Possible sacking facing gross misconduct

xapprenticex

Naturally OP will be bias as its his family, quite natural and we would all do the same but the real world is harsh either way.

Gavin78

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

You don't seem to get it - she was late - full stop.

She doesn't get special treatment just because your daughter had issues starting nursery.... welcome to the world of working parents everywhere.

You both seem to think that it's ok because the nursery is attached to the school - late is late.

I do get it and as I pointed out there is crying and getting upset to the point she is going to be sick with it and getting into emotional distress. In the real world you don't abuse your own child in a situation like that and no matter where the nursery is based OH might have had a call to collect her if she was getting that upset.

In the real world you'd have thought the employer would have understood the situation considering she's worked there for 5 years and never been late it was this short period of time our daughter was going from the baby room into the older room and was having problems integrating her into it.

As for the nursery been attached to the school I wasn't using that as an excuse I was just giving readers an idea of the childcare situation and where it was based.

Gavin78

xapprenticex wrote: »

Naturally OP will be bias as its his family, quite natural and we would all do the same but the real world is harsh either way.

Thanks and I am taking all comments on board from all posters

unlikelyheroine

I would think every poster here appreciates you and your partner trying to do what is right by your daughter but, put bluntly, it is not your wife's employer's problem that your daughter was having trouble settling.

The reason for your wife's tardiness sounds like emotive twaddle to me, and I would imagine it will very much sound that way to the employer too, I am afraid. The employer is entitled to expect that all of their staff, including parents, carers of elderly relatives, or anyone with any other kind of commitment or issue whatsoever, will arrive at work at the time that has been agreed. For otherwise satisfactory and productive employees, an occasional allowance will be made for the odd late arrival due to transport problems or personal issues etc, but it should not be a regular occurrence for anyone. Whatever adjustments you need to make in order that the employer's terms can be met, then you make them. That might mean your wife perhaps getting to the broader school premises 30 or 45 minutes earlier so that she can spend that time comforting your daughter if required before arriving at work on time.

I used to make all kinds of excuses to myself for my own regular lateness and not consider it a big deal. This was not very professional, nor was it fair on my employer or colleagues. However much I thought it didn't matter, it was starting the day off wrong, and gave the impression I was generally unreliable. I lost one job in part because of it (and I deserved that outcome!)

vegasvisitor

Some employers (or people) care about time keeping, others don't. I once had a job where I would arrive about 5 or 10 minutes before my start time and after a few weeks I got a snippy email from the manager about my timekeeping and them needing someone reliable. This was on top of some other poor behaviour from the manager, so I left that day. How was I supposed to react to that email, after not even being late? Very odd. It was another sign that the person was going to be a problem so my response was my resignation. She practically shouted me out of the office in front of everyone so I was better off out of there. Shame, because the job itself was looking to be good!

In contrast, another place I'm tempting at just now. I sometimes get stuck in traffic (variably busy section of road to get there) so I make up the 5 minutes in my lunch if I'm late (office closes and gets locked at finish time). They just say 'don't worry about it' etc. They don't mind at all. They say I get lots done and they're clearly pleased with that. Interesting how attitudes can be different though.

Darksparkle

Did the nursery open at the same time as the school?

Nurseries in my area usually open between 7-8 with school starting at 9 so plenty of time to get child settled before school starting, especially if in the same place.

Leaving the issue with someone changing her start times to make her look late aside, how many times was she late?

Tiddlywinks

Gavin78 wrote: »

I do get it and as I pointed out there is crying and getting upset to the point she is going to be sick with it and getting into emotional distress. In the real world you don't abuse your own child in a situation like that and no matter where the nursery is based OH might have had a call to collect her if she was getting that upset.

In the real world you'd have thought the employer would have understood the situation considering she's worked there for 5 years and never been late it was this short period of time our daughter was going from the baby room into the older room and was having problems integrating her into it.

As for the nursery been attached to the school I wasn't using that as an excuse I was just giving readers an idea of the childcare situation and where it was based.

Oh do get a grip - thousands of children are delivered to child care every day by people in all walks of life.

Can a GP, police officer, train driver etc just expect to stroll in late over 10 times and expect their employer (or patients, passengers etc) to just suck it up?

Stop with the overly emotional attitude and accept the facts - your wife is required to attend work on time - she didn't comply - she was under-performing as a result.

No excuses.

Guest101

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Oh do get a grip - thousands of children are delivered to child care every day by people in all walks of life.

Can a GP, police officer, train driver etc just expect to stroll in late over 10 times and expect their employer (or patients, passengers etc) to just suck it up?

Stop with the overly emotional attitude and accept the facts - your wife is required to attend work on time - she didn't comply - she was under-performing as a result.

No excuses.

Technically since most GPs are self employed they can do what they like


But yes the point is a good one.

FBaby

Pay was never discussed in the meeting she simply told them about the course and they said it was ok. but as it was she was paid for the time

So if they were to say that as paid time off wasn't discussed, they were going to take all the money back, how would she feels? She seems to be defending her decision to be paid during the time she wasn't officially at Uni on the basis that nothing was officially agreed, but I bet she would see it differently if they used the same rationale for deciding it was never meant to be paid.

In the real world you'd have thought the employer would have understood the situation considering she's worked there for 5 years and never been late it was this short period of time our daughter was going from the baby room into the older room and was having problems integrating her into it.

And they did as clearly they didn't discipline her after she was late once, twice, 5 times... but there comes a time when it becomes way more than just being understanding and flexible. As it's been stated, if the nursery opened even 15 minutes sooner and she stayed for say 20 minutes, then she was really abusing that flexibility.

Tiddlywinks

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Can a GP, police officer, train driver etc just expect to stroll in late over 10 times and expect their employer (or patients, passengers etc) to just suck it up?
.

Guest101 wrote: »

Technically since most GPs are self employed they can do what they like

But yes the point is a good one.

*sigh* - as some appear to be entering a pedants' competition, I did use the word 'or' not 'and' (to cover both employer or other commitments) so I think your point is a bit redundant and I'm puzzled why you felt the need to make it in the first place as it adds nothing to the thread.