Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

To be shit scared I'll loose my job

331 replies

SunshineInCorwall · 09/12/2022 16:07

We have a first come, first served for Christmas and if you work one Christmas Day you get the next off. Most of our team have children under 8.

This year its my turn to work. Howver, that every other Christmas I've been due to work recently, there has been some emergency and I've had to call in a day or so nefore Christmas. Kids sick, DH sick, you know real life!

Just overheard two colleagues seriously talking about whether they "take the hit now" and offer to swap with me now or which one will be on call to cover me over Christmas, so they can manage expectations for their kids, they seemed really worried as noth have had to step in on a previous Christmas. Our team leader also overheard and just said to them that she's "aware" and will move heaven and to protect their break. (she's already working running the whole dept over Christmas so won't see her children at all, so not sure what that means)

I'm shit scared that something will happen and I will loose my job. What can I do? My husband is wonderful but useless so can't leave him to anything.

Would you quietly approach colleagues and ask them to swap?

OP posts:
converseandjeans · 09/12/2022 16:35

Honestly, I'd hate to work with you and would probably wish you lost your job. It's harsh, I know but I never understand how people get away for being so unreliable when it matters.

Agree with this. I've never taken a child related sick day & I went back to work when mine were 4 months & 6 months old. I realise that's unusual but not everyone takes days off.

You need a plan in place so that you can reassure colleagues that you will definitely be there as scheduled.

There was a thread last week which was a completely different scenario. Recently single Mum of special needs child with no childcare option. That was different.

Helpwithdaughterpls · 09/12/2022 16:36

Your husband isn't wonderful

Lovageandrose · 09/12/2022 16:37

How hard is it to show up to work? Stop making excuses and go into work!!!!

NotToBeOrToBe · 09/12/2022 16:37

No. You got to work.

Christ, I despise people like you.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 09/12/2022 16:38

So because you’re not that fussy and have a shit husband your colleagues have to work every Christmas? If I was your colleague I’d be pleased if you lost your job because of your crap lifestyle choices. Though really I doubt this can be real.

girlmom21 · 09/12/2022 16:38

converseandjeans · 09/12/2022 16:35

Honestly, I'd hate to work with you and would probably wish you lost your job. It's harsh, I know but I never understand how people get away for being so unreliable when it matters.

Agree with this. I've never taken a child related sick day & I went back to work when mine were 4 months & 6 months old. I realise that's unusual but not everyone takes days off.

You need a plan in place so that you can reassure colleagues that you will definitely be there as scheduled.

There was a thread last week which was a completely different scenario. Recently single Mum of special needs child with no childcare option. That was different.

And the reason that mom even has to worry is because so many other people take the piss rather than considering those around them. Awful attitude OP.

AngelontopoftheTree · 09/12/2022 16:39

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon has it bang on the money! You were already planning a sick child/husband emergency & now you've been rumbled. Go to work ffs and stop being a selfish arse.
If you pull out again, you deserve to be sacked.

notanothertakeaway · 09/12/2022 16:39

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 09/12/2022 16:27

I call bullshit.

You were planning on calling in sick all along but your colleague’s conversation has worried you.

You thought they didn’t mind. Now you know they do.

You want to ‘swap’ because you’ve already made your Christmas plans and they don’t involve going into work.

I’ve worked with plenty of people like this.

If you don’t want to work Christmas find a job that doesn’t require you to.

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon I agree with you

SuperCamp · 09/12/2022 16:39

And yet your DH manages to hold down his own job, presumably.

See, as an employer this shit gives me the RAGE. I have always done my best to lift up women in the workplace, do my bit to close the pay gap, make sure female employees get access to training, promotion etc.

And then, time after time, mothers are the default to take the day off work due to sick child. The Dad is always much too professionally important / much too parentally incompetent to take the emergency childcare day.

Time for your DH to deal with, you know, real life.

mitsy5 · 09/12/2022 16:39

If you’re not prepared to have to work Christmas Day (and this is what it sounds like) then don’t work in a place that doesn’t close over Christmas.

LIZS · 09/12/2022 16:41

Your husband was sick , and ....? If you were unwell and in sole charge bet you would have to manage. Are you flaky at other times of year?

Kedece2410 · 09/12/2022 16:41

We've got one like this in my office. Thankfully she's on another team so doesn't directly affect me any more but she managed to swing about 6 Christmasses off in a row.

Were almost running a book on when she'll go sick this year. Because of this & her me me attitude in general shes the most disliked person in the entire building. She's tolerated, not liked by anyone

OP sounds cut from the same cloth

bossybloss · 09/12/2022 16:41

I also think that you have planned to call in sick (again) this Christmas Day.

I too have worked with people like you.I would also be pleased if you were fired ...sorry to be so blunt but I don’t know what reply you were expecting .

TabithaTittlemouse · 09/12/2022 16:41

Would you quietly approach colleagues and ask them to swap?

No. Although I wouldn’t be married to a man that can’t look after his own children either.

I had a colleague like you. We all worked extra because she was so rubbish. Luckily management became wise to it and she lost her job (not just that).

Maybe look for a new job that doesn’t involve working with others?

2pinkginsplease · 09/12/2022 16:41

I would be ensuring that I’m at my work , doing my job to give my colleagues a break like they deserve on their Christmas off. We all have to take a turn,.

your dh is an adult and will cope!

Passportpondery · 09/12/2022 16:42

You lost me at calling sick because your DH was ill! Why does a grown adult need you to stay home with him when he is ill?

Unless you are ill yourself (that’s so ill you can’t get out of bed) then get your arse to work this year!

User0610134057 · 09/12/2022 16:42

What a weird way to think about it. No of course don’t ask to swap now just do everything you can to make sure you make it into work.

Summersdreaming · 09/12/2022 16:42

Bit goady to throw that line in about your useless husband, good way to get lots of angry responses..

girlmom21 · 09/12/2022 16:42

bossybloss · 09/12/2022 16:41

I also think that you have planned to call in sick (again) this Christmas Day.

I too have worked with people like you.I would also be pleased if you were fired ...sorry to be so blunt but I don’t know what reply you were expecting .

I think she wasn't expecting people to see straight through her

Prinnny · 09/12/2022 16:43

Oh god, your poor colleagues it’s awful having a liability team member, please try not to flake this year!

JustAnotherManicNameChange · 09/12/2022 16:43

Unless either kids or husband are in death's bed, you go to work. They'll live. If he's so incompetent you seriously worry about their safety if left alone, then he's not wonderful.

It sounds more like you've been getting out of your Xmas shift, and were planning to do the same this year but now you know they're onto you.

Georgeskitchen · 09/12/2022 16:44

It does seem a tad "convenient" that every Christmas you have been due to work, along comes an "emergency" that prevents you from doing so. I can imagine your colleagues taking bets on what will happen this year.
Unless it's a life or death situation you should be making sure that your DH is stepping up and doing the child care. Or alternatively find a job which doesn't require you to work over Christmas!!

FuckMyLife2022 · 09/12/2022 16:44

If you were a single mother I’d have sympathy. But you’re married. There is another grown ass adult in your home who is the other parent to your children. I would be furious as a colleague and as your boss I would be looking for a way to sack you.

Itsthewhitehat · 09/12/2022 16:44

Is this for real? Every Christmas it’s been your turn to work, you just happen to have something happen where you can’t. And your excuse is that you husband can not be trusted with the kids?

Ao if you went into hospital social services would need to take them? Because he can’t be trusted at all with them? He has some sort of health issue where he can’t possibly look after his own children?

I hate working Christmas, so I changed industries (in part) because I wanted to start having them off.

You should that instead of happily ruining other peoples christmases because you don’t want to do it.

Overthebow · 09/12/2022 16:45

im not even sure how you got away with not coming in because your husband was sick. If I called up my work with that line I’d get laughed at (unless DH was in hospital of course).