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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off at inconsiderate colleagues?

35 replies

TreatTreat · 17/08/2025 16:41

I scheduled a day off this week to wfh. I had importabt deliveries and stuff to do in my area after work. Apart from one other colleague who was away, all others were in. I've just checked calendars and others have since booked leave without checking anyone else's calendar which takes the absolute fucking piss as I'll have to go in as mine was wfh and theirs is leave they've officially booked. There will only be one other person in the office and im not about to leave them on their own. Its a busy office. I am so tired. This has happened before.

OP posts:
ns87 · 17/08/2025 16:46

Just WFH, don't change your plans because they were selfish.

Ekkekkkeekkkekk · 17/08/2025 16:49

I’d just WFH especially because you had it booked in first.

Unless of course you’re customer facing and will leave a personnel gap.

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 17/08/2025 16:49

Did they know your plans? How far away is work?

Doingmybest12 · 17/08/2025 16:50

I'm not sure wfh colleagues make any difference to who can have annual leave. You are still working and your manager has approved the leave for your colleagues. Just work from home as planned.

Dozer · 17/08/2025 16:52

Has your manager asked you to change your plans? Are they aware of the issue with cover? Presumably they approved the leave and ad hoc homeworking day so need to decide what to do.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 17/08/2025 16:53

Why can't you have just one colleague in the office? Is it against the rules, or is it just that you want them to have company? Because that person probably wouldn't care if they're alone if the rules allow it.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 17/08/2025 16:54

Unless a manager has asked you to go in, continue with the original plan
It's not up to you to manage/make changes...that's the role of a manager

Zempy · 17/08/2025 16:59

Why be a martyr? The manager who approved their leave didn’t care about one person being in, so why should you?

Original poster
TreatTreat · 17/08/2025 16:59

Most of our client communication is by telephone. Sometimes clients will come into the office though and this can be very stressful for someone on their own trying to juggle everything.

OP posts:
PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 17/08/2025 17:03

Right, but nobody's told you to cancel your WFH day. You only know about the potential problem because you've checked calendars. Just hope your manager doesn't bother checking them...

CopperWhite · 17/08/2025 17:04

If you’re supposed to be working, it’s reasonable for the business to say you need to be in to cover staff leave in the middle of the summer holidays. WFH is supposed to be flexible both ways and is already a bonus for you.

Hatty65 · 17/08/2025 17:07

TreatTreat · 17/08/2025 16:59

Most of our client communication is by telephone. Sometimes clients will come into the office though and this can be very stressful for someone on their own trying to juggle everything.

Then that's unfortunate for them that all your other colleagues booked leave, surely?

Unless you'd just assumed you would work from home that day and not booked it? If you've booked to be at home, be at home.

DarcyProudman · 17/08/2025 17:19

Why didn’t you just book the day as leave then?

Icecreamandcoffee · 17/08/2025 17:22

Unfortunately it is a busy time of year for booking holidays, the manager should have checked calendars before approving any leave. Did you officially book a WFH day (in the shared staff calendar as @TreatTreat is WFH) or have you just planned it hoping everyone is in but it's not actually in the shared staff calendar? If it is officially booked in the calendar then the manager obviously doesn't think it is a problem for you to WFH and others to have leave.

Everyone I know is wrangling for time off at the moment. Anyone with school age children has been massively restricted due to the government's stance on term time holidays and fines. Childcare costs are through the roof for holidays. Plus it's a bank holiday weekend approaching.

Why can't you WFH and colleague work from office? Do you have the same role? If so, surely you can arrange with colleague that you will pick up the majority of telephone calls from home and they can focus on in person clients? If you are not set up for taking calls and it is predicted to be busy with in person clients too then the manager is not unreasonable to say you both need to be in the office. In future you may need to book leave (can you book a half day or take TOIL?) if you have deliveries or lots of things on after work that you can't have wiggle room on.

QuickFawn · 17/08/2025 17:27

I guess that was the risk you took wfh rather than booking the day off 🤷‍♀️

StinkyCheeseMoose · 17/08/2025 17:31

It would be absurd if people were not allowed to take annual leave in peak holiday season so you can work from home.

There's a significant aspect of your job that cannot be done from home, so it would be unreasonable of your manager to deny requests for annual leave so colleagues can cover for you when you are supposed to be working.

If you want to stay at home, request the day off.

beAsensible1 · 17/08/2025 17:34

Don’t go in. Don’t be a martyr and next time who ever manages/approves leave will
make sure they don’t have too many leave at once.

it’s not on you to fix the mistake and no one has asked you to. And I doubt they’ll thank you either

DarcyProudman · 17/08/2025 17:41

beAsensible1 · 17/08/2025 17:34

Don’t go in. Don’t be a martyr and next time who ever manages/approves leave will
make sure they don’t have too many leave at once.

it’s not on you to fix the mistake and no one has asked you to. And I doubt they’ll thank you either

Edited

But she should’ve booked annual leave!

Mumof2wifeof1crazytimes · 17/08/2025 17:46

YABU. If I needed to book AL I would not not book it because someone needed to wfh. AL trumps annual leave, you should have booked leave on this date.

LumpyandBumps · 17/08/2025 17:47

I have never WFH and assumed there was some element of it being contingent on meeting the needs of the business, so am surprised at so many people saying not to go in.
You have already identified that your colleagues have priority as they are on leave and you are working, but want to do so at home.
How many days are you allowed to WFH?
Unless it is a very limited number then it doesn’t seem fair to me for a colleague not to be granted AL because of another choosing to work at home.
I don’t think your colleagues are being inconsiderate in booking their limited amount of AL when they want to take it.
If the manager is expected to check WFH as well as who else is on AL then it is up to them to direct who needs to be present.
It has been suggested that the lone colleague who is left in the office can hold the fort. Maybe they are happy to do so, but surely they will need the odd comfort break, and if the manager has been negligent it is their responsibility to accommodate this.

Overthebow · 17/08/2025 17:50

But you’re still working, they’ve booked it off as leave. They’ve done nothing wrong. If you want a day to do your errands then book it as leave too.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 17/08/2025 17:57

They haven’t done anything wrong, you aren’t on leave. If you choose to go in then that’s up to you

loobylou10 · 17/08/2025 18:38

If you had to be at home you should have booked AL. Surely AL trumps your desire to WFH.

ChateauProvence · 17/08/2025 19:20

There’s no way I’d consider not booking holiday because someone wanted to wfh that’s ridiculous. Use your leave for your personal errands if they are that important - talk about a piss take

gamerchick · 17/08/2025 19:22

TreatTreat · 17/08/2025 16:59

Most of our client communication is by telephone. Sometimes clients will come into the office though and this can be very stressful for someone on their own trying to juggle everything.

Then there will have to be change to booking annual leave then, wont there.