Is this fair?

Question

I'm the only receptionist there is for the company. the girl from accounts payable is supposed to cover me everyday for my lunch which is supposed to be an hour long and 2, 15 min brakes and whenever i need to use the rest room. This is my issues this girl though I can understand sometimes shes busy has only covered me for about 20 min for lunch and its usually about 2pm or 3pm when she finally get around o covering me and this has become an everyday thing. When I ask her to cover me for the restroom it usually takes her from 15 to 20 min to come cover me if she remembers. and my brakes well i havent taken a 15 min brake in a long time. Plus lately she's been acting like she's upset with me because she has to cover me. Is this fair should i be feeling bad i mean i help her file and type lables i help her get checks ready and document i take written messages for all of her calls make call's for her aside from my work so she has time to cover me i feel like theyre taking advange

she also does have tiome to take 2 -3 hor lunches and run personal arrond on company time. last time my supervisor asked me to take a 20 min lunch because she had taken a 2 hourlunch and she had a lot of work to do my HR lady says its not her problem that i should deal with my supervisor.

Answer 1

No, it isn't fair, but nobody ever said life was fair.

If she has too much work of her own to cover for you, she needs to talk to her supervisor and ask what the priorities are, and if the supervisor agrees, he or she needs to find someone else to cover for you.

Or you could talk to your supervisor - if you do, don't say just that she doesn't cover for you, say that she doesn't have time to, and let the supervisor sort it out.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I wouldn't take any notice of her moods. I would say to her that you have things that you would like to do during your lunch break and does 12 noon or 1 pm suit her to cover you for your lunch break. (If you have to walk around the block during your lunch break for a week or two to get out of the office just do it until the routine is set) Let her choose one of those times that you have stipulated and go from there. If she does not adhere to the agreement then I would definitely speak to management and put the ball back in their court. Lets face it, you are entitled by law to have your lunch break. When it comes to your morning break and afternoon break I would just ask her which suits her, 10am or 10.15am and the same for afternoon tea, say 3pm or 3.15pm. Again if she does not adhere to that speak to management. It is good that you are helpful towards her but I feel that you should just concentrate on your own work for a while and not do those little extras for her. She is not treating you with respect at all. She needs a wake up call. She should not being taking advantage of your good nature. Don't allow yourself to show that you are upset. Just be polite and remember that you don't have the problem she does. Her job is to cover you on all your breaks. And when you need to go to the toilet just say to her I am taking off now to the toilet please cover me. Be firm and assertive. What do you have to lose. Good luck with it =)

Answer 3

You need to talk to your HR and let them know that while you understand that she is very busy maybe HR could find others to help you when she is not available. Let her or him know (hr that is) that you need your lunch to do personal errands so that you don't miss work -- whether it is true or not.

You absolutly should not feel bad for wanting what you deserve. She is trying to guilt trip you and that is NOT okay.

Lastly, remember this is a job and not a friendship. Don't take her attitude towards you personaly but also remember it is a job that you get bad to do - by law they must provide you with lunch and two breaks. While it may not be her fault that she is required to cover for you it is the company's responsability that they provide you with someone to cover you.

So no it is not fair