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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:
Mybackstory · 03/09/2022 09:11

To be honest, I think the whole point of that five day self certify thing is that people make their own judgement on whether or not they feel well enough to come in.

howdyyyy · 03/09/2022 09:13

Sounds like she wanted to give a reason to phone in a sicky 🤷🏻‍♀️ not like we all haven't done it when we can't be bothered 😂

grayhairdontcare · 03/09/2022 09:14

It's Saturday and you will be busy and she can't be arsed.
Get rid !

howdyyyy · 03/09/2022 09:16

Everyone seems very quick to tell her to sack her? It's a bit extreme... considering we've all phoned in sick at some point or made something up to have the day off. She might be a really good reliable worker most of the time, we don't know 🤷🏻‍♀️

raindon · 03/09/2022 09:33

howdyyyy · 03/09/2022 09:16

Everyone seems very quick to tell her to sack her? It's a bit extreme... considering we've all phoned in sick at some point or made something up to have the day off. She might be a really good reliable worker most of the time, we don't know 🤷🏻‍♀️

She needs to have something more plausible then

Porcupineintherough · 03/09/2022 09:43

My gums get sore when my period is due, its annoying. Never yet stopped me doing owt though. I'd suggest she finds another job consults a dentist.

balalake · 03/09/2022 09:44

It's a sunny day (in the south and east at least), there are probably some things to do with back to school that haven't been done, at a guess.

Time to look for another member of staff.

giveovernate · 03/09/2022 10:07

howdyyyy · 03/09/2022 09:16

Everyone seems very quick to tell her to sack her? It's a bit extreme... considering we've all phoned in sick at some point or made something up to have the day off. She might be a really good reliable worker most of the time, we don't know 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sore gums is not sick!

TroysMammy · 03/09/2022 10:18

@howdyyyy I've been working for 36 years and never phoned in sick when I'm not sick just to have the day off so "we've all phoned in sick at some point or made something up to have the day off" doesn't apply.

Saz12 · 03/09/2022 11:00

It’s such a crappy excuse I’d probably assume it was true! It would be easy for her to claim something more plausible.

I had an eye infection which came on overnight and left puss and bloody fluid oozing from under my eyelid. It was awful, and I could tell when I phoned to say I’d be very late in (pharmacist told me to go see GP immediately) my manager was skeptical, which really pissed me off. When she saw me she understood...!

If your employee has been reliable up til now and is a good worker then I’d be asking about it when she’s back (not for details but eg was she able to see a dentist, is it sorted now). If she’s a useless arse I’d be figuring out what I can do to get rid.

knackeredagain · 03/09/2022 11:05

Is she very young? A lot of people in their first casual job don’t quite grasp work ethic.
And is she usually a good worker or a bit of a skiver? I wouldn’t rush to sack anyone but she’s left you in the lurch, hasn’t she?

HappyChloé2 · 03/09/2022 12:05

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

How long has she worked for you? Less than two years then let her go paying her her statutory notice pay and any accrued holidays.

No point fannying around with someone like this.

HappyChloé2 · 03/09/2022 12:07

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?

Why bother? Unless she’s worked there long enough to accrue employment rights just call her back and sack her.

Rewis · 03/09/2022 12:07

Is she normally reliable? I think patterns are more important than individual excuses.

HappyChloé2 · 03/09/2022 12:08

howdyyyy · 03/09/2022 09:16

Everyone seems very quick to tell her to sack her? It's a bit extreme... considering we've all phoned in sick at some point or made something up to have the day off. She might be a really good reliable worker most of the time, we don't know 🤷🏻‍♀️

No, “we” haven’t.

Meseekslookatme · 03/09/2022 12:08

Jesus, get rude, she's taking the piss out of you

Meseekslookatme · 03/09/2022 12:09

Meseekslookatme · 03/09/2022 12:08

Jesus, get rude, she's taking the piss out of you

I meant rid!
Don't be rude, she'll probably be unable to take it

MercurialMonday · 03/09/2022 12:13

I had wisdom tooth pain in 20s - they came through sideways - and I've also had sinus pain that felt like gum pain.

Wisdom tooth I worked through sinus depended on other symptoms but usually worked through.

www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/adult-oral-care/what-is-menstruation-gingivitis-how-womens-periods-affect-gum-health# it does seem to be a thing but reading through it doesn't sound take a day of work bad.

I think I'd have to look at her work pattern more generally and then consider how to proceed.

CatsAreCrackers · 03/09/2022 12:25

howdyyyy · 03/09/2022 09:13

Sounds like she wanted to give a reason to phone in a sicky 🤷🏻‍♀️ not like we all haven't done it when we can't be bothered 😂

Erm, speak for yourself, thank you. "We" haven't ever done it!

Oinkypig · 03/09/2022 12:32

Now to be fair there is a gum infection called ANUG (also known as trench mouth) that is very very unpleasant and can make you feel unwell generally and needs metronidazole to treat but I don’t think it’s sounds like this is it.

Dontknownow86 · 03/09/2022 12:52

I work in a dentists and I've seen patients crying from gum pain so to me it doesn't seem totally far fetched. She does need to see a dentist / hygienist though as it being bad enough she can't come into work is not normal and she should get it checked / referred.

TooManyPJs · 03/09/2022 13:20

I have sore gums permanently I think from
Perimenopause. It can be incredibly painful and painkillers don't for anything for it at all.

Having said that I haven't taken any time off work for it. But i only work part-time and I suppose it depends on what work you do as to whether it's manageable.

(After much trial and error I find that keeping really hydrated and vitamin e oil help. I also use a toothpaste without flavour or SLS.)

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