Got suspended from work.

POSTED BY: Gorramreavers
UPDATED: Saturday, January 22, 2005 20:31
VIEWED: 12964
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GORRAMREAVERS

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 9:40 PM

About 6 months ago 'they' started a new policy. If you punch in later than exactly 8am twice in one month you get a verbal warning. If you do it again within 3 months you get a written warning. If you do it again you get 3 days suspended withou pay, then termination. :(

So I did OK the first couple of months, maybe punching in a min or two late once or twice overall. But then October, I had an 8:01 and a 8:03. Then in November another 2 days under 8:05. I was good thru December but this month I had a 8:01 and then today...disaster. Somehow managed to shut the alarm off instead of SNOOZE, and I was almost an hour late.

So now I have a longer weekend than I would like. I feel bad because this is something that I could have avoided and my coworkers are now short a man. I do think the policy is a tad harsh but I know they need their people ready to go when it is time for a shift to start. I am an internet tech at a smallish ISP. This has happened to a co-worker/friend and he actually found another job with his time off. I am not ready to move on or anything but it is a bit scary to know that if I manage to screw up again, Im out of a job (in the middle of winter..no less). This came down about 2 hours ago so I am still reeling a bit.

Anyone here go through something like this?

"..it is my very favorite gun."

MALICIOUS

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 10:39 PM

Wow, that IS a bit harsh. Nevertheless, it IS "their" policy. If you want to continue to work there, you must tow the line.

Personally, I am a real stickler for being early for things. It's just the way I am. However, my company is quite lenient and if you come in late, you just stay that much longer at the end of the day. Tardiness is just not that much of an issue anymore since they instituted the arrive late/stay late policy. We can do that for up to an hour's late time. Anything longer and we need to take personal/vacation/sick time. Which I think is very fair.

I'm sorry you are stuck with this situation. How you handle it will show the kind of person you are--your character. I hope you step up to the challenge and handle whatever happens well.

Mal-licious

Co-Holder of the Red Bell from Hell

MRSKBORG

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 10:52 PM

Had the same problem last year with my boss. Don't get me wrong he had a point but a minute or two after start time for two or three days in a row..was a bit pedantic if you ask me. I guess it would have been a whole lot different if it had been say twenty or thirty minutes regularly. We had words, calm but to the point. And I reminded him that in the previous three years I had clocked in late about 5 times in all. We came to an understanding. But I guess it depends on your Boss.

"This movie may be a beautiful butterfly, but I loved that damn caterpillar." Joss Whedon.

SHADESIREN

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 12:01 AM

man, I am NEVER late to work. My last job, they had to ask me to stop showing up EARLY (granted, we're talking 5 to ten minutes, but whatever).

Get this - I got fired from my job.

They write people up for "smirking" (the girl in question is 19, and scared to death of the "boss" types. She smiles when she's nervous, which is whenever they come to our desks, because they are always yelling at us for stupid stuff, or stuff we didn't do.)

Another girl got written up be cause SOMEONE ELSE left a file that was supposed to go to her in a weird place, and it's "her responsibility top keep track of them" even if she doesn't even know they exist yet.

I got fired for being "defiant" (something I NEVER am, not to my BOSS, sheesh!) and for not doing "good enough" (even though they kept telling me how amazed they were that ever since I started doing the job, it was being done "so well!!")

I wish I could say I missed my job, or felt bad because now that I'm not there, no one else knows how to do "my job".

But I don't.

http://home.comcast.net/~shadesiren

ODDNESS2HER

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 12:24 AM

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. You didn't mention how you normally get to work: drive, public transport, car pool, etc. , or what factors in your home contribute to your punctuality issues. Maybe you could use your downtime to come up with a plan to ensure getting to work on time every day. Leaving home 5 minutes earlier than you're accustomed to could make a world of difference. Good luck in the future!

HEB

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 12:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Shadesiren:
man, I am NEVER late to work. My last job, they had to ask me to stop showing up EARLY (granted, we're talking 5 to ten minutes, but whatever).

Get this - I got fired from my job.

They write people up for "smirking" (the girl in question is 19, and scared to death of the "boss" types. She smiles when she's nervous, which is whenever they come to our desks, because they are always yelling at us for stupid stuff, or stuff we didn't do.)

Another girl got written up be cause SOMEONE ELSE left a file that was supposed to go to her in a weird place, and it's "her responsibility top keep track of them" even if she doesn't even know they exist yet.

I got fired for being "defiant" (something I NEVER am, not to my BOSS, sheesh!) and for not doing "good enough" (even though they kept telling me how amazed they were that ever since I started doing the job, it was being done "so well!!")

I wish I could say I missed my job, or felt bad because now that I'm not there, no one else knows how to do "my job".

But I don't.

http://home.comcast.net/~shadesiren

Even though you're happy to be rid of your job couldn't you still claim for wrongful dismissal or some such? I'm not one for all this sueing malarky but it sounds like your boss'll do it again if someone doesn't say something and these laws are there to protect employees for a reason.

...................
Well, my sister's a ship... we had a
complicated childhood
.................
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.

HEB

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 12:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Shadesiren:
man, I am NEVER late to work. My last job, they had to ask me to stop showing up EARLY (granted, we're talking 5 to ten minutes, but whatever).

Get this - I got fired from my job.

They write people up for "smirking" (the girl in question is 19, and scared to death of the "boss" types. She smiles when she's nervous, which is whenever they come to our desks, because they are always yelling at us for stupid stuff, or stuff we didn't do.)

Another girl got written up be cause SOMEONE ELSE left a file that was supposed to go to her in a weird place, and it's "her responsibility top keep track of them" even if she doesn't even know they exist yet.

I got fired for being "defiant" (something I NEVER am, not to my BOSS, sheesh!) and for not doing "good enough" (even though they kept telling me how amazed they were that ever since I started doing the job, it was being done "so well!!")

I wish I could say I missed my job, or felt bad because now that I'm not there, no one else knows how to do "my job".

But I don't.

http://home.comcast.net/~shadesiren

Even though you're happy to be rid of your job couldn't you still claim for wrongful dismissal or some such? I'm not one for all this sueing malarky but it sounds like your boss'll do it again if someone doesn't say something and these laws are there to protect employees for a reason.

...................
Well, my sister's a ship... we had a
complicated childhood
.................
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.

FREMDFIRMA

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 1:38 AM

Asinine.

Unless your employer is paying for, and/or has complete control over your form of transportation, a few minutes either way should NOT be an issue, especially since if you punch in late, you're not gettin paid for that five minutes (or 15, as most employers use 15min blocks) anyhow, so what's it to them ?

Why punish someone cause somebody ELSE had a traffic accident and there was a backup on the way to work... what do they expect you to do, ram your way through ?

I'm sorry, but Unions were created in the first place in direct response to exploitation and mistreatment of workers, and your employers policy sounds like excuses to me more than anything else - we're already asking ungodly hours of most tech workers, on a salary (on average) for 40 hours, and you see them in there for 60-70... and to drop a policy like THIS ?

The Tech sector needs to put the squeeze on the bossmen, cause abuse, exploitation, and 'outsourcing' are just getting too much.
I totally feel for ya, man.

Me, I used to work in the tech sector, but my BS tolerance ran out.. I drive a cab, pick my hours, enjoy my life, have MUCH less stress, and you know what ?
I make more money.

Ain't that just a rip ?
Tell em where to stick their policy and report it to your local EoE office, I am quite sure they'll find it... interesting.

-F

AURAPTOR

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 3:37 AM

Bummer. I'm glad I left the punch clock world behind. It always felt so ....High School-ish. Adults who are worth hiring should not be treated as children to be told when to show up, when to go eat lunch, when to return, when to go to the bathroom....... you get the point. It's not that I don't mind authority, but come on.....as long as the work gets done and it's done properly... being 5 minutes late or so should not be what determines if you get fired or not.

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

KNIBBLET

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 3:42 AM

Suggestion: Go to bed 15 minutes earlier and set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier than you have it set now.

Now for a story about how this type of pedantic policy procedure can bite a boss in the ass.

Back in prehistoric times, I was in the Air Force. Being a young, enthusiastic jr NCO (who had the gung hos for becoming a senior NCO), I'd show up to work one hour early every day. I'd set up the launch/recovery schedule, check the tool room and make inquiries about our supply orders, go over the log books, make coffee, etc.

Every day for two years I came in one hour early.

One week, I had a bad week. I was coming down with something evil -- 'flu, ebola, stigmata or something equally exhausting -- anyway, I was late three days in a row. I came in just as roll call was beginning and would have to mooche into the end of the line.

My supervisor was a guy named Harry. Harry called me into his office and wrote me up. I looked at him and said, "I've been coming in here an hour early EVERY day for two years. I have one bad week and you're going to write me up?"

He replied, "You don't have to be early but you do have to be on time."

I looked at him in stunned disbelief and replied. "Yes, Sir. You are correct. From this day forward, I will be on time."

After that day, I came in two minutes before roll call. Not one minute earlier. I was on time every morning.

After a couple of weeks of this, Harry asked me in front of the whole unit (including the OIC) why I wasn't coming in early anymore. "You make the flight run smooth and I like smooth."

I looked at him and said, "MSgt Richardson, I don't have to be early. But. I. Do. Have. To. Be. On. Time."

Guess what. He still didn't get it. Moron.

"Just keep walkin, preacher man."

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