Being treated differently at work.

[Littlemissbuffer]

Just wanted some opinions on a matter, I've worked for my boss for 16 years now and his PA has worked for him for 5 years. She has had untold time off for medical/childcare/family reasons and was paid fully for all of this. However I took 1 day off as my mil was hospitalised and I was deducted a days pay. Aibu to think this is actually completely out of line and should I suspect there's something going on with them as they do seem extremely close.

What does your contract say? Most places if you took a day off you’d have to take as holiday or unpaid leave.

How do you know whether she is paid or not? And are her reasons to do with her and her children rather than MIL? Is she definitely paid each time?

How do you know she was paid?

Whilst not "untold", we (large public sector) allow paid time off for sickness / reasonable time if a child is sick. We don't allow time off for mother in law support. That's at least in part because the law says that people are allowed to be sick, and they are also allowed reasonable time off for children's sickness. It doesn't mention anything about mothers in law.

What are your work policies on these things?

I get paid time off for medical appointments but anything child related (sick dc, their hospital appointments) are unpaid or annual leave. I work in HR and don’t agree with the policies but have to follow them.

How do you know how many days she’s had off and whether she was paid? Also, where I work people can get carers’ leave for their own parents or kids needing their care, but not because one of their in-laws was in hospital.

To assume there’s something going on is quite a leap and also none of your business.