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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:
NeverForgetYourDreams · 08/12/2021 06:08

We had our first two on Saturdays and were really poorly so glad

However this time we were only offered a Tuesday or 23 December. That's it. Two dates. I wasn't going to miss out on the booster so the Tuesday it is.

HeronLanyon · 08/12/2021 06:09

I was pleased when first day available for my booster would not impact my work and the following day could be rearranged pretty easily if need be. That was simply chance though.
I don’t think an employer should in effect say ‘time it so if you are ill you impact your weekend then back to work without a break’ type comment. Not surprised some employers feel this is appropriate though.

cliffdiver · 08/12/2021 06:16

It's a sensible suggestion.

I was unwell after for 48 hours after both my vaccines (one Friday evening, one during the summer holidays).

I'll be aiming to book my booster for a Friday evening / Saturday morning so as not to impact my colleagues.

UseOfWeapons · 08/12/2021 06:26

Our NHS Trust asked staff to do something similar, book flu jab and booster for the day before day off, as many people were phoning in sick afterwards. We’re short enough of staff as it is, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask. I had mine on a weekday, before this request by the Trust came out, but I didn’t need any time off.
Some departments and wards were ridiculously short staffed because of sickness after a vaccine, so it seems like a good idea to me, although I can see it might be construed as cheeky. If a ward is short staffed, the impact on staff and patients is unbelievable stress and poor care.

BettyBag · 08/12/2021 07:12

I'm with you OP. That implies you should prioritise your employers time more than your own. As if my weekends are just dead time were I lie around doing nothing of any value. My weekends are incredibly valuable, do all the shit I don't get to do in the week. Even setting aside the productivity that supports me and my family at weekends simply getting chance to relax and unwind ensures I am able to to a proper job when I am at work.

It's shocking that his employer has such little regard for his time. It's more shocking that most people in this thread seem to think works time should be valued more highly than their own.

gersteddybears · 08/12/2021 08:52

The boss cannot dictate and shld not be asking this if his employees. They shld be taking the first appointment available if they wish to do so. Does he prefer that wait for weeks on a Friday evening appointment and end up with covid instead where they'll have 2 wks off minimum 🙄

It's not always possible to get appointments on certain days at certain times. I mean a Friday after 5pm if that's the time is a very limited window.

Even worse they don't get paid for being off.

Tal45 · 08/12/2021 09:07

Out of order. It's not up to your boss to decide when you have your booster shot and it's not your fault if it makes you ill. The only availability in our nearest one was Tuesday or Wednesday anyway.

It's very unprofessional to even suggest it if you ask me. Some bosses just think that work should be your life and everything else comes second - and for some reason some workers seem to buy right into that. It blows my mind.

Allthesefolks · 08/12/2021 09:08

It makes sense for something like the NHS but for a normal office jobs where the work can wait a few days, no. I have 2 small kids to look after on the weekend, I’d rather be ill when they’re in childcare! I’ve only had 2 days off sick in 4 years (for surgery) so I wouldn’t feel guilty if I needed a day or two off. No reason to assume you would though, I had no reaction to previous jabs.

Elisemum · 08/12/2021 09:20

@Tal45 @BettyBag exactly! It’s appalling and it’s even worse that people in this thread seem to think this is ok!! Your weekends are yours! And he should be reported straight to HR for this comment. Im sorry but Im sick I’d rather be sick during work and take sick pay then during my own weekend!!! And every employee has every right to be sick and take sick leave. In my place he would be going stray to HR and let me tell you all he would be in big trouble, we’re taking warning for sure!

3scape · 08/12/2021 09:25

Part time employee s have been expected to book all things on 'time off' for years and years. This is just asking full time employees to also consider their colleagues and responsibility in the sake way.

50ShadesOfCatholic · 08/12/2021 09:28

Why ate some people cross? Isn't it amazing amazing thing that we can be vaccinated? Isn't it fantastic that our bosses will organise?

No? You'd rather be in India or Africa where it's nigh impossible to get jab or a boss invested in employee well-being?

gannett · 08/12/2021 09:30

@BettyBag

I'm with you OP. That implies you should prioritise your employers time more than your own. As if my weekends are just dead time were I lie around doing nothing of any value. My weekends are incredibly valuable, do all the shit I don't get to do in the week. Even setting aside the productivity that supports me and my family at weekends simply getting chance to relax and unwind ensures I am able to to a proper job when I am at work.

It's shocking that his employer has such little regard for his time. It's more shocking that most people in this thread seem to think works time should be valued more highly than their own.

I'm also shocked at the majority opinion here. People really think it's more important to be a good little employee for someone else than to have a good life for themselves.

It's total bollocks that any company would even think of asking employees to do this.

In practice of course there's give and take. I arranged my jabs in quiet work weeks rather than hectic ones (but still mid-week because I prize my weekends). My employers didn't even think about telling me when I should get them. As it turned out I didn't have a single side effect anyway. I was sat in bed ready for them with snacks and TV to hand and all for nothing.

lawandgin · 08/12/2021 09:33

YANBU OP. I think it's cheeky AF and I will be booking mine as soon as I can, whatever day or time that falls. I did the same with the flu jab. I'm pregnant and couldn't give a crap whether it inconveniences my employer or not, I need to protect my own health and that of my baby. If I caught covid tomorrow because I was "waiting for Friday" to get my jabi would not be impressed.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 08/12/2021 09:33

I've got my booster on Sunday and Monday is my first day back after holiday so it'll be a bit awkward if I am ill but what else should I do? I've got something planned fro Saturday so it would mean waiting another week and I'd rather get it over and done with

DebIr · 08/12/2021 09:33

Why wouldn’t you if you can? Agree it is not feasible for whole country to. Partly comes down to if you’re the sort of person who needs a day off for tiredness and a sore arm. Clearly a few people really unwell but majority aren’t.

mewkins · 08/12/2021 09:43

I don't think they really understand that this could potentially put their staff at risk. If you wait an extra 3 weeks for your vaccination to get a Friday and then catch covid and get seriously ill while waiting? A better message to staff would be to get their booster at the first available appointment. I've had one good friend die of covid (pre vaccines being available) and another double vaccinated who was seriously ill (double vaccinated but due a booster the following week). Both early 40s. People still don't take it seriously.. until it's too late.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 08/12/2021 09:54

@DebIr

Why wouldn’t you if you can? Agree it is not feasible for whole country to. Partly comes down to if you’re the sort of person who needs a day off for tiredness and a sore arm. Clearly a few people really unwell but majority aren’t.
You do know that for some people it's more than 'tiredness and a sore arm'?

I did have a few hours off for tiredness but if I added up all the extra hours I do I'm sure they can spare me that.

RedToothBrush · 08/12/2021 09:55

Its sensible.

However not everyone can have an appointment on a Friday for obvious reasons.

If you cannot get a friday then getting a date sooner rather than later is sensible so that you have more protection and are less like to get Covid and give it your colleagues whilst your immunity wanes.

A dictate that everyone must have it on a friday is not ok though.

thatstheloveiwantiwantlove · 08/12/2021 09:59

To be honest I agree with the boss - so many people took the piss at DH work that they felt "unwell" after the first and second jab and had at least one or two days off sick

rookiemere · 08/12/2021 10:02

And here we have it @thatstheloveiwantiwantlove , how on earth do you know that people weren't genuinely poorly after their jabs ? I felt exhausted the day after my first one and it was lucky I was working from home as I managed to get through with power naps when I wasn't in meetings.

thatstheloveiwantiwantlove · 08/12/2021 10:14

@rookiemere because they were also the regular piss takers when it comes to being off sick. You could predict who it would be who wouldn't show the next day 🤔

shampooing · 08/12/2021 10:19

DH and I both had covid jabs on a Saturday morning, haven't yet booked booster but would do the same again if possible. We are fortunate though in that Saturday clinic is available, saw long queues outside pharmacies last weekend for walk-in service.

FinallyHere · 08/12/2021 10:22

I've arranged all my vaccines and the booster for a Friday. No I'll effects but it just makes sense to me.

There is a big difference between treating your staff do well that they naturally want to minimise any impact on work and ordering them to. I don't think I would be very keen to comply if I was told to do so.

VikingOnTheFridge · 08/12/2021 10:26

@BettyBag

I'm with you OP. That implies you should prioritise your employers time more than your own. As if my weekends are just dead time were I lie around doing nothing of any value. My weekends are incredibly valuable, do all the shit I don't get to do in the week. Even setting aside the productivity that supports me and my family at weekends simply getting chance to relax and unwind ensures I am able to to a proper job when I am at work.

It's shocking that his employer has such little regard for his time. It's more shocking that most people in this thread seem to think works time should be valued more highly than their own.

Yes.

Also, it's dodgy because it may lead to staff feeling pressured to delay their appointments until a Friday afternoon is available. There simply isn't wide enough availability at the moment for employers to expect to be able to pick and choose like this.

RoomOfRequirement · 08/12/2021 10:43

Isn't this just common sense? I booked mine on a day I had a couple of days off so I wouldn't feel bad while at work!