What would you do in the following situations?

Question

1) A staff member is 'yelling' a lot at the children today.

2) Emma, a carer, belongs to a religious faith that observes Sabbath from dusk on Friday to dusk on Saturday. She would not do any work or work-related activities during this time.

How would you advise your supervisor of your concerns?

I just need some ideas. Thank you very much...

Answer 1

1) I would talk to the staff member first.  I'd make sure she's ok, try to find out what's wrong.  If possible, I'd offer to give her a break to get herself together again.  If that leads nowhere, then I'd mention to the supervisor that "Susan" seems to be a little upset today.

2)  Technically, she wouldn't be at work at all during those times, and presumably the school or nursery or whatever was advised of that when she was hired.  If she just plops down in a chair at sundown on Friday and stares at people while drinking coffee, then I think there's some question about the sincerity of her religion.  What I'd do in that case depends on the situation.  If she's supposed to be supervising children at that time and is not doing it, I'd find the supervisor immediately and tell her what's going on.  The kids must NOT be put in danger.  If she's simply neglecting paperwork or something like that, I wouldn't go out of my way to do her work for her, and I'd work on the assumption that sooner or later it will be noticed that she's not getting the job done.