Should one employee get special consideration, that others don't get? What if it causes bad feelings?

I work for a dentist. Our schedule doesn't always run on time and there are days we get off late. Sometimes only 10-15 mim. and other times 30-1hr. We all try to pitch in so that the same people are not always having to work late. We all have kids to pick up, dinners to cook, and things to do after work, so we try to make it fair and everyone does their share to get off work quickly. We have a new employee who seems to think she is the exception to the rule, due to her situation. She is a single mom. She says that she has had a hard time finding a daycare for her son. She found one in a nearby city, but in order to pick him up by their closing time, she has to leave the office by 5:00. Myself and the other assistant have kids we have to get picked up by the daycares closing time (in our cases its 6:00) but we cant just grab our purses and head out the door. We are really starting to resent this woman doing this because we cant do it and we are always the ones who work late.

First answerer, before you go off on your little rampage. I WAS a single mom. I know exactly what she is dealing with. I was single for 5 years, before I got remarried. So don't talk to me like I have no sympathy and dont understand her situation. However, when I was a single mom, I was told that my job did not revolve around my schedule. The same goes with a single mom or a working mom.

And by the way, my husband is a truck driver. He isn't home to go pick up our daughter, so yes it is up to me to go pick her up.
The point is, me and the other assistant have the same excuse as this single mom, we need to leave by a certain time to make sure we have our kids picked up by the time the daycare closes. So why is she given privledges that we are not given? Just because she is a single mom? Well, like I said, I was one at one point too, and I didn't get special privledges.

defenitley not fair, i have the same thing going on in my office. Not much you can do. I know i cant i ***** about it to my boss, but nothing gets done. Sorry

If you two have husbands that can pick up the kid, she certainly DOES have special circumstances. Maybe as a single mother she can't afford daycare that closes later. Take these things into consideration before resenting her.

And if you're one of those people that say "single mothers are sinning" or something just as ridiculous just think, she did what YOU wanted her to do by keeping the child!

Is there any possibility that you can find a daycare centre closer to your office so that she can stay later as she won't have as far to travel?

Alternatively, would it be possible for her to use the same facilities you use?

Have an office meeting and let everyone vent how they feel.
And maybe you or someone else can help this other woman
find a babysitter or daycare in the same city that you work.
Then she wouldn't have to leave at 5 and everyone would
be able to take turns again.

You want to complain about a single mom and you go home to pick up kids yourself? What about poor saps like me that don't have kids? I'm the guy that gets stuck doing 12 hour days or more. I had to finish a co-worker's job because she had to duck out an hour and a half early to take her kids to after school activities. Most of the staff with kids are out the door less than a minute after quitting time. Those of us without kids stay working. Quit whining.

Try to find her a spot at one of your daycares. That will not only make you two look good, but help spread the work evenly.

Fair and right are not always the same thing. You will always see that in a work situation. One person always seems to take advantage of situations. The trick is to remove the reasons (for the problem) without getting in someone that could be a lot worse match for the job. Personality makes up for a lot. If that is your only problem, you are extremely blessed.

It's not HER fault the BOSS said "ok". You have no right to resent her. Her daycare is located farther out than yours. I'd be thrilled that I worked for a boss who allowed her to leave instead of making her tough it out.
Suggest your daycare to her. Talk it up. Then it'd be closer and she wouldn't have to leave.
But ANY mother who gets angry because another mom puts her child first is a crappy excuse for a mother.
**Here's a thought... Take your WHINY COMPLAINING BUTT and find another job. If the BOSS says it's ok you have to live with it. TOUGH. The BOSS makes the final decision. Grow up and stop whining about how "unfair" things are for you.
Maybe she can't afford extra money. Actually, it's not your business.

i dont think employees should be favored, but if an employee has a need (disability, child in daycare, etc.) then those needs should be accomodated for.
just my opinion. hope this helps.