Been shafted by boss

Modified-IRL

Howdee

Im working in my job just under a year, and since i started my boss handed his reigns over to his PA as manager as he is over the whole division and wanted a lesser role im guessing...

Anyway to cut a story short, since she has taken over i feel shes out to make her name and im been used as bait..

I wouldnt be the best time-keeper BUT everyone compliments my good work etc

I've been pulled in twice for lateness both over "Falsifying documents" basically because i was rostered for say 9am and wasnt in til 9:10 etc

So was on my last warning over this and after my last warning i was put on the late shift instead of early for 3 weeks which was unfair in my opinion!!

Anyway i went on 2 weeks hols come back to normal shifts etc then one morning i woke up 2 hours late and rang in sick, was told by original gaffer to get a sick note "as a get out of jail" kinda thing i was like ehh ok??

So next i hear im told to come see my manager as she wanted an "investigation meeting" so i was like ok, gave her the doc cert etc

Then she proceeds to say ye know you didnt follow company policy etc calling in 2 hours late is no good etc and using my past record against me, so now im on 3 months of late shift pattern...

Surely there taking the mickey with me???

Any help advice welcome :pac:

Cill Dara Abu

If weren't late for work all the time you might not have a problem.

amdublin

Why the inverted commas around falsifying documents?

Did you change a document to say you were in at 9am when you were actually in at 9.10?

What is the company process in relation to calling in sick?

dunleakelleher

IMHO. Your taking the mickey with them.
My advice is simple, be on time.
Doesn't matter how good a worker you are, you are no good if your at home.

Jumpy

Easy fix. Be there 10 minutes early instead.

I dont see a work problem here. I see someone who is not happy about being pulled up on timekeeping issues.

You are not being shafted. Its obviously not a flexible workplace, so be on time.

vinn

in business you must be on time could you not have got up earlier after your first warning looks like you treated it as a bit of a joke
i am always on time or early and would always expect others to do the same
would you like to be left outside standing in the rain by your boss if they were to be late every morning ?

Nody

Appears to me she's doing her job and you're not. Being on time is not something that should be hard to do nor something you should be surprised to be pulled up on if you're late. Does not matter if "people say I do a good job" if you can't even be in on time.

I'd make sure to come early, not pull any sickies after a night out and keep my socks up because you're very close to getting fired.

mickoneill30

If the shafting goes away by you coming in on time then you have your answer.

Your latest was that you woke up two hours late and then ring in sick. If you were the boss what would you think of that employee? Unless you're the best worker ever you can be replaced by someone who also does a good job and come in when he's meant to.

Your boss may be using his PA to avoid confrontation. He can appear nice while getting her to do his dirty work. If it was all her he could tell her to leave you alone. More likely he wants staff he can rely on.

What's that bit about after your last warning you were put on the late shift. You find that unfair? After a last warning the next step is normally to be fired. So after your last warning you overslept and rang in sick two hours late. :eek:

lucernarian

I don't think it's "doing her job" to give out for calling in 2 hours late for being sick and with a cert for it. If she has no reason to think the OP was pulling a sickie/slept in or whatever, it's unreasonable to expect sick people to make phonecalls early in the morning when it can be more than tough enough to drag yourself in to the doctor.

It's fair to say the OP was asking for this but I don't see what justification the management involved have for changing to the late shift for 3 months. Even if he got what he deserved I don't see how "company policy" can demand someone call in sick before an AM deadline while they have enough to be worrying about. I.e. getting better.

Tefral

Consistantly being late will get up any employers nose. Seems like you had an easy ride till now... you sound unreliable. Theres alot of people out there who get compliments on their work but also are on time...

swe_fi

Modified-IRL wrote: »

Howdee

Im working in my job just under a year, and since i started my boss handed his reigns over to his PA as manager as he is over the whole division and wanted a lesser role im guessing...

Anyway to cut a story short, since she has taken over i feel shes out to make her name and im been used as bait..

I wouldnt be the best time-keeper BUT everyone compliments my good work etc

I've been pulled in twice for lateness both over "Falsifying documents" basically because i was rostered for say 9am and wasnt in til 9:10 etc

So was on my last warning over this and after my last warning i was put on the late shift instead of early for 3 weeks which was unfair in my opinion!!

Anyway i went on 2 weeks hols come back to normal shifts etc then one morning i woke up 2 hours late and rang in sick, was told by original gaffer to get a sick note "as a get out of jail" kinda thing i was like ehh ok??

So next i hear im told to come see my manager as she wanted an "investigation meeting" so i was like ok, gave her the doc cert etc

Then she proceeds to say ye know you didnt follow company policy etc calling in 2 hours late is no good etc and using my past record against me, so now im on 3 months of late shift pattern...

Surely there taking the mickey with me???

Any help advice welcome :pac:

Advice: Change Thread title to a more appropriate one such as "I'm looking for sympathy"

Ok so maybe this PA is a bit of a meanie but come on...who is being shafted here? It is not you. You are extremely lucky to still be in a job, believe me.

I have been you (exact same situation) a few years back so i can somewhat sympathize with you but you need to straighten up. Only one person can fix this situation, and that is you.

Try to put yourself in the Managers shoes for a second. If you ever become a manager and have to deal with people like you describe above (you), you will appreciate how frustrating it is with people being late, pulling sickies, taking the piss etc. The hardest part for any manager is that it undermines his/her authority in front of the rest of the team. If you are being let away with it, other people might think they can too and the situation can spiral out of control fairly quickly.

Cut out pulling sickies - it is not on. See what you can do to make sure that you get up in the morning every day and come in 10-15 mins EARLY to work. It is not that hard, you should be able to do it.

Do something about this now, or you'll be out of a job very soon. Best of luck.

standard to call in sick early so they can make arrangements
not decide to not bother your backside getting up and ringing two hours late "sick"
for all they knew you were out drinking and just slept in with a hangover

stop taking the piss with your hours ffs

R P McMurphy

I think they could easily pull you up on taking sick leave immediately after holidays, most companies would have a policy against this

lucernarian

bluewolf wrote: »

standard to call in sick early so they can make arrangements
not decide to not bother your backside getting up and ringing two hours late "sick"
for all they knew you were out drinking and just slept in with a hangover

stop taking the piss with your hours ffs

And what if you're too sick to do that? Come on it's not like it should be prioritised over visiting the doctor asap. This OP gets no sympathy from me but I don't think the boss was correct in criticising this. A medical cert was presented.

To_be_confirmed

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

And what if you're too sick to do that? Come on it's not like it should be prioritised over visiting the doctor asap. This OP gets no sympathy from me but I don't think the boss was correct in criticising this. A medical cert was presented.

too sick to pick up the phone or send an email?
yeah you should do it before visiting the doctor
especially if you're only going because you were warned you should get a "get out of jail free card"

amdublin

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

And what if you're too sick to do that? Come on it's not like it should be prioritised over visiting the doctor asap. This OP gets no sympathy from me but I don't think the boss was correct in criticising this. A medical cert was presented.

Dude the op only went to the dr because he was given the heads up by his colleague.

Seriously, please do not waste your time and energy defending the op's behaviours.

mikemac

Surely there taking the mickey with me???

Other way around, it is you Sir taking the mickey

Managers don't want stress and you are making them nervous, you are unreliable.
No point going on about your good work if you are not there to do it

The thread title says a lot about your attitude

They're about ready to let you go OP but all is not lost.
Just sort yourself out, do well and in time this will be forgotton

lucernarian

amdublin wrote: »

Dude the op only went to the dr because he was given the heads up by his colleague.

Seriously, please do not waste your time and energy defending the op's behaviours.

I was not defending his behaviours. I clearly said I have no sympathy for the op. I'm pointing out that the boss is wrong to demand he called in earlier to say he was sick.

The OP could have even fraudulently written the med cert himself and if the boss saw no reason to see it was fake, then the boss shouldn't have reprimanded him for not notifying earlier. That point has nothing to do with whether the OP is right or not or whether he deserves it.

In answering the original question, while I think he deserves it I do also think they are now taking the mickey with using phoning in sick as a reason to give tougher work.

amdublin

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

I was not defending his behaviours. I clearly said I have no sympathy for the op. I'm pointing out that the boss is wrong to demand he called in earlier to say he was sick.

The OP could have even fraudulently written the med cert himself and if the boss saw no reason to see it was fake, then the boss shouldn't have reprimanded him for not notifying earlier. That point has nothing to do with whether the OP is right or not or whether he deserves it.

In answering the original question, while I think he deserves it I do also think they are now taking the mickey with using phoning in sick as a reason to give tougher work.

In most work places there are standards/processes in place about what time you must call in by. The op obviously did not adhere to them. The manager IS entitled to pull him up on this.

Throw in his previous history, more than entitled to enforce a sanction.

The manger has done nothing wrong here. The op has caused this situation.

But as mikemac said, op now is the time to turn that around: be on time, don't call in sick, dot the i's and cross the t's and keep your nose clean and keep out of trouble.

Good luck!

lucernarian

It's being pedantic but the boss can only judge a situation by the facts to hand. It's plausible that someone can be too sick to call until the migraine or whatever passes on. The management would obviously prefer if they were told before the shift starts etc but that's not always practical or even possible when you're sick. The OP deserves to be fired really but that doesn't mean that his boss is doing nothing wrong in this latest incident simply because "he deserves it"?

If the OP was hospitalised, clearly any half-decent boss would not have given a reprimand for not making a call. But where is the line drawn then? I think it's good that med certs in my experience don't say why the employee was sick. It's not the employer's business.

amdublin

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

I think it's good that med certs in my experience don't say why the employee was sick. It's not the employer's business.

Eh they do

MyKeyG

She does seem like the strict type but that's her prerogative if she is looking to climb the corporate ladder she HAS to be seen to be making sure everyone is towing the line. Seems like you're giving her ammunition to shoot you. If other people are on time then you don't really have an excuse.

MyKeyG

amdublin wrote: »

Eh they do

Not any of the ones I've ever got. Your employer has no right to know what was wrong with you only that a medical professional deemed you unfit to perform your duties. Your personal sickness is a matter of privacy and for a doctor to put it on a cert without your permission is a breach of Doctor Patient confidentiality.

rainbowtrout

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

It's being pedantic but the boss can only judge a situation by the facts to hand. It's plausible that someone can be too sick to call until the migraine or whatever passes on. The management would obviously prefer if they were told before the shift starts etc but that's not always practical or even possible when you're sick. The OP deserves to be fired really but that doesn't mean that his boss is doing nothing wrong in this latest incident simply because "he deserves it"?

If the OP was hospitalised, clearly any half-decent boss would not have given a reprimand for not making a call. But where is the line drawn then? I think it's good that med certs in my experience don't say why the employee was sick. It's not the employer's business.

But in the vast majority of cases a person is perfectly capable of making the call, or getting someone else to do it for them. If you know the night before that you will not be well enough to work in the morning you can ring and leave a message or send an email. If you wake up sick it only takes a minute to ring and say you're not going to be in.

I'm a teacher and we have a policy in my school that if we are ringing in sick that we contact the school before 8.30 so arrangements can be made to cover our classes. It's a completely reasonable request, as it is in any other workplace where work needs to be covered.

OP is at fault, and looking for sympathy. The OP was not hospitalized, they were advised to get a cert to cover themselves because they slept in. It's the OP has a problem with getting up on time for work.

amdublin

MyKeyG wrote: »

Not any of the ones I've ever got. Your employer has no right to know what was wrong with you only that a medical professional deemed you unfit to perform your duties. Your personal sickness is a matter of privacy and for a doctor to put it on a cert without your permission is a breach of Doctor Patient confidentiality.

I've never ever seen one without the reason.

amdublin

MyKeyG wrote: »

Not any of the ones I've ever got. Your employer has no right to know what was wrong with you only that a medical professional deemed you unfit to perform your duties. Your personal sickness is a matter of privacy and for a doctor to put it on a cert without your permission is a breach of Doctor Patient confidentiality.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/sick_leave.html

See paragraph 4, the cert should state the nature of your illness.

lucernarian

rainbowtrout wrote: »

But in the vast majority of cases a person is perfectly capable of making the call, or getting someone else to do it for them. If you know the night before that you will not be well enough to work in the morning you can ring and leave a message or send an email. If you wake up sick it only takes a minute to ring and say you're not going to be in.

I'm a teacher and we have a policy in my school that if we are ringing in sick that we contact the school before 8.30 so arrangements can be made to cover our classes. It's a completely reasonable request, as it is in any other workplace where work needs to be covered.

OP is at fault, and looking for sympathy. The OP was not hospitalized, they were advised to get a cert to cover themselves because they slept in. It's the OP has a problem with getting up on time for work.

You can say "in the vast majority of cases" all day long, if there are people out there who will get severe migraine before work then they will be scarcely able to leave their bed for a few hours never mind make a phone call. Even if it's not common, it's certainly possible. If the boss doesn't know why the employee was sick, the boss shouldn't assume that he could have called in earlier.

@amdublin, I said that they don't state the reason for illness in my experience They may do so in any other job but that doesn't change how I didn't get certs with a specified reason.

amdublin

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

@amdublin, I said that they don't state the reason for illness in my experience They may do so in any other job but that doesn't change how I didn't get certs with a specified reason.

It's not related to your job dude

Did you read the citizens information link I posted?

MyKeyG

amdublin wrote: »

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/sick_leave.html

See paragraph 4, the cert should state the nature of your illness.

'nature of illness' is a very broad term. 'Female condition' would suffice instead of 'menstrual cramps' for example. Your boss cannot inquire of you personally the precise nature of the illness.

amdublin

We're going around in circles here.

MyKeyG

amdublin wrote: »

We're going around in circles here.

I don't agree! I was incorrectly under the impression you didn't have to tell your boss the reason because it's a matter of privacy, I stand corrected. I do however stand by my statement that your boss has no right to ask you personally the precise nature of your condition.

Modified-IRL

OK

Gonna clear a few things up here!!

Firstly i was asking for advice and opinions not sympathy im not that bad...

Also i see a few people saying your unreliable etc i never said i was constantly late i was late here and there not everyday, we all have bad habits and this is mine that i go through phases where im on time then fall back into bad habits etc Nobodys perfect...

Just another thing, as i said previously i called in sick as i woke up late.. Yes i woke up late as i just exhausted and obviously didnt get to set an alarm etc nor charge my phone etc but that was my first time calling in sick as my health is quite good despite me been a diabetic...

Anyway i just feel abit hard done by working til midnight instead of 6pm and miss out on training etc and feel its abit unfair to be put on a late pattern for such a long period thats all...

rainbowtrout

Modified-IRL wrote: »

OK

Gonna clear a few things up here!!

Firstly i was asking for advice and opinions not sympathy im not that bad...

Also i see a few people saying your unreliable etc i never said i was constantly late i was late here and there not everyday, we all have bad habits and this is mine that i go through phases where im on time then fall back into bad habits etc Nobodys perfect...

Just another thing, as i said previously i called in sick as i woke up late.. Yes i woke up late as i just exhausted and obviously didnt get to set an alarm etc nor charge my phone etc but that was my first time calling in sick as my health is quite good despite me been a diabetic...

Anyway i just feel abit hard done by working til midnight instead of 6pm and miss out on training etc and feel its abit unfair to be put on a late pattern for such a long period thats all...

Bad habits are not an excuse for being late for work. Bad habits will get you fired. I could just as easily say my bad habit is to go out clubbing on a Sunday night and therefore ring in sick with a hangover on a Monday. Not gonna wash with the boss.

You can choose to get up earlier or you can choose to be late. It doesn't take a minute to set the alarm clock or plug in your phone.

You're on the late shift because your boss can't guarantee you'll get out of bed on time for the early shift. Show them you're reliable and they might change your work pattern.

lucernarian

rainbowtrout wrote: »

Bad habits are not an excuse for being late for work. Bad habits will get you fired. I could just as easily say my bad habit is to go out clubbing on a Sunday night and therefore ring in sick with a hangover on a Monday. Not gonna wash with the boss.

You can choose to get up earlier or you can choose to be late. It doesn't take a minute to set the alarm clock or plug in your phone.

You're on the late shift because your boss can't guarantee you'll get out of bed on time for the early shift. Show them you're reliable and they might change your work pattern.

The boss wasn't shown a particularly good reason to put the OP on the long shifts in the first place... If there was a med cert handed in for the absence, it should have been end of discussion. It's not reasonable to expect contact before some morning deadline in every circumstance. He's on the late shift because the boss seized on a weak excuse to punish for previous misdemeanours. I'll accept the boss may have had good reason to think there should've been an earlier calling-in-sick but the OP needs to clarify that.

rainbowtrout

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

The boss wasn't shown a particularly good reason to put the OP on the long shifts in the first place... If there was a med cert handed in for the absence, it should have been end of discussion. It's not reasonable to expect contact before some morning deadline in every circumstance. He's on the late shift because the boss seized on a weak excuse to punish for previous misdemeanours. I'll accept the boss may have had good reason to think there should've been an earlier calling-in-sick but the OP needs to clarify that.

Well you must work somewhere particularly lenient. Anywhere I've ever worked it's been expected that you ring in before you start work if you are going to be absent. It's common practice in most places I'd imagine. Whether the OP had a medical cert or not isn't really relevant, he's said himself he's been late a few times and this time he slept in, while he may have rung in sick it was over 2 hours after he should have been in work. That isn't acceptable in most workplaces.

Spunk84

you are gone before you start, the company followed procedure even to an extant to change you on different shifts. You pretty much walked straight into it yourself. The only way your going to get out off being fired is go into the General manager or HR and break down and cry and say you have an addiction:D they cant fire you and have to send you for help;)

lucernarian

rainbowtrout wrote: »

Well you must work somewhere particularly lenient. Anywhere I've ever worked it's been expected that you ring in before you start work if you are going to be absent. It's common practice in most places I'd imagine. Whether the OP had a medical cert or not isn't really relevant, he's said himself he's been late a few times and this time he slept in, while he may have rung in sick it was over 2 hours after he should have been in work. That isn't acceptable in most workplaces.

Ah here, if someone had to be hospitalised for example then they wouldn't be grilled over not calling in by most reasonable managers. It's one thing expecting the call in, it's another thing discplining a broken rule in all circumstances. But if the boss knew the reason for "being sick" then I think it's harsh but justified at least.

Modified-IRL

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

The boss wasn't shown a particularly good reason to put the OP on the long shifts in the first place... If there was a med cert handed in for the absence, it should have been end of discussion. It's not reasonable to expect contact before some morning deadline in every circumstance. He's on the late shift because the boss seized on a weak excuse to punish for previous misdemeanours. I'll accept the boss may have had good reason to think there should've been an earlier calling-in-sick but the OP needs to clarify that.

I thought i specified i handed in a doc cert when i had the "investigation meeting" which cost me €30...

Now i looked at my employee handbook and im not required to give a doc cert for 3 days, i didnt mind i still have a job im not saying calling in 2 hours late is excusable i just dont think it was fair to use my history against me...

After my previous disciplinary i made a huge effort and things were going grand(which they noted), came back from 2 weeks hols and then i had this calling in sick incident which is unsociable!

Im gonna prove them wrong whilst im looking for a new job at present, start a fresh slate elsewhere!

tenchi-fan

The whole privacy implications of the sick note is completely off topic.

Op, of course they are going to use your past record against you. You have a history of lates. Then you come in late when already on your final warning and armed with a sick note that wasn't even requested...

Your employer was right to say "oh, another shaggy dog tale. The op has 101 reasons for being late, let's make it easy and just put them on the late shift from now on"

Anyone with several verbal or written warnings against them has clearly come to the attention of management for bad reasons. I think you're right to look for a new job and a fresh start. However, until you get one you need to keep your nose clean.

seamus

^^
What TF says.

You had a pattern of lates, you'd even been formally warned, twice, in relation to it. Then one day you ring in "sick" two hours after your shift was supposed to have started. Of course your history is going to come into it.

If you'd managed to hold down a couple of years without any patterns re-emerging, then I would agree that it would be unfair to drag your history back into it, but seeing as all of these incidents have occured within a couple of months (and in your first year!), then they would be silly not to look at your history when deciding what to do.

I think you've come up with a good solution tbh in searching for a new job elsewhere. If you stay where you are, it will take 2 - 3 years of diligent timekeeping and honesty to rebuild a reputation of being reliable and in the meantime you might find it hard to work there if your every move is being examined and reported on.

swe_fi

OP i understand if you are looking for a new job but will things change though?

Not trying to pick on you but it comes across as you you are looking to blame someone / something else for your shortcomings, that is what you need to start doing less of.

Even if you are looking to change jobs for whatever reasons, turn this around first. It does not take 2 years or - can be done in 6 months or so. You are actually in a good position in a way because from now on all is an improvement. Ok you'll probably be watched but as long as you keep straight people will appreciate this change as something positive.

Gmol

swe_fi wrote: »

OP i understand if you are looking for a new job but will things change though?

Not trying to pick on you but it comes across as you you are looking to blame someone / something else for your shortcomings, that is what you need to start doing less of.

Even if you are looking to change jobs for whatever reasons, turn this around first. It does not take 2 years or - can be done in 6 months or so. You are actually in a good position in a way because from now on all is an improvement. Ok you'll probably be watched but as long as you keep straight people will appreciate this change as something positive.

Good post. OP you mightn't like to hear this but you need to change your attitude and understand where your boss is coming from.They have decided to tighten up time keeping procedure so you need to fall in with this. When the PA became the new boss it's like you are back to starting a job again. You have to prove yourself to her again and prove to her that you are reliable. Remember she is new to the job as well and you are providing her with an unwelcome problem. You are going to lose out and it's your own fault unfortunately for you. Seriously I would advise that you turn this arround, accept your 'punishment' and see where it leaves you

rossc007

Things are not good in the job market at present, if I was you I'd take it on the chin and make a point of getting in early. If you can't be on time, then your never going to be appreciated in any job imo, its kids stuff.