[windiewasher]

My worker messaged me monday to say he needed the week off to look after his mum as she was having a op.and has to look after his brother who learning difficultied.
I said ok.
I asked him if hes ok for next week.he says should be but dont want to commit himself as he doesnt want to let me down but after next week his dad is off work to look after him mum and brother.
What does everyone think?

[robertphil]

i usually find when one excuse is followed with a secondary  ,its all a crock o sh/t

 make sure he has a shedload of work the minute  he returns ,he needs to hit the ground running with  his head scrubbin in the dirt - this will make him sink or swim and teach him loyalty

[windiewasher]

i usually find when one excuse is followed with a secondary  ,its all a crock o sh/t

 make sure he has a shedload of work the minute  he returns ,he needs to hit the ground running with  his head scrubbin in the dirt - this will make him sink or swim and teach him loyalty

Im thinking the same,make him work like a nutter.
He seemed decent at the start but hes still too slow and find i have to keep an eye on him.he also uses twice the amount of water needed.

[robertphil]

  praps take on a back up worker. then the original will know he cannot mess you about cos the new guy is hungry to work.   iv 4 workers at the mo,all youngsters , anybody looking like a deadbeat well  it never bothers me now

[Spruce]

Or you could go and visit his mother with some flowers and enquire after her health from her. Don't tell him though.

Years ago I did that with an employee overseas. The maid he employed at home told me where his mother lived and his mother didn't even know he was sick, let alone been in hospital with a serious back op.

Turns out his girlfriend worked for a doctor's surgery, she nicked a sick note pad and Glenn (the employee) was writing his own sicknotes and handing them directly into the personel dept.

[windymiller]

Put him on a zero hour contract   

[Spruce]

Put him on a zero hour contract    

Sad, but you can see why business does it. In fact that is probably not such a bad idea - and I'm sorry if this case is a genuine one.

Taking on staff means you are a manager and you have to manage them. Sometimes you need to play mind games with these guys.

When I first came here 20 years ago, I got a temporary position in a service and retail outlet. There was eight staff. Being new I didn't know the history of anyone but within a few days the assistant manager took ill with a runny tummy and vomiting. The company allowed its staff to self certify illness up to 3 days, after that a doctor's note was required.

The following month the same thing happened. I phoned the personnel dept in Slough and we found that he was sick about the same time every month with a self certified sickness and diarrhea bug – a few days before payday for the last 2 years.

Anyway, I painted a picture of what this fellow would look like to the staff on the evening of the third day before we closed up. What would you look like if you had been vomiting etc for 3 days? No colour, loss of weight, drawn, sickly looking, etc. This was the mental picture they took home with them. So when he arrived at work fit and healthy the next day, they caught him out.

I never had to say much about this to him, the staff did it for me. All I did say to him was that the timing of every sick spell had been noted by the personnel dept and as it was a few days before each payday, we believe that you didn’t bother to come to work because you didn’t have money the put petrol into the car.

I was there in that branch for another nine months and not one person was sick. They were watching each other.  

[Richard iSparkle]

My worker messaged me monday to say he needed the week off to look after his mum as she was having a op.and has to look after his brother who learning difficultied.
I said ok.
I asked him if hes ok for next week.he says should be but dont want to commit himself as he doesnt want to let me down but after next week his dad is off work to look after him mum and brother.
What does everyone think?

people are allowed to take carers leave if they are the main carer for a person.  you would usually expect the mother's husband to be the main carer, rather than the son (unless of course the husband isn't in a relationship with them any longer).

if the son is taking the time off work rather than the father i would want to know why this is the case?  is the father's job seen as more important or what?  from my point of view my own business is important, and his being off work threatens your business (lost customers, lost sales, staff stress thru overwork, your own stress....).

if there is a genuine reason why the son is the mothers main carer then the employee is allowed to be off work to enable them to arrange other care.  this might for instance take half a day in most circumstance, possibly a day in others.  carers leave is time for them to put this leave in place IN AN EMERGENCY.  It is not for them to take time out to care for someone.

[andyM]

My worker messaged me monday to say he needed the week off to look after his mum as she was having a op.and has to look after his brother who learning difficultied.
I said ok.
I asked him if hes ok for next week.he says should be but dont want to commit himself as he doesnt want to let me down but after next week his dad is off work to look after him mum and brother.
What does everyone think?

people are allowed to take carers leave if they are the main carer for a person.  you would usually expect the mother's husband to be the main carer, rather than the son (unless of course the husband isn't in a relationship with them any longer).

if the son is taking the time off work rather than the father i would want to know why this is the case?  is the father's job seen as more important or what?  from my point of view my own business is important, and his being off work threatens your business (lost customers, lost sales, staff stress thru overwork, your own stress....).

if there is a genuine reason why the son is the mothers main carer then the employee is allowed to be off work to enable them to arrange other care.  this might for instance take half a day in most circumstance, possibly a day in others.  carers leave is time for them to put this leave in place IN AN EMERGENCY.  It is not for them to take time out to care for someone.

Maybe Windiewasher should be asking him those questions then?
There could be a genuine reason why the father can't take time off work at the moment (self-employed breadwinner of the family, the mortgage payer, a contract that has to be finished?)
It's all very well saying the father should be the carer but it might not be as clear cut as that.
If I was in Windiewasher's position I would be having a frank and open discussion with the worker and set some boundaries.
 

[Richard iSparkle]

My worker messaged me monday to say he needed the week off to look after his mum as she was having a op.and has to look after his brother who learning difficultied.
I said ok.
I asked him if hes ok for next week.he says should be but dont want to commit himself as he doesnt want to let me down but after next week his dad is off work to look after him mum and brother.
What does everyone think?

people are allowed to take carers leave if they are the main carer for a person.  you would usually expect the mother's husband to be the main carer, rather than the son (unless of course the husband isn't in a relationship with them any longer).

if the son is taking the time off work rather than the father i would want to know why this is the case?  is the father's job seen as more important or what?  from my point of view my own business is important, and his being off work threatens your business (lost customers, lost sales, staff stress thru overwork, your own stress....).

if there is a genuine reason why the son is the mothers main carer then the employee is allowed to be off work to enable them to arrange other care.  this might for instance take half a day in most circumstance, possibly a day in others.  carers leave is time for them to put this leave in place IN AN EMERGENCY.  It is not for them to take time out to care for someone.

Maybe Windiewasher should be asking him those questions then?
There could be a genuine reason why the father can't take time off work at the moment (self-employed breadwinner of the family, the mortgage payer, a contract that has to be finished?)
It's all very well saying the father should be the carer but it might not be as clear cut as that.
If I was in Windiewasher's position I would be having a frank and open discussion with the worker and set some boundaries.
 

the father being the 'main breadwinner' isn't a valid reason for one of my staff members.  you're employing them not their family with all it's family politics...

[andyM]

My worker messaged me monday to say he needed the week off to look after his mum as she was having a op.and has to look after his brother who learning difficultied.
I said ok.
I asked him if hes ok for next week.he says should be but dont want to commit himself as he doesnt want to let me down but after next week his dad is off work to look after him mum and brother.
What does everyone think?

people are allowed to take carers leave if they are the main carer for a person.  you would usually expect the mother's husband to be the main carer, rather than the son (unless of course the husband isn't in a relationship with them any longer).

if the son is taking the time off work rather than the father i would want to know why this is the case?  is the father's job seen as more important or what?  from my point of view my own business is important, and his being off work threatens your business (lost customers, lost sales, staff stress thru overwork, your own stress....).

if there is a genuine reason why the son is the mothers main carer then the employee is allowed to be off work to enable them to arrange other care.  this might for instance take half a day in most circumstance, possibly a day in others.  carers leave is time for them to put this leave in place IN AN EMERGENCY.  It is not for them to take time out to care for someone.

Maybe Windiewasher should be asking him those questions then?
There could be a genuine reason why the father can't take time off work at the moment (self-employed breadwinner of the family, the mortgage payer, a contract that has to be finished?)
It's all very well saying the father should be the carer but it might not be as clear cut as that.
If I was in Windiewasher's position I would be having a frank and open discussion with the worker and set some boundaries.
 

the father being the 'main breadwinner' isn't a valid reason for one of my staff members.  you're employing them not their family with all it's family politics...

It's your business and you are entitled to run it any way you see fit.
However if this fellas story is genuine, just take a moment and consider that some people do not have a choice. 

[Ian101]

Yes heartless to your business and its needs so what if his mum is ill or the dog is unwell tell him to get his arse into work or u gonna replace him

[roundbuilder]

If he is normally good and reliable, give him benefit of the doubt.
He was good enough to be honest and let you know and even said how his dad would do the honours the following week.
Just means doing it yourself for a few weeks... I feel your pain having to work hard again lol.

[windiewasher]

Great points everyone.i must be honest im not happy and some of your replys were my exact thoughts.
Such as his dads job is far more important than his etc and the fact i didnt know his mum was going in for a op till the night before.
Ive not replied to his last message and im not going to.
I have to say im a bit angry.i pick him up from his home and drop him off everyday.i have also been out my way on a few occasions to drop him off.
Add to the fact hes not very quick and uses twice the amount of water he should.
Also i went around the back of a first clean last week and said deliver some leaflets why i go round and when i got back was scoffing him face in the van.
Found out he delivered 7 leaflets on a block baring in mind theres 100s of houses.
If or when he comes back hes going to find out what work really is.

[windiewasher]

If he is normally good and reliable, give him benefit of the doubt.
He was good enough to be honest and let you know and even said how his dad would do the honours the following week.
Just means doing it yourself for a few weeks... I feel your pain having to work hard again lol.

I know what your saying mick but i have had jobs where if i didnt turn up for work i would be sacked.like somebody above said hes not her carer so wouldnt be allowed sick leave.

[CLEANCARE WC]

Put him on a zero hour contract    

Sad, but you can see why business does it. In fact that is probably not such a bad idea - and I'm sorry if this case is a genuine one.

Taking on staff means you are a manager and you have to manage them. Sometimes you need to play mind games with these guys.

When I first came here 20 years ago, I got a temporary position in a service and retail outlet. There was eight staff. Being new I didn't know the history of anyone but within a few days the assistant manager took ill with a runny tummy and vomiting. The company allowed its staff to self certify illness up to 3 days, after that a doctor's note was required.

The following month the same thing happened. I phoned the personnel dept in Slough and we found that he was sick about the same time every month with a self certified sickness and diarrhea bug – a few days before payday for the last 2 years.

Anyway, I painted a picture of what this fellow would look like to the staff on the evening of the third day before we closed up. What would you look like if you had been vomiting etc for 3 days? No colour, loss of weight, drawn, sickly looking, etc. This was the mental picture they took home with them. So when he arrived at work fit and healthy the next day, they caught him out.

I never had to say much about this to him, the staff did it for me. All I did say to him was that the timing of every sick spell had been noted by the personnel dept and as it was a few days before each payday, we believe that you didn’t bother to come to work because you didn’t have money the put petrol into the car.

I was there in that branch for another nine months and not one person was sick. They were watching each other. 

nice work bruce   

[robertphil]

If or when he comes back hes going to find out what work really is.

  thats the best way .  at the same time put out the feelers for a replacement, you just know he will cry off ill  at the first frost . 

 you have to be tough with employees ,iv learnt this out the hard way  . 

[bobplum]

zero hour contract....problem solved

[Smudger]

Well from the business side of things it very much sounds like he's not worth keeping, perhaps you needed to address the water use age and speed at an earlier stage of his employment.

I occasionally drop off one of the lads if it's convenient but never pick up, part of being employed is to make your way to and from work it's all part of the 'effort' of having a job.

Not to shock you but perhaps your window cleaning job is not the be all, end all at whatever you pay be it min wage or more - dad may have a £40k plus job with pension and already used all holiday to look after his wife.

Look at it from his side, talk to him, get information about the family - make the best INFORMED decision you can. If it were the other way round would you not like your employer to be considerate at a time like this?

Darran

[home6442]

Well from the business side of things it very much sounds like he's not worth keeping, perhaps you needed to address the water use age and speed at an earlier stage of his employment.

I occasionally drop off one of the lads if it's convenient but never pick up, part of being employed is to make your way to and from work it's all part of the 'effort' of having a job.

Not to shock you but perhaps your window cleaning job is not the be all, end all at whatever you pay be it min wage or more - dad may have a £40k plus job with pension and already used all holiday to look after his wife.

Look at it from his side, talk to him, get information about the family - make the best INFORMED decision you can. If it were the other way round would you not like your employer to be considerate at a time like this?

Darran

Excellent post Smudger.
I personally think that people should have to take an I.Q. test before being legally allowed to employ.
Imagine having to work for some of these guys above, talk about Victorian Britian.