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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Boss wants people to arrange booster jab for a Friday

181 replies

Wantubackforgood · 07/12/2021 18:01

DP had just come home and the owner of the company he works for has suggested that staff should only be arranging booster jabs for a Friday after work so that if they suffer side effects they won't need to take time off .
For context,DP had one day off after his third jab .There have been a couple of others off in the last few weeks.These are all people who would never normally take a day off and only get SSP .

AIBU to think this is a shocking way to treat people who are trying to do the right thing ?

OP posts:
kitcat15 · 07/12/2021 20:43

@GreatBigBeautifulTommorow

My team and I all booked ours for when we had a few days off so we didn’t impact the service we provide.
😇
Cheshirewife · 07/12/2021 20:44

Depends on the job, but that’s what I did for exactly the reason. In my case, if I’m unwell, the job still has to be done, so I do everything I can to avoid being poorly.

Notthemessiah · 07/12/2021 20:59

I think it entirely depends on what you do.
Estate agent, accountant, higher education administrator (me!) - no-one will die from us being off, if needed. ICU consultant, nurse, Tesco delivery guy, firefighter, teacher - certainly all more disruptive. Y’know, that’s why these were all classed as key workers. It would be more of an issue if they’re off.

I very much doubt most of the martyrs here are working actual important jobs.

Even those 'key workers' I'm not sure about - their importance only seems to stretch so far and certainly not when it comes to any financial reward. If they are so important, why aren't they paid better? Is it because their employers are relying on this kind of 'you're essential' attitude to keep the pressure on while treating them like disposable resources rather than people?

unfortunateevents · 07/12/2021 21:04

"i 'm surprised at people saying they had to take an appt sent to them, or wait longer, no one answering phone.
is there not the option to book online, and/or go to a walk-in session, where you are, or near where you work." - ha ha! Maybe that is how it works where you are but in my GP practice there is a huge problem in the entire area with availability of appointments, yes there is the "option" to book online and I managed to do so but I have numerous stories from friends and acquaintances who were offered nothing at all on multiple occasions when they logged on. There are no walk-in clinics, you can occasionally apparently get an appointment as a walk-up but I know when I had my booster they weren't even offering that due to shortage of vaccinators and staff in general.

Original poster
Wantubackforgood · 07/12/2021 21:05

@ThroughThickAndThin01

It’s a very good idea. Can’t think why you are moaning.
I am "moaning " because my DP has underlying health conditions ,almost died in hospital when he got covid before vaccines were available and has gone to work every day throughout the pandemic .
OP posts:
Thelnebriati · 07/12/2021 21:10

There have been chronic shortages in my neck of the woods, we had to wait for ages for each appointment and had no choice about the date or location.

SirensofTitan · 07/12/2021 21:14

Well this hasn't gone as the OP hoped at all has it.

Everyone I know who works has arranged their jabs to avoid the possibility of having to take time off if possible, no one is stupid enough to risk their health by delaying for a very specific day but as I mix with sensible adults it's just the done thing.

Suzanne999 · 07/12/2021 21:18

In an ideal world every working person would have their jabs after work on a Friday. In the real world it won’t work like that. For example I live in an area that has very limited vaccination facilities , most people have to travel to the next county and you don’t get to a huge choice of time slots.

BHX3000 · 07/12/2021 21:20

My company has arranged them on a Tuesday afternoon (we all get them at work) and we must be in for 9am the next morning. It’s not the kind of work where someone else can cover if you’re sick, or you can catch up from home… so they’re effectively bargaining on 100 odd people of different ages and health backgrounds having no effects at all 16h after the jab Grin Because not working that Wednesday is not even an option. Good luck to us I say!

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 07/12/2021 21:24

I deliberately booked mine for a Friday so that if I was rough I could just be at home. Good job I did as I was rough.

38woman · 07/12/2021 21:31

On one hand I don't think it is a fair thing for a boss to ask but to be fair I planned both my first jabs and I'm planning my booster for the same so it doesn't clash with work (I was terribly ill after my first two). A fair few people at my work needed sick days after their vaccinations

gogohm · 07/12/2021 21:32

Seems sensible, though I had mine on a Saturday and was fine

Soontobe60 · 07/12/2021 21:32

@LegoPandemic

Everyone can’t have Friday afternoons though- there aren’t enough of them. I would suggest a middle ground of any time on Friday with paid time off. Side effects won’t kick in until Saturday.
You can book boosters throughout the weekend.
traka · 07/12/2021 22:05

"Suggested"

It's just a suggestion, not a law

gofg · 07/12/2021 23:40

It always amazes me how some posters on MN get, let alone keep, jobs with their attitudes to work. Meanwhile there are people who would make fantastic employees languishing on the jobseeker allowance because no-one will employ them.

ZenNudist · 07/12/2021 23:41

That's a good idea if you think you are going to react badly. I just got offered 2 dates midweek and took what was offered.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/12/2021 23:42

Got mine on a Monday morning.

Would rather feel shit at work than when looking after the kids!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/12/2021 23:42

(To be fair I did work even though I felt shit!)

saraclara · 07/12/2021 23:46

My daughter's a nurse. As soon as it was raised that people were needing time off for the side effects (she was one of the first to get it and got the lot the next day), the hospital staff were asked to schedule their jabs for their last shift of their working week. Which they did, I believe. Certainly my daughter did for her second jab.

JalfreziAtChristmas · 07/12/2021 23:57

May seem practical but as someone who doesn't take a sick day at all most years, I would be having mine when I damn well please, seeing as I want to enjoy my weekends. When you have done a handful of years in a row without being off sick once, I think you can be afforded that. Fuck em.

LittleMissMoggy · 08/12/2021 00:27

Depending on your work place that could be incredibly selfish to hog friday appointments. I understand teachers and other front line staff trying to avoid staff shortages by encouraging staff to consider when they have their jab. However, if it's an office job like mine where staff generally manage their own time then tbh work can just suck up a few sick days. We can't all take friday, and as others have said, booking hasn't always been that simple. Also, depending on your job, what is a day or two off in the scheme of an employees work delivery over a month or even a year?

Bogeyes · 08/12/2021 04:54

Is the boss having his on s Friday?

greatape · 08/12/2021 05:32

I literally just moved mine to this Friday because they have just now released new slots and I can't do tomorrow (the joys of insomnia!). I picked it because I tend to be quieter at work in a Friday. Didn't occur to me re the poorly thing.

rwalker · 08/12/2021 05:46

I presume OP has never run a business sounds sensible and reasonable .

Marvellousmadness · 08/12/2021 06:01

Its only a suggestion. I think it sounds sensible. And if your dp cant do a Friday he can do another day.