My co-worker is jealous of my time off to fly to Trauma Center for Mom. I was gone last Mon/Tue/Wens and it was our 3rd trip out of town to the Trauma Hospital. They called me while we were at the hospital doing X-rays and follow-up appt. with the orthopedic surgeon. The call was about a routine task and was not an emergency. I couldn't believe my ears. My boss probably doesn't know that they called me.
I'm wondering if there's a syndrome that involves lack of responsibility and refusal to do the best job one can for one's employer.
One of the men had been laid off from one of the Big 3 automakers, was close to retirement, and bragged that he just needed a place to coast until he was ready to retire.
And coast he did. It wasn't unusual to see him in his office with his arms folded back behind his head in a relaxed position and his feet up on the desk.
He dipped into the supplies when he had a picnic at home, taking coffee, filters, etc. Made no effort to even be discreet.
Another one had a similar attitude. He was a "rounder" - like doctors, he made the rounds daily. Unlike doctors, he didn't help. He went to different departments walking around talking to people, then back to his office to sit for awhile.
But those were only a few out of a few hundred. Still, I was ecstatic when one of them got laid off, until I heard that he sued for age discrimination.
Some people practice sponging as if it were a career. Well, maybe it is!
2. Speak with Human Resources about Family Leave, how it applies in your company, and what your rights and responsibilities are. Get the policy in writing.
3. Meet with your supervisor/boss and let him/her know the situation and how you are handling your work. Nicely state that you have met with HR to be clear as to what you can and cannot do.
4. Let your boss/supervisor know that you received a call from the co-worker while you were away and you would like an agreement with the boss/supervisor regarding who it is the coworker is to go to if he has a question or concern about any work product while you are out of the office. Although this applies currently to your situation with your parent, in most places I've worked there is a protocol as to whom you are to address questions if your coworker or supervisor is not available.
5. Do you have friends in the office? If so, casually, over lunch, give them some insight into what is happening with your parent and your dedication to completing your work. It sounds as though a number of people need to let the coworker know that his remarks about his father are not acceptable.
6. AGAIN, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT everything that happens.
7. If your company has an Employee Assistance/Counseling Program, make an appt. Let them know that you are under quite a bit of stress and that you want to learn some ways of coping during this challenging time.
So. Did you?
Another thing you might do, instead of complaining to your boss, make it a more innocent call. Tell your boss, "Mr. X has called me a number of times and caught me at very inconvenient times. I have to answer my phone because I'm expecting calls from doctors. He's got a number of questions about his job. May I ask him to call you with those?"
Assuming he'll say yes, call your co-worker, tell him you've spoken to your boss, and that, if he has any further questions, he's to call HIM. If he has the nerve to call you again, refer him to the boss.
There must be some way to identify your company on your phone when this guy calls...the exchange, the area code, something. Find out what it is and stop answering. If it's something that important, the person will leave a voicemail.
If he calls you the 2nd time, step out to the hall, and then immediately call either HR or your boss who approved your leave. Explain the situation and say that you really need to concentrate on your mom's medical needs at the HOSPITAL. And if so-and-so (another coworker) can help him (the caller) with the problem? Most employers would perk up at the word "hospital" - because that implies Seriousness. And you're on leave now. So you shouldn't be bothered unless it's an emergency.
Best wishes for a successful outcome at the hospital.
Ask your boss to notify everyone, or send an email out letting people know you're not available due to a family situation. If this is an ongoing issue, and you have an HR department, you might want to call their attention to it -- not in a litigious, threatening way necessarily, but this is something all companies should take seriously.
Sent fro, my iPhone 5. that is what they are up to, isn't it? LOL!
If it is that urgent, they will leave voice mail. Or leave instruction to send a text message and you will respond when able.
Or turn off the phone, then check it hourly.