Manager Hates Me
dwms
11 Posts
One of our department managers has an employee whose mother is chronically ill (we do get recerts, but it's pointless as situation won't change as long as the mother lives).
Because of this illness, the employee is required to take FMLA intermittently in order to drive the mother to the doctor, or care for her when she has spells where she cannot care for herself.
These don't occur often enough to ever run the employee out of FMLA. The doctors appointments can be planned. The illnesses always leave the department short handed - especially when the employee bails on a weekend rotation. Such as this weekend, when the mother needs constant care because she cannot even turn in bed.
This employee lives with the mother, and there doesn't appear to be any other family member to help.
The manager hates me because I can't fix his problem.
Have you been here before?
Because of this illness, the employee is required to take FMLA intermittently in order to drive the mother to the doctor, or care for her when she has spells where she cannot care for herself.
These don't occur often enough to ever run the employee out of FMLA. The doctors appointments can be planned. The illnesses always leave the department short handed - especially when the employee bails on a weekend rotation. Such as this weekend, when the mother needs constant care because she cannot even turn in bed.
This employee lives with the mother, and there doesn't appear to be any other family member to help.
The manager hates me because I can't fix his problem.
Have you been here before?
Comments
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>The manager hates me because I can't fix his
>problem.
>
>Have you been here before?
Yes, as Don said, we have all been there before. Maybe you should have this manager write you up a detailed plan as to how you should fix this problem!! Maybe you could go sit with the mother while the EE works or even better, maybe the manager could.
Holding you accountable for administering the FMLA is just like him being mad at you for having to pay time and a half for OT.
My classic question to individuals with this attitude is "What would you do in this situation?"
Or "If you were in this employee's shoes, how would you want to be treated?"
Also, might be a good time to remind manager that supervisors, as well as an organization, can be held liable for interference with or denial of FMLA rights (or any type of retaliation).
I think you need to have a sit-down with the manager and let him/her know that if you could, you would change the laws, but since you can't, everyone has to suffer. Not to mention the poor employee, who I am sure, is pulled between dedication to his mother and the desire to keep their job! This guy (the manager) must have NO empathy at all. Hopefully he himself will never have to experience this type of care giving.
Peyton Irby
Editor, Mississippi Employment Law Letter
Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A.
(601) 949-4810
[email]pirby@watkinsludlam.com[/email]