stress at work?

Question

a girl at work was 1 1/2 hours late for work today, claiming that she had a doctors appointment, she did not mention the appoitment previously, she has an appointment card, but I am guessing that it was an emergency appointment, but in that case she would not get a card.... COULD BE A LIE!

Then she is now saying that she needs to go home beacuse of personal problems at home, but refuses to go into detail about it.

I am not a manager or supervisor, I am a senior member of staff but this girl is telling me that she wants to go now and asking me to let the managers know.

The managers are based in another city.

She is worrying that she will get the sack, because she is asking me to lie to the manager and tell them that she is ill, when there is nothing medically wrong with her, she is claiming there is something wrong at home.

She is always going to the doctors every fortnight for some reason.

What do you think of this situation.

By the way, she has not passed her probation yet!

Answer 1

Heh, I've worked with a few hypocondriacs too where they are always ducking out because they feel a heart murmur one day and a brain tumor the next.

First, don't lie for her, don't risk your employment status for another person. Second, you are not responsible for her, you are not her manager or supervisor and therefore are on the periphery of the management chain in relation to her. Explain to her that she will need to contact the person she directly reports to and discuss the situation with them.

If she chooses to not discuss it with her manager then that is the risk she has to take.

This is not a situation you want to put yourself in the middle of. Besides, as you said, if she is always leaving for some reason, it's likely she will then ask you to lie for her again in the future.

Answer 2

1st off, as a "senior member" of this section you are somewhat in a managment position, just not the pay or title.

2nd, there must be either a site manager or a section manger there. Someone had to recommend her being hired there, inform them of the situation.

3rd, an appointment card does not constitute a doctors note of release, so it probably is a lie. You can walk into a doctors office and pick up an appointment card off the floor or desk.

4th, never lie for anyone at work, it could cost you more than you are willing to pay such as your job in addition to theirs, and they may even get to keep theirs.

Let your supervisor know of the situation and what has led up to it.

Good luck and hope this helps.

Answer 3

Hi, as an employer myself, this is a poor situation.
I would call the person in for a coffee and informal chat as to what the problem is. There is obviously a problem with getting to work for either truthful or misleading reasons.
If I or the company could help with domestic or health issues, we would. But if it is just skiving off responsibilities, then a more serious veiw is taken.
A warning letter in the first instance, followed by a second, then dismissal.
However I would personaly help as much as possible if it is a genuine turmoil, to avoid further problems in someones' life.
Which is it - you need to have a chat to find out where people and collegues are with such issues.
I would not pry into a persons' life, but would need to know if they wish to go to something more suitable, or comply with the way normal business is operated.

All the best with it,
Bob

Answer 4

having worked with many younger people, sometimes there is an underlying cause for her actions. Do you get along well with her? I would explain to her that if she is going through a difficult time you are willing to help her but lying is not an option. Suggest she take a few days off and try to resolve whatever is going on. Then see if she comes back to work in a different frame of mind. She may actually have a very stressful situation going on. Most problems feel less a problem if someone will share them with you.

Answer 5

Maybe there is something going on, but she shouldn't be asking you to lie about it. I would suggest that she speaks with the managers directly and keep you out of it. That way the managers can decide what to do about it. If she is asking for excessive time off she will probably be asked to give more of an explaination or if she goes to the doctor, the doctors will always write a note if requested.
I doesn't sound right to me.