I am BLAZING mad!

[Alwaysmoretoknow]

So this morning I noticed my little 28yo shettie looked a little off. Not eating new bit of grass on the strip grazing (unheard of for a Shetland!) and standing apart from the other 2, shifting her weight from one hind leg to the other and I could see her abdominal muscles clenching periodically. Immediately ruled out lami (not typical signs and no pulses or warm feet) and suspected mild colic. Immediately called work to let them know I had an emergency.

Called vet quick smart who came out in half an hour and confirmed mild spasmodic colic. IV pain relief and Buscopan given. Advised to walk gently round paddock periodically and observe.

Informed work that I had a sick pony and might not be in or would certainly be late (depending on how she seemed) and would only be in for a few hours (much against my better judgement but work at solicitors doing conveyancing accounts and 3 out of 5 colleagues on leave - really poor planning as it takes 2 people to send out payments!) so was trying to balance pony's welfare against work responsibilities.

So get into work and blast through completions and say I'm leaving at 3 to check on pony.

Get call from boss berating me for 1. Coming in late 2. Planning to leave early and 3. (best of all!) being 'irresponsible ' for not having someone to step in to look after horses if there was a problem when I should be at work. Also said 'you know I'm an animal lover' - really? Not from how you are behaving! Banged on about contractual obligations so pointed out I would be in breech of welfare obligations to leave colicing pony untreated and there were other people who could step in to authorise payments in an emergency which it was including her who was only titting about at home.

So are you actually saying that none of your employees should have and sort of aminals if you live alone - what absolute bollix.

Apparently 'we are going to pick this up later'. Can't wait. I think she owes ME an apology for their shitty management and lack of empathy or they can shove their job where no recruitment consultant would fear to tread.

For context I have not had 1 sick day in the 3 years I've worked there, had 2 days off when my mum died and no time off when I lost my 2 cats and doggy so I hardly treat turning up at work in a 'casual' manner.

Will now be looking for a new job.
AITA?

 

[AmyMay]

I feel your frustration, but also that of your employer.

 

[Fjord]

I honestly think that some people don't have a clue about the responsibility of having animals. I hope your shetty is OK.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would be livid, too

 

[Alwaysmoretoknow]

Just to add - thankfully pony seems OK now. PHEW.

 

[Red-1]

When Rigs had colic, I rung school (place of employment) and informed them that I could not come in. Rigs nearly died, it was not up for negotiation. I would have lost my job rather than go in.

He was ill for a week, as in at danger of death. He had a nose tube left in that needed constant monitoring. I was busy tending to him.

I went back to work and apologised, and said I was happy for it to be unpaid leave but that I could not have come in. They actually paid me, which was a huge surprise. The boss thought it was comparable to a sick child.

I was nearly in tears as I have, in the past, in different workplaces, had to pick up the extra work for people who are pregnant or on maternity, who take unexpected time of for childcare, had to work all the Xmasses, as Xmas is for children, had to forgo holidays in school holiday time etc etc.

Never before had any boss treated my lifestyle and problems as equal to parents'. I was blown away.

That is a boss worth pulling out the stops for.

 

[Fjord]

@Red-1 I've 'loved' this post, not because Rigs was so I'll but because your boss was so lovely.

 

[Red-1]

@Red-1 I've 'loved' this post, not because Rigs was so I'll but because your boss was so lovely.

I am now retired but still go in as a volunteer on occasion, where I often find the last person to me who retired, also in as a volunteer.

 

[doodle]

My horse was pts. I was a groom. I messaged my boss saying I would not be in the next day as it was happening. You would think she would have understood. Nope I had to make the time up and fill in for someone who was doing some training and needed the day off. Training fine to have time off. Horse pts, nope!

 

[windswoo]

Employees with animals have the same rights as parents do as in your place of work can't really stop you. They can say you won't get paid ( hey who cares if your animal is ill), but they can't stop you.
I have this argument with my boss every time it snows - no my animals can't feed themselves - yet I seem to always get in when people down the road can't even walk in.
Maybe they'd like to see a photo of your poorly animal and decide then if coming to work was more important?
I'd be thinking shove their job.

 

[poiuytrewq]

It makes me feel very lucky my employers have been so super understanding in the very rare occasion I’ve had issues.
Hope your pony is ok x

 

[supertramp]

Recently had a call from livery yard owner to say ponys leg very swollen, asked my colleagues if they were happy for me to leave my shift, they were , phoned my boss to let them know as this was at 7pm on a 12hour shift, they told me to take the time I needed, another staff member covered my shift for the following day. I had messages from the boss asking how the pony was. Couldn't have asked for anything more.

 

[teapot]

I always think if someone says 'oh you should have arranged someone else to help' with regards horses - that you switch that around and say 'would you expect me to get a babysitter for a sick child, or care for an aging parent?'

It's not as simple as it perhaps would be finding someone to look after a cat etc imho.

 

[scats]

I was very fortunate when I was teaching, that the head at the time was very aware that my horses were essentially my children and there was absolutely no problem when I had to be off on two occasions to have horses put to sleep (one was PTS during the night so I rang in the morning and they told me not to come in).
That headteacher even came to find me when I came back in to check that I was ok.

 

[criso]

I remember once leaving early to visit horse in horsepital. had got all my work done and would work extra the following day. It wasn't the sort of job where someone needed to cover for me and I regularly did extra if needed. Horsepital had visiting hours and needed to get to Herts from London.

Manager said "can't you pay someone to do that?". I suggested that next time his kids were in hospital, he paid someone to visit them.

 

[Alwaysmoretoknow]

Apparently, as she said, my colleagues who have sick children or poorly OHs (a regular occurance) are in a different league. Why? You still have responsibility for them - without the benefit of the NHS?

 

[mavandkaz]

Another teacher here who has very understanding employers.
I don't have children (which I do think is a factor), and so my horses are classed as my dependents, so I am 'entitled' to the same allowances as those with children. I didn't ask for this, my line manager just sorted it without me realising.
Back in February I had a colicky Shetland. Phoned my line manager at 6.30am and told him I would not be in. It was not questioned. I just filled out the leave of absence form on my return, and it's on my record as emergency medical appointment for my dependent.
I would take it unpaid, but bit have not needed to. I have also taken a day after having a mini put down as an emergency.

And I've certainly taken a lot less days then those with children do - five days over the last ten years.
I would be having a serious word with my employer if I was spoken to like that - but then I am also a union rep so am well versed in my rights and how staff should be treated, and not afraid to pull managers up on it. (Also lucky the teaching profession has very clear pay and conditions documentation)

 

[SEL]

My friend's work were awful. Forever expecting her to cover for other people because she was single without kids (& given that was following multiple miscarriages very much rubbing salt in wound).

When she had a pony with colic rumbling on for 3 days she left a message saying she couldn't come in because of stomach problems. Didn't say it was the pony's stomach.

OP - depends how much you like your job but I don't like mine enough to go in when my animals are sick. They'd be stuffed if they fired me anyway unless anyone else wants to work out payroll

 

[Snow Falcon]

I also work in a school. All my colleagues know how much my animals mean to me. I am fortunate that we all cover for each other in times of need. My head sent me home the day I had Flicka PTS. I had flowers from several staff the next day too.

Glad to hear your pony is ok now.

 

[expanding_horizon]

I’m lucky my work would understand.

As long as I communicated clearly what I could and couldn’t do, they’d be fine.

I might end up working that evening or similar to catch up or taking unplanned holiday to cover.

They know my horse is very important to me, I do a good job at work and am flexible, and greatly value the flexibility I get back.

I can also do some of my job - email/ calls / messages from my mobile which helps.

 

[expanding_horizon]

My friend's work were awful. Forever expecting her to cover for other people because she was single without kids (& given that was following multiple miscarriages very much rubbing salt in wound).

When she had a pony with colic rumbling on for 3 days she left a message saying she couldn't come in because of stomach problems. Didn't say it was the pony's stomach.

I sometimes say I’ve a physio / medical appointment and need to flex my hours. My work don’t ask if it’s for me or the horse I don’t need to work office hours make the time up.

 

[smolmaus]

My manager was mostly confused when I took off a day for colic. I was a mess when I rang him so he knew I wasn't taking the piss, I genuinely thought she was trying to die. It confused the payroll a bit too but was just put through as annual leave in the end.

Having 60% of the team already on leave is their VERY poor planning. That's ridiculous. It could have been any kind of emergency that had you absent! Positive covid test, car won't work, trip and slip and a day in A&E? Anything!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Having 60% of the team already on leave is their VERY poor planning. That's ridiculous. It could have been any kind of emergency that had you absent! Positive covid test, car won't work, trip and slip and a day in A&E? Anything!

This.

Your boss is panicking because her p1ss poor management has left her woefully understaffed. She is taking that out on you.

I'd be looking elsewhere for somewhere where you are better valued. It's an employees' market now, so employers are needing to up their game to keep good staff.

 

[Bellaboo18]

In this situation, I'd instantly know this wasn't the job for me.
So sorry you had this to contend with on top of your pony being ill.
There's so many things more important to me than my job and if I text 'x is unwell, I won't be in', I'm lucky my employer would know what that means to me.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Animals are family and FAMILY COMES FIRST!!

Pretty sure she would think the same!
I would certainly be open to discuss it with her but it would be a ‘this is how it is’ discussion!!

Not your issue there is so many staff members absent. You could also have called in sick and you didnt! You actually went to work which is admirable anyway!

Hope your pony is feeling better now! I think you should have a glass of vino and relax!

The work will still be there on monday!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I was very fortunate when I was teaching, that the head at the time was very aware that my horses were essentially my children and there was absolutely no problem when I had to be off on two occasions to have horses put to sleep (one was PTS during the night so I rang in the morning and they told me not to come in).
That headteacher even came to find me when I came back in to check that I was ok.

I once rang the school where I was teaching to say that I had rung the vet for a colicking horse and wouldn't be in that morning. I can't actually remember who was the H/T at the time but there was no problem. The school was quite local and I was able to go into school for the afternoon, after asking a neighbour to keep an eye on the horse who had been fine by the time the vet got there. She had some buscopan 'just in case'.

 

[Ahrena]

I work for the police and they are generally not known for their flexibility but when my horse colicked and I phoned and I said I wasn’t coming in, they didn’t bat an eyelid. They never even recorded the absence.

I mean I was sobbing and practically hyperventilating so I guess that got the point across but still.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I've rung the boss just after 6am in tears asking if they had drugs on the yard to give my horse after he got beaten up by the bastard stallion. She didn't bat an eye and came flying along with some stab-able stuff.

Safe to say I wasn't in work that day as GrayMo was pts.

 

[Dave's Mam]

Oh that's absolutely awful. I work for an obviously very understanding company. When it was so hot last summer, I had to nip to yard to bring in & soak fly rugs etc, never questioned, although I did work the time back later on.
BUT I have never been told off or given a hard time for vet appointments for cats or pony, or anything for me either.

I am so glad your little pony is ok now.

 

[Birker2020]

Wow your bosses attitude really stinks. I wouldn't think twice about skipping work like you did given the circumstances.

I've never been that fussed about a job to be honest with you, there are plenty about so I wouldn't care if they blew up or not. If I was given an ultimatum, attend to sick animal or go to work I wouldn't give work a backward glance.

.I was very annoyed when my boss at one contract where I'd been for about 20 months said she was annoyed I'd left midday Friday to have our precious dog pts after finally getting the blood test result that she had acute kidney failure and had to be pts. I seriously think she thought I'd wanted to start the weekend early, we'd had little Candy 14 yrs by then and she was our world.

I can't begin to fathom what goes through some peoples heads.