Advice please regarding groom

[Fueledwithfairydustandgin]

I have very recently employed a groom to help with the horses. She is a nice girl but her knowledge is fairly basic. Although it wasn't what I was looking for I agreed to take her on and try and train her on the job. Her mum has to give her lifts as she can't drive yet. On tues she let me know she wouldn't make it in to work because of the snow. I was a bit frustrated because the snow wasn't that bad yet and I thought she could have at least made t to the village for me to pick her up. This meant I was left with a yard full of horses in the snow and a toddler to contend with on my own. The snow then got worse and my husband has had to stay at home (he's self employed) to help me out. Fast forward to tonight where she has messaged me to say she won't be in this weekend either because she is at her granny's (about 45mins away) and she'll be snowed in there. She went to help her granny with her horses. I'm not very impressed and my husband is really annoyed because it costs us a fortune when he's off. I'm worried because I don't want to put a load of effort into training someone when I wasn't even looking for that in the first place if she's going to prove to be unreliable. In addition she wanted to get a horse and keep it here and I feel like I would have ended up with another one to look after which I need like a bloody hole in the head. I'm worried I will look a total bitch if I basically sack her for not coming to work in a huge blizzard.

She doesn't sound like the sort of person you need for lots of reasons, the not turning up on a none blizzard day being one of them.

I think you should bite the bullet, regardless of how you will be perceived, and find someone with experience and maturity. But bear in mind they may also not be able to get to the yard in extreme weather.

How old is she?

Presumably she is entitled to paid holiday and sick days - what were you planning to do then?

Clearly this isn't working for you as the person isn't what you're looking for and has proven to be reliable.

Is there a reason you took her on, rather than an older, more experienced groom?

In future, I would treat a groom like any other employee (assuming you want an employee and not someone self-employed), when hiring, make sure you take references and have a clear contract of employment. Make it clear that you want someone reliable, so more than x days of unexplained absence will cause you to end the contract.

I would give this girl her notice and find someone else who is reliable and competent (and has their own transport).

Is she still on trial ?

Performance manage her out of the job. This whole relying on mum for lifts is often an indication things won't be great.

How long has she worked for you and has she been otherwise reliable? How far away from you do they live?

I wouldn't judge her by what happens in a week of bad weather. If she is having to rely on her parents for lifts, then perhaps they felt it was more important to help her granny and pregnant aunt with their horses than yourself who is probably more able bodied. I imagine that they don't really want to be driving in the weather that we've had, but will make exceptions for family members in need. She can't help the fact that they will not drive her to you during this week. She can't help being snowed in. I presume they don't have a 4x4? Our neighbour had a visitor on Tuesday and they have only been able to get their car out today.

I told all my (DIY) liveries not to come up this week as the roads are awful and I wouldn't want them to take any risks. I've done all the horses myself.

Perhaps have a word with her about reliability. Once the weather warms up a bit she could get a bicycle and ride in rather than relying on her parents.

This isnt going to work.

Are you actually employing her properly or are you paying her cash in hand on the cheap?

I pay the woman who helps me £10 an hour, she's experienced and reliable, there is no point in having someone not reliable but if she's getting paid bugger all she probably won't prioritise you.

I’ve reread the OP several times and I can’t work out where a pregnant aunt comes into it britnay?

OP- it sounds like she perhaps doesn’t have an understanding that a groom is a professional job. Would you be able to give her documents like a job description or something along with a contract to help underline your expectations & requirements?

She mentioned the pregnant aunt in a previous thread about this in AIBU. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3183068-AIBU-to-be-pissed-off-with-my-employee

Oh I see. How confusing! I couldn’t work out what I’d missed. Thank you.

Fwiw my 15 year old groom walked 2 miles to the yard in the snow. If they are good they will be dedicated... I paid her extra for her travelling time plus a box of chocs

We live in the Pennines and have had a few occasions where the snow has been bad on the days our young groom has been working. I've always text them and told them not to come. Last week was horrendous, the police told people to stay at home. I wouldn't have expected them to come.

I do find with younger grooms you do get a bit of let down - ours work Sundays and seem to take a lot of time off for festivals. On the flip side, both "older" grooms (mid 40s) have ended up giving up work due to injury (not at ours). At the moment we're having a break from having grooms, it's hard work!

The first snow day sounds reasonable enough if it was bad enough to keep your husband at home - extreme weather happens. Also if she's gone somewhere else on her non-work days and then cannot return because she's snowed in I am wondering what she was meant to do about that.

If she is otherwise doing a good enough job I'd give her the benefit of the doubt this time, but make sure you have a proper contract setting out her hours and start/finish times, and also a probation period.

Sounds like she's a young girl in her first job, with little idea of the responsibilities that come with being employed.

You also need some kind of back up plan for when she is on holiday or on sick leave.