Predictions of a winter storm including nearly a foot of snow have been on the horizon for nearly a week now. The day of reckoning has arrived and the meteorologists were right: nearly 3 feet of snow have arrived. Since the temperature is below freezing, there are concerns about ice. Your local municipality and your state's Department of Transportation have warned that the roads are considered treacherous and have warned everyone who have non-emergency travel aspiration to stay at home.
In your mind that says "SNOW DAY"! It'll be great to stay home, make a snow man, hang by the fireplace, eat comfort food and sip hot chocolate.
You begin checking your Blackberry the night of the storm. Around 3 AM, the conditions have worsened per your local weatherman. Before you snuggle back in your bed, you see that your curmudgeon of a boss has sent out a email which reads "We are aware of the looming weather. We, however, have clients to serve. Our clients are scattered all over the globe and their expectation is that we be available if they call. Everyone is expected in the office at 8 AM. Those who do not show are subject to disciplinary action which could include termination."
What would YOU do?
Will all due respect to my company and the business they are expected to deliver, they will have to do so without me. If my decision means loss of my job, so be it. Retention of life is far more important to me and my family.
ReplyDeleteI would take it over my boss' head and go to HR. I would explain to them that it is literally a life or death situation. If there is nothing they can do then you will have to make the decision that is best for you. If anything, it should motivation for you to find a better job or pursue your passion.
ReplyDeleteSo if you can be accessible to clients by bb, then why can't your work from home? I think there is a difference between expecting "Snow Day" and no work, versus, don't risk your life to get into the office, but you are expected to log in, and work and be available by phone.
ReplyDeleteIf it is not safe, then by no means should you get on the road, you have been hired, in part, based upon your purported good judgment. But unless you are medical staff, you clients can be serviced from a home office set up....
I would call in and ask that the manager issuing this directive pick me up. Alternatively, I would offer to be forwarded my messages at home, and return client phone calls from home.
ReplyDeleteConsider me 'disciplined' or terminated. My life is much more valuable than the loss of a client or the job. *singing 'Sweet Dreams' as I snuggle under the covers, drifting of to sleep, KNOWING that I can sleep till noon.* Humph!
ReplyDeleteI think employers in locations where this could be a recurring situation should take precautions. This could include the ability to have some employees work remotly if needed. Technology allows for this now a days, and forcing someone to risk their life when other options are available is uncalled for.
ReplyDeleteIn this particular situation it appears the most likely response would be to stay home. However, staying home and risk losing one's job would put all of the comforts they are able to afford in jeopardy. Clearly I would call or email and let them know that conditions are predicted to be worse that first warned. Make it clear that you will be available during appropriate hours by way of email, crackberry or any other suitable means of contact.
ReplyDeleteTo risk ones life is not worth the risk.
It depends upon the city and their preparedness program. Most cities I've lived in clear the main roads, making it tricky to depart from your hardly traveled residential side street. I recall one time in the past, when I slowly creeped, bumper-to-bumper on ice, avoided hilly streets, and practiced defensive-driving skills due to harzardous road conditions (while steeped in prayer)! When I arrived at work, a few minutes late (notified ahead of time-ice storm driving was new to me) everyone was happy to see me and it felt like I had already worked 8 hours!
ReplyDeleteI'll conclude with this...depending on your locale, use wisdom and your innate discretion!
-pearls
Oh please - there is no way that anyone could or should go out in this weather. If the city isn't delivering mail - I am staying home.
ReplyDeleteI would certainly stay at home if weather conditions are truly unsafe. My life is certainly more important than any job. Since I live in Madison, Wisconsin, lots of snow is an everyday thing for us. I'm from Covington, Georgia. Atlanta and other areas in Georgia have done a poor job of managing this snow storm. It does not matter that Atlanta and surrounding areas don't get much snow that often. What matters is having a plan and the equipment in place to resolve the road conditions. It's awful that any job would place people's lives at risk. It seems like the company should try to resolve some of the problems online, and that the company's management would try to take care of much of the company's business until the snow storm is over and road conditions are safe.
ReplyDeleteAntonio Maurice Daniels
Why did you check your blackberry - first mistake...
ReplyDelete