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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Boss annoyed/upset I don't want to spend my days off with him

330 replies

gherkinsaplenty · 03/07/2022 13:16

NC as I don't want this linking to my other posts.
I started working for an elderly widower a few months ago. It's been great because it fits around the kids and is within walking distance.
From the start he's asked about days out with me and the kids. I've never agreed to anything and have gently said no thank you. He wants to pay for everything and there's just so much that makes me feel uncomfortable.
He tells me far too much information about his marriage to his late wife including about their sex life.
He tells me inappropriate jokes that ex work mates have told him along with lots of inappropriate stories about them and their infidelities.
He drinks heavily and drives the next morning as well as back from the pub.
He makes me feel like I need to justify doing things that's just me and the kids.
He's always offering me lifts and I won't accept because he's bloody dangerous when I have been in the car with him. He's hit 3 vehicles lately and not even noticed, pulls out without indicating, pulls out in front of moving traffic. I'm stressed thinking he's going to need me to go somewhere with him.
I'm working at his home essentially doing a house clearance before he moves into a retirement apartment next year. I really enjoy the work but I'm getting/got the serious ick about him and feel uncomfortable.
Despite saying I could work around the kids and not during the holidays he expects me to take them with me to his and wants me to work every day of the summer holidays. I've told him no and he's almost sulking. The dc have got an inset day tomorrow and we are off out for the day. He's upset because he thought he could take us out somewhere and was looking forward to it even though I never said yes to his invitation. He keeps grumbling about it and making out I've let him down. He has his own grown up dc and a few grandchildren and I know he's lonely but I don't want to be spending my days off with my boss. I'm a carer for a family member too and between my dc and caring I don't have much time to do anything. He phones me every day at least twice including on my days off and there are numerous texts too. I've now switched off my voicemail service and adjusted my phone to only allow certain people to contact me outside of work hours. I only do 12 hours a week or so but with the frequent phone calls and voicemails and texts it's more like 18 hours. I'm a single parent and the money has been great but I feel like jacking it in now. I feel so uncomfortable with it all. Despite being totally inappropriate he is very kind and generous and funny and I have enjoyed the job but this latest sulk over a day out and me saying no to going away with him in the summer has tipped me over into dreading work now. He's said to stop messaging him and let the dust settle. I'm here thinking there's no dust to settle, I just told him thank you but no. I'm autistic and get things wrong so often with navigating situations. I hate confrontation too and I'm annoyed he's doing this.
How do I keep things professional?

OP posts:
madasawethen · 04/07/2022 17:39

He's quite predictable isn't he.

Do not reply at all. Nothing.
Ignore him.
Don't answer the door. Nothing.
Any amount of contact negative or positive will be seen as encouragement or an opening for negotiation.

billy1966 · 04/07/2022 17:47

madasawethen · 04/07/2022 17:39

He's quite predictable isn't he.

Do not reply at all. Nothing.
Ignore him.
Don't answer the door. Nothing.
Any amount of contact negative or positive will be seen as encouragement or an opening for negotiation.

I agree with this.

Absolutely no engagement and I reiterate this to your children not to stop or engage either.

His behaviour means the basic niceties simply do not apply.

I would be very curt with mutual friend.

You are appalled that you were put in this position.

They may be innocent in all of this but I would be inclined to put them on the back foot as an indicator of how dreadful his behaviour has been.

gherkinsaplenty · 04/07/2022 18:39

Well he said to take my time to reply so I'll take forever.
I'd love to know how he's explained things to his dc. The one who lives in Scotland will not be impressed as more will fall to her now. Nothing personal has been moved out of the house yet. We were clearing decades of auction and charity shop and sale bargains. There's rooms and rooms of 6ft high boxes and bags and suitcases full plus 10 wardrobes full along with a large cellar and attic and garage. It's a big house and it's like an episode of hoarders. I've done the worst of it but it will take a year to finish if it's just me. He needs a professional company in.

OP posts:
madasawethen · 04/07/2022 19:32

Hard to say what he's told his DC. A bunch of nonsense probably.
I'm still curious what he was paying to have this done?

gherkinsaplenty · 05/07/2022 12:18

I think I'll sell the things I have here that I agreed to sell as I'd prefer that to having to take it all back.

OP posts:
CPL593H · 05/07/2022 13:36

I would honestly avoid any added entanglement which involves money/selling things like the plague OP. I'd inventory it all and enlist the help of the friend who got you the job in returning it to him. I get the feeling that he could turn very nasty very quickly once he realises you are not going to "reconsider" and you are in a vulnerable position while you have his belongings. Please be careful.

purplecorkheart · 05/07/2022 13:41

Do not sell the items. You no longer work for him so technically no longer have the right/permission to. Enlist the help of the person who arranged the job and get everything back to him. Take plenty of photos etc

RockinHorseShit · 05/07/2022 13:47

Another for don't sell his items, you have no idea how he's going to act or tell his kids at this point, he could say he's let you go because you were stealing his stuff.

Id suggest contacting his kids if you can, they then know you are not a thief, & are trying to do the right thing without interacting with their DF, despite the creeps behaviour. I also think they need to know, just incase as others have pointed out it could be dementia related

Good luck & I hope this is the end of it for you, in my experience it won't be though, which is why talking to his kids is a good idea, but pitch the conversation as concerns for dementia

Good luck

gherkinsaplenty · 05/07/2022 13:59

He has no signs of dementia. He has written that I can sell them. He has no idea what is in his house as his wife smuggled it in and his it all. It could stock 10 charity shops easily. However I will think about contacting his daughter to let her know why I've abandoned the job and let her know I'm returning the things. There's a lot of it.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 05/07/2022 14:16

"However I will think about contacting his daughter to let her know why I've abandoned the job and let her know I'm returning the things"

Why do you need to do this, was she aware you were working for her dad?. She may well not want to believe your explanation re her dad.

gherkinsaplenty · 05/07/2022 14:20

Yes, we often worked together when she came down.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 05/07/2022 14:28

gherkinsaplenty · 05/07/2022 12:18

I think I'll sell the things I have here that I agreed to sell as I'd prefer that to having to take it all back.

Wait. He hasn't turned nasty yet. He will go to lengths to get your attention. Keep it handy to give back for a bit

wellhelloitsme · 05/07/2022 14:30

I agree with @gamerchick - don't get rid of anything he could potentially use as ammunition if he does turn nasty.

If you have his daughters contact details, if he does turn nasty then I would engage with her but I would leave things to settle now and see what happens next.

gherkinsaplenty · 05/07/2022 14:43

He's waiting for me to answer his letter coercing me to reconsider.

OP posts:
wellhelloitsme · 05/07/2022 14:47

Has he messaged / written again since the letter he sent you in response to yours?

Sorry you're having to deal with this OP.

gherkinsaplenty · 05/07/2022 14:56

No nothing further as he's blocked. I'd have lots of messages otherwise

OP posts:
wellhelloitsme · 05/07/2022 15:02

In that case I would sit tight for now.

And probably contact his daughter if he turns nasty / writes more letters.

gamerchick · 05/07/2022 15:12

Tbh as he's mentioned going ahead and selling the stuff, means it's on his radar. He WILL do anything to get your attention when he starts feeling desperate. I'd return the lot via someone else so he has absolutely nothing. He'll make something up saying stuff is missing but I'm hoping you've kept an inventory.

LarryTrotter · 05/07/2022 15:16

Justleaveitblankthen · 03/07/2022 16:22

Apart from everything else, the drink driving 😡
I hope that someone reports him to the Police the next time he leaves the Pub. Before he kills someone.

Also, the DVLA have a free hotline for anonymously reporting dangerous drivers, no matter what the reason.
I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

I've been reading this thread waiting for someone to mention this - I can't believe it took so long!

He drives drunk and has had several near misses witnessed by OP (as well as actually crashes)

OP please report him to police for drink driving before he injures or kills someone!

LarryTrotter · 05/07/2022 15:17

gherkinsaplenty · 03/07/2022 16:24

I have reported the drink driving a few times but the police seem slow to act. That's what makes me most angry too. It's unforgivable.

Ah, ignore last! So glad to hear you've reported it.

gherkinsaplenty · 05/07/2022 15:17

He hasn't a clue what I've got and until I unpack the cases neither have I. His dc have no idea either.

OP posts:
gherkinsaplenty · 05/07/2022 16:09

I'm going to hold fire for now. You've scared me incase he accuses me of stealing anything.

OP posts:
purplecorkheart · 05/07/2022 19:31

Have you anyone who could drive you with the cases to his house when you know he is in. They leave the cases on the door step. Ring the bell and walk away while your record the cases being dropped off.

In regards to the drink driving do you know the pub he goes to? I assume he leaves at closing time. I think I would call into my local Police station and inform him that he goes to the pub every Tuesday etc. That he drinks and drives and leaves at closing time. They might follow it up

gherkinsaplenty · 06/07/2022 08:29

I could get someone to come with me to drop off the things.
Yes I know which pub he goes to and have put that info in with the rest to crime stoppers.

I keep dreaming about the situation now and that he keeps coming to the house. A sure sign I'm anxious about it all.

OP posts:
gherkinsaplenty · 06/07/2022 14:36

Please could someone give me a virtual shake/slap? I've been feeling guilty today for abandoning the job. It's ridiculous when I think of all the inappropriateness. I'll miss the money but I won't miss the ick. Despite the feeling guilty and rather weird about it. Hang

OP posts:
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