about them, bit it's rare that managers wouldn't pick up on it after some time but it can take a whilst for it to be such that they can bring it up and do something about it.

[Ohsugarhoneyicetea]

The facts is you don't know what this persons health issues are. And she is completely within her rights to want to keep it private. Management presumably do know and are handling it the way in which the law requires them to do so. Just like the law is clear that bereavement absence is for immediate family.

You do have the right however to raise the issue with them if it is impacting your work load significantly. If that is the case then say so... tell your manager that colleagues frequent absences are causing additional stress and pressure on the team and can they look at getting extra resources to cover this.

[iwouldlikearefundonmybody]

It's no ones business.
I know myself how ridiculous the nhs is about appointments. She may well have tried a number of times, to get them out of work, but there weren't any available.it'S hard!!!

With Hospital appointments, you don't really get much of a choice either. And if you do change it, there's a chance you have to wait a couple more months. So you just stick with what you're given.

Please don't judge. She is probably really struggling and feels guilty as it is. So don't make her feel worse for it.

[stressed58382]

I have had something similar with one of my colleagues. A nice lady tbh who I got on well with. She regular had appointments for her allergies/dentist always within works time. Often early afternoon on a Friday so she could go home early and not return.

She once overheard me trying to make an appointment on the phone and I was trying to fit it around work. When I got off the phone she said don't be doing that in your own time just finish early .

I recently made an appointment for my son and we had a choice of dates. So it's not always the case you have no choice. I think eventually you just know whether they are taking advantage or not.

It was annoying but it's definitely management who need to deal with it. In the end I did it myself a couple of times. I found it much less annoying them