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Employee asks me to approve her mitching off work

6 replies

Folicky · 26/04/2022 15:29

I manage someone and am only slightly senior to her but have to sign off training, annual leave, other leaves and absences. The content of these emails is always very ambiguous and in them she will ask me to approve something or other with a few other things concealed in the writing. An example would be 'I'm going to find out about patient x from ward A tomorrow morning and then I want to write that up' . What this really translates to is I am working from home tomorrow, when this isn't really compatible with our job and the speed with which we can be pulled off any task. No other staff member will know where she is, she will not write in in her out-of-office, she will imply she is on annual leave. She refuses emails and phonecalls when working from home. I have tried to clarify her requests but this has led to compliants that I am on the autistic spectrum or overly conscientious. I'm not, I do my hours and that's that. However this is every time she is challenged and I work in a profession where the truth of these claims is not looked into. Trying to manage her is a nightmare, but its a risky area and she can't not be managed either. This is affecting my wellbeing and my family life. Any attempt to manager her results in vexatious complaints but this is seen as a lot of he said she said (she and she in this instance) and goes nowhere. I find it very cruel and, at times it has bordered on emotional abuse. I trained elsewhere so am seen as an outsider, and this is part of the issue. Any advice? Anyone been in a similar situation?

It's often mentioned incidentally in an email which ends with an entreaty to respond with 'yes that's fine'. , that's all alright isn't it? her

OP posts:
jackstini · 26/04/2022 15:34

Is this a duplicate post - just seen the other one with mitching in

Incidently - ask MN to amend your title to skiving or bunking off - I had to look up 'mitch off' and it also means masturbating through a pocket - which I presume she's not doing!

The best way to solve this is to get HR to put in a specific process for requesting wfh, which everyone has to adhere to. Or have a shared calendar where everyone in the department specifies if they are in work, working out of the office or on annual leave

Her saying you are on the autistic spectrum as an insult is completely unacceptable and needs raising with HR too

Templeblossom · 26/04/2022 15:36

Can you have a morning "team meeting" so that she knows she has to come in?
Im gobsmacked at this tbh
Shes a CF

123walrus · 26/04/2022 15:51

She is doing it because you’re letting her. The more you allow it to happen the more it reinforces that it’s ok. If you manage her you need to set the expectation and tell her it isn’t on. Next time she isn’t in the office call her and ask her where she is. If you agree she can WFH, be clear that she is expected to take calls. Yes it can be difficult but it’s what management involves.

Folicky · 26/04/2022 16:05

@Jackstini yes, I am on a PC and the first time I posted it said it had timed out so I tried again. usually I'm on my phone

OP posts:
NoodleNuts · 26/04/2022 16:22

Reply to her emails and say 'Yes, that is fine, but you need to do the writing up from the office please'.

Really you need to manage her better. People need to know where she is, she should put an out of office response on, if she is working from home, she should still be taking phone calls and emails. If she refuses to do this, it needs to be escalated.

She also needs to be pulled up sharpish regrding the autistic comments, that is simply not acceptable.

Basically she is taking the piss and getting away with it.

LordEmsworth · 26/04/2022 18:47

123walrus · 26/04/2022 15:51

She is doing it because you’re letting her. The more you allow it to happen the more it reinforces that it’s ok. If you manage her you need to set the expectation and tell her it isn’t on. Next time she isn’t in the office call her and ask her where she is. If you agree she can WFH, be clear that she is expected to take calls. Yes it can be difficult but it’s what management involves.

Exactly this. As everyone has already told you on your other thread.

"When I try to manage her, she's mean to me" - so what? Ignore her comments, be factual, tell her what you want from her and follow up as to whether she's delivered it.

I'd be putting her on a performance plan and keeping a note of any rude, abusive, discriminatory or unpleasant comments and raising a grievance if necessary, if it is bullying or abuse. Repetition, calm tone, not getting distracted by her responses - I need you to do x, how are you going to do that, what do you need from me to achieve it, when will it be done. I know it's not nice but it's that or be miserable...

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