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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ring in sick for "sore gums"?

47 replies

bingss · 03/09/2022 08:48

Pretty much that.
I own a coffee shop and one of my members of staff has ring in because she has sore gums,she then went on to tell me it's because her period is due and it affects her gums.
I mean I know any sort of soreness /pain isn't nice but not exactly your leg hanging off.
Aibu ?

OP posts:
Allmarbleslost · 03/09/2022 08:49

What did you say in reply? I'd have told her to take a paracetamol and get her arse into work!

KimberleyClark · 03/09/2022 08:50

Isn’t this what paracetamol is for?

20viona · 03/09/2022 08:51

Pathetic excuse

Original poster
bingss · 03/09/2022 08:51

I told her warm salt gargles would help...she said it wouldn't and that was end of conversation
She said see you next week hopefully

OP posts:
RichardsGear · 03/09/2022 08:53

She's taking the piss, and obviously feels comfortable doing so.

Dadaya · 03/09/2022 08:53

That isn’t something you can reasonably stay off work for. It doesn’t affect your ability to work. If I was able to sack that person I would, otherwise just manage her out. Either way I wouldn’t continue to employ her.

Original poster
bingss · 03/09/2022 08:54

it's honestly pathetic
Fair enough wisdom tooth pain etc but not gum soreness
I think I've finally heard it all

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 03/09/2022 08:54

See you next week.... hopefully.

Time to get a new member of staff.

AtillatheHun · 03/09/2022 08:54

If she’s been with you less than 2 years, tell her not to bother with next week. Thin end of the wedge / a lot of people looking for jobs.

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 03/09/2022 08:55

replace her. How ridiculous.

Soubriquet · 03/09/2022 08:56

That’s a bit….of a pathetic excuse.

If it affected her ability to speak, for example, I’m sure you could find her a job where she didn’t have to interact with customers.

I wouldn’t be impressed as a manager to receive this phone call

chinuptitsoutonwards · 03/09/2022 08:57

I wouldn’t be impressed at all.

she needs a sick note after a week no ‘maybe see you’. I would also consider her putting her on an action plan if she makes a habit of this.

what is she like in other ways op?

carefullycourageous · 03/09/2022 08:57

Have a conversation about this issue when they return - presumably you don't pay sick pay? Are they usually a good employee?

I think the employee could have said D&V and you'd have had to lump it, so it is worth finding out wtf is going on here. Some people do ring in sick more than others, all you can do is manage them (out if necessary).

AuntieMarys · 03/09/2022 08:58

Pathetic. I hope you can replace her

Candleabra · 03/09/2022 08:58

RichardsGear · 03/09/2022 08:53

She's taking the piss, and obviously feels comfortable doing so.

This.
That excuse is an insult.

raindon · 03/09/2022 09:00

If she's had a lot of time off for this can you start your sickness procedure - ask for medical evidence etc?

Nellodee · 03/09/2022 09:01

I had sore gums on my last period and thought it might be hormone related. I was on my summer holiday, but the pain was through all my upper gums and into my nose, focused in the area above my incisors. It was enormously painful to bite down in anything and the pain had me in tears at some point. I thought I might have an abscess and had it continued longer would definitely have gone to see an emergency dentist. I worked out it was the gum, rather than a specific tooth, causing the issue and did lots of gargling with salt water and cordasyl, but it was definitely comparable to a bad toothache rather than when I’ve had sore gums before, wisdom tooth related. I don’t know if I’d have had time off work but it definitely made me feel miserable and I was very snappy to everyone around me.

JustSortYoursefOut · 03/09/2022 09:01

I'd be replacing her as soon as possible. She's taking the piss

Nellodee · 03/09/2022 09:04

Id say it was worse than when I had to have antibiotics for inflammation around a wisdom tooth.

justaladyLOL · 03/09/2022 09:06

Get rid now

DougalsBlueJumper · 03/09/2022 09:06

I'm almost tempted to say she must genuinely be in debilitating pain, because surely if she just wanted to skive off she could come up with a better excuse than that. A migraine. Being sick. A fever. Anything! Or maybe she just doesn't have much imagination.

carefullycourageous · 03/09/2022 09:07

I think if this person was just a habitual pisstaker, they would know that D&V is the correct excuse to get out of catering work.

The nature of the reason would make me want to understand - if they were an otherwise good employee.

Interesting and relevant post from @Nellodee above - @bingss did you see that one?

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 03/09/2022 09:09

I would get rid too if possible. She has a really terrible attitude.

custardbear · 03/09/2022 09:09

Bloody ridiculous! I managed to spill a large cup of boiling coffee ( it wasn't even cooled by milk!) on my fingers and arm yesterday. I took ibuprofen and sat with my hand under water in a jug all
Morning, I didn't go home, I worked!

Nellodee · 03/09/2022 09:10

I’m perimenopausal and it was my first period for about six months, so my hormones were causing me all kinds of issues at the time, in case she’s also a similar age.