People and lifts!

[PearsandAlmonds]

What is it about lifts that brings the worst out in people?

We have a woman who is currently interning for a short period of time in our department (in her thirties - not a teen).

While I don't directly work in the area she's in, her manager got in contact with me because we live in the same area and asked if I could bring her in for about a month, six weeks at the most, until she is moved on to the next department in her internship. She's been waiting at the end of my road every morning, and I have been picking her up with absolutely no issues for about a month. She is on time, always ready to go. Perfectly pleasant.

I am away for work for a few days, so I mentioned this to her in advance and also let her manager know in passing that alternate arrangements need to be made (as he thought the 6 weeks were fully covered)

She turned up this morning, knocked on my front door, and when my DH answered, said that she expected that 'someone' would drive her in because I was away.

He laughingly said, 'What, on the handlebars of my bicycle?' She got very affronted at that. (He was dressed in cycle gear, to be clear, and had a bike out in the hallway ready to go - as he was on the way to his job)

She then just stood there and asked what he was going to do about it (not aggressively but obviously expecting him to solve or do something) - he said 'I am sure you will work it out' and cycled off

Who does that?!?

Sat for 20mins after your DH left?

As said she is deffo deranged and unhinged. Who does that, like, seriously?!

This is hilariously entitled!! Well at least you won't have to continue the lifts when you get back as she's scuppered your willingingess to help with her moronic behaviour.

I guess she saw the words ‘alternate arrangements need to be made’ and didn’t get the clue that OP wouldn’t be the one making those arrangements.

Amazing, just amazing. If she can't figure out how to make alternative arrangements (at the very least asking the manager for an alternative arrangement) then it sounds like she's not cut out for working life so perhaps the internship won't lead anywhere. Interested to hear what the manager says about this!

I'm shamelessly place marking to find out what your manager says when they reply.

Just curious as she’s in her 30s - is this some kind of supported “access to work” internship? Like is she neurodivergent or something, which might explain why she didn’t understand what to do? I haven’t come across internships for people in their 30s really so just wondering if there’s something else behind this.

What bizarre behaviour. Nothing to do with lifts though. In my experience the really weird lift behaviour is the people who behave as if giving someone a lift to a place you’re going to already is on a par with donating a kidney….

This is brilliant 🤣
I like your husband’s response.
Please update us.

@CurlewKatesome people value the time alone in their car during the commute. I like to listen to my audiobook or a podcast or sing along to my playlist - I couldn't do any of that if I had someone in the car with me. If it's someone you don't know very well, you have to make awkward conversation.
I really don't think that employers should be straying into people's free time by asking them to take on obligations to get other employees to the workplace. It's overstepping, puts everyone in an awkward situation and is quite rude imo.

If a driver wants to offer a lift, then they will do, without the interference of their boss!

LTB

That is absolutely appalling behaviour and I would refuse to give her lifts here on. I would contact your manager and tell him first and explain that she was rude. What a cheeky fucker.

So was she contributing to petrol?

Could DP not have booked her a taxi on his tab?

Why has no one told her OP is away and therefore other arrangements for transport needed to be made before now?
Why would OP’s DP be obligated to provide a taxi?
If she isn’t able to get herself to work what happens if her placement is extended or made permanent? Whose employer here transports them to work?
The only workplaces I know providing transportation are factories in remote locations who bus in whole shifts of staff, usually agency temps, from other areas. But they charge a nominal fare.

There is something about people who don’t drive that makes them ridiculously entitled. Not everyone obviously but there is certainly an expectation that they’ll be given a lift everywhere even if it’s massively inconvenient for everyone else. I’ve paid a lot of money to be able to drive and that is for me, not some randomer’s benefit.

I work with someone who constantly expects lifts but she always wants someone else to arrange them. She got another manager (her mum - whole other thread!) to ask me if I would ask a colleague I know well but she’d be working with to give her a lift. I responded to tell them both that he is a lovely guy so I’m sure, if she asked really nicely with a smile, he’d be accommodating. I then messaged him separately to give him the heads up and said it was perfectly fine for him to say no.

Also, why is the manager getting involved in this?! You take a job knowing where it is and how you get there is your problem!

Why on earth would he? Is she not an a grown up?

Apologies I missed that she WAS told alternative arrangements were needed on OP’s absence. 😊

Please tell me you're not serious!

I’m reading the taxi comment as sarcastic… I hope!

Unless you work on a construction site in the middle of nowhere or somewhere ridiculously rural I don't understand why she can't get to work on public transport?

Lots of places aren't accessible via public transport, or it doesn't run frequently enough to get a person to and from work on time. But then, you don't generally take a job in a place you can't get to. If someone is nice enough to drive you, you pay petrol and are appreciative, not demanding!

Same! this has too win the award for most batshit cheeky-fuckery.

I cannot believe some people - what on earth is wrong with them?

In my experience, the really weird lift behaviours are feeling entitled to a lift from someone you barely know, assuming its convenient for them when you have no idea where they might need to go or what responsibilities they have after work, not offering petrol money or expressing any thanks, and just expecting them to drive completely out of their way because you think the world revolves around you. Thats what I find the most strange

Here is a classic example of no good deed goes unpunished.

why does it even matter?