AIBU to stop covering my job-share partner's time off?

[JobShareDrama]

I job share with a woman at work. We both work 2 days each. I’ve covered for her a few times when she had child care issues during school holidays, but never had her cover for me yet.

I asked her in Jan to cover my 2 week holiday in July and she agreed. A few days ago she sent me a list of all the days and weeks she needs me to cover. I agreed to them, even though it’s not convenient for me, as she’s covering for me.

I agreed to them all, and on doing so she immediately sent me a return message saying she can no longer cover my holiday, leaving me in the lurch.

So, I’ve covered for her multiple times, and she’s not once returned the favour.

I feel like saying I’m not doing her dates then, but then this will pretty much ring the death bell on a cordial working relationship. TBH I’m sick of being a peacekeeper and mug to people.

AIBU to from henceforth just say I’m not free to cover her days off?

I don’t think there’s much you can do now that you’ve agreed to her dates however any future days I would be refusing to cover! Ever!

By cover do you mean work extra days? Surely neither of you should do that if so? Unless paid for the extra days.

You don’t HAVE a cordial working relationship though do you? You have one where she takes and you give.
Stop allowing yourself to be used and speak to your manager

July is almost upon us - if she can bale at that sort of notice, so can you. Until you draw a line in the sand, she will continue to take the piss

If she is saying she can't do dates she previously agreed I can't see why you should feel the need to do hers tbf.

"Disappointed to hear this, CheekyBitch, especially as you had already agreed. I'll discuss with management as my holiday is already booked and arrangements made on the basis of your agreement to cover. As you've changed the arrangement, I may need to make other arrangements for (days you said you'd cover) so would suggest you make alternative arrangements for cover"

Why do you have to cover each others annual leave?

What castle rasher said

back out; cheeky cow

Absolutely would be speaking to management on this one! She’s a CF for sure.

This would be the last time I said yes to her

If she can "no longer cover your holiday"... why can't you do the same??

"Oh no! I've checked my family calendar and realised i can't actually cover any of those dates for you either! No worries about my holiday though I'll speak to management and find an alternative solution"

I wouldnt do her a single favour again. Ever.

Yep I’d respond and say ‘on the basis it doesn’t appear to be a mutual agreement anymore then I won’t be able to cover your dates and we will need to speak to management to agree what to do regarding cover in future’

it shouldn’t be up to the two of you to do favours for each other. Your management should have a plan for covering holidays

Simply tell her that due to you have to rearrange your schedule to cover the days she had previously agreed to cover for you, you no longer have the days free to cover for her.

That said, I’m confused why you need cover from her to take annual leave.

Even if you job share your leave entitlements / sickness / authorised or unauthorised absences should be separate and personal to you and her not part of the same pot as it were.

Just tell her you’ve checked your calender and reliezed you can’t cover her dates anymore. She did to you, do the same to her.

dear CF
As you are well aware, holiday cover was mutually agreed as a reciprocal arrangement. As you have yet to undertake your part in this arrangement and have now cancelled at very short notice, it is clearly not a workable solution
Therefore I will schedule a meeting to discuss future cover arrangements with management

I would just tell her straight - ‘Sandra, the whole cover thing isn’t working and it has become very inconvenient for me, especially when you are unable to reciprocate. Cancel the cover I initially agreed to, and from now on we keep to our own scheduled timetables’.

Do you get paid when you cover for her?

This is your line manager's job, not yours. She should not be allowed to chop and change like that. You need a proper working schedule and diary management so that cover is booked in officially.

If she can cancel after she has agreed, so can you.

I agreed to them all, and on doing so she immediately sent me a return message saying she can no longer cover my holiday, leaving me in the lurch.

The cheek

I would by return confirm that I can no longer cover for her either and refuse ALL the cover I've already agreed with.

If she is a CF, why should you be inconvenienced?

Surely it's down to your manager to organise cover when you're on AL?

She agreed to your dates
So just as much as you need to stick to agreeing to hers she needs to stick to agreeing with yours

She’s also had plenty of time

Either that or decline her dates
Theres a reason she sent you her list first. She knew you’d agree as she’s supposed to be covering yours.

just decline hers and tell her youre happy to cover but she needs to reciprocate

Why are you covering for each other? If this was a full-time role, you would take your holidays and either your work would be spread across everyone else in the office or would wait for your return. This is also costing the company money surely as they are now paying one of you on holiday and extra money for the other job-share partner to do additional days.

If it was not a job share, and instead just one person doing the whole job, how would your manager cover the annual leave?

sometimes when people are adult and professional, they don't need a "manager" and can sort their own dates between themselves, at dates that work for them both. It's much better when you don't work with a CF.

Back out of all your agreed dates. No need to go into too much detail. This is on her, not you and she is banking on you to fold again to avoid any awkwardness. Stop being a doormat.