Time Off For Being A Leader

(I’m a team leader of four guys, all working different shifts. Late one afternoon I get a phone call.)

Worker: “Hi, [My Name]. Sorry, I know I am suppose to be in tonight, but we have just been broken in to.”

Me: “Wow, I’m sorry to hear that. Do you think you will be able to cover any of your shift?”

Worker: “I don’t think so, but I will try.”

(I am in a bad position; with such short notice and no-one to cover we risk tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stock.)

Me: *on phone* “Hi boss, just a quick update, [Worker] won’t be in as he having personal issues at home.”

Boss: “Unacceptable! Tell him he has to work or be fired!”

Me: “You can’t do that.. He is entitled to time off.”

Boss: “No, he isn’t! Call around and get someone in!” *hangs up*

(I ring around and can’t get cover. Thankfully, despite the issues at home, the worker comes in for some of his shift. The next day…)

Boss: “I found out that you didn’t get cover last night, I am incredibly disappointed. I think you are not cut out for this job.”

Me: “I figured you would say this, so here.”

Boss: “What is this?”

Me: “It is the legal pages for time off. As you can see I acted totally appropriately in this instance.”

Boss: “I, err…”

Me: “And by the way, you don’t pay me to be a team leader, so, yes, if you want to take it off me, please do.”

Boss: “I, I, err. Okay, well, okay then. Get back to your desk.”

(This wasn’t the first or last time it happened. He would constantly be ignorant of the law to try to get his way. I eventually told him one too many times to take my position off me, and he did. Then asked me to do it again two weeks later!)