A mum has vented her frustration after a “rude” workmate expects a lift home every day but is constantly causing delays.
The generous offer of a car share is turning sour as the colleague’s “disrespectful” end-of-day routine means the mum is regularly late picking up her children from school.
The woman, who began working at her current job about a year ago, finds herself in a bind as she lives near her colleague and has to drive past her house on the way home, resulting in her offering lifts three to four times a week. With young children who have after-school activities, time is of the essence for the stressed mum.
However, tensions have risen due to her colleague’s habit of slowly wrapping up her workday. Sharing her dilemma on the Am I Being Unreasonable (AIBU) forum on Mumsnet, the mum wrote: “She always takes her time getting her stuff ready and talking to everyone before we leave. This ends up delaying me by 15/20 mins every time.
“I know it doesn’t seem like a long time but I have to rush home, get kids ready for their activities etc so that I can get them there on time, so for me 20 mins late makes a big difference. I do sometimes say that I need to leave bang on at a certain time, but she still delays it and is never ready on time.”
She remarked: “In a way I miss just being able to go home and not waiting for anyone. AIBU? I don’t want to ruin my working relationship with her!”
Mumsnet users were quick to respond in the comments section. One user asserted: “Don’t wait, just go! If she wants a lift, she goes when you do!” Another agreed, suggesting: “If you say you need to leave at a certain time make sure you do!”
Another was stunned by her colleague’s attitude and said: “This is actually very rude on the colleagues behalf! If you say you have to leave at a time then if they are not ready then just apologise and say I can’t wait, kids are waiting, I’ll see you tomorrow!”
One commenter labelled the colleague “rude, entitled and disrespectful” while opining the mum was “being used and a mug”.
In an additional comment, the mum expressed her desire to resolve the situation: “I’ve come to a stage where I miss being on my own in the car on my way home from work. I just want peace and quiet and don’t want to talk to anyone.
“She vapes in my car too, and when I asked her to open the window she retorted ‘it’s only steam, it’s not going to do anything to you’. I’m slightly cautious because she will be my new line manager in a few months.”