I got pwned by Mother Nature

Irving Patrick Freleigh · #1 02-25-2007, 06:15 PM

So today we are supposed to have this big blizzard with over a foot of snow. I got up at quarter to 4 this morning to find it snowing like nuts and blowing so I could barely see across the street. I had to be into work at 5 and figured it would keep up like this all day, so I called in at 5 to tell them I wouldn't be coming in (I had to wait because there's no answering machine ro voicemail at work to leave messages after hours).

The person taking the call was one of my supervisors who gave me a hard time, saying other people who lived further away than I did made it in, so what's my excuse? I told him I expected things to be worse in 8 hours, when I was supposed to leave, and my car was drifted in.

Well, the snow stopped around mid-morning and it's now noon. There hasn't been a flake in three hours. The plows have been out clearing the streets so they are in decent shape. And because the snow has stopped for now, people are probably figuring it's best to come out and do whatever shopping they need to, so it's probably fairly busy at the store. And for all I know, I'mprobably the only person who called out.

All this means I'm going to get an earful when I return to work Monday and Wednesday. I now look like a less-than-stellar employee who blew off work for no good reason. And I've already called in sick twice this month.

Looks lile my judgement call went bad. Getting only six inches of snow is like winning 10 cents in the lottery.

ShortTemperHatesStupidity · #2 02-25-2007, 10:34 PM

So you didn't call them back and say "Ya know, it stopped, the roads are clear, I'll come in."

They would have ribbed ya about it for a bit but at least you would have been there.

Jewels · #3 02-25-2007, 10:40 PM

We got hit by some pretty bad snow here too....do we live in the same state?

Irving Patrick Freleigh · #4 02-26-2007, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Quoth ShortTemperHatesStupidity

So you didn't call them back and say "Ya know, it stopped, the roads are clear, I'll come in."

They would have ribbed ya about it for a bit but at least you would have been there.

Nope. I figured I called in so I had to stay away. I'll get ribbed anyway and might be able to make the time up next weekend.

Besides, the snow started up again at about 3 in the afternoon and it's still snowing pretty hard.

ShortTemperHatesStupidity · #5 02-26-2007, 02:58 PM

You must live north of me then... *(so that's where sector 7-G is)*

In that case I'm glad ur safe! Good call.

blas · #6 02-26-2007, 03:04 PM

Don't even sweat it.....I got a lot of shit the day after I called in due to bad weather...."I live 40 miles away and still made it last night, why couldn't you?", and I told everyone to shove it. I don't risk my life for 10 bucks an hour.

I spun out at the left turn onto the highway. I figured if I couldn't make it two blocks from my place, I wasn't going to make it 15 miles. I turned around and went home.

This week promises another round of blizzard type weather and maybe even another foot of snow. I have no qualms about calling in at all. I don't try to be a hero in weather like this, I stay home.

ShortTemperHatesStupidity · #7 02-26-2007, 03:31 PM

Ya know, you bring up a good point. Why aren't more companies inclined to close if the roads are shitty? The ice storm last week-it took me 45 minutes to go 10 miles and only 1 of the several roads I drove on were plowed. I hate drifting sideways with no control over my 2 ton vehicle and I'm heading towards a guard rail...

MadMike · #8 02-26-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Quoth ShortTemperHatesStupidity

Why aren't more companies inclined to close if the roads are shitty?

I'd like to know that myself. I've been at my current job for 17 years now, and the number of times we've closed during that time, I could probably count on one hand. And even then, a couple of those were only because it was so bad that the governor closed all the roads.

We had a really bad one a couple weeks ago, and I said "Screw it!" because I couldn't even get out of my driveway. Naturally, they didn't close us, but at least my managers are pretty easygoing with taking a day off now and then, as long as my work isn't falling behind.

We used to have this one guy who was a real ass in charge, and this one guy tried to call off because the roads were bad, and he told him to come in anyway. On the way there, he slid out of control and ended up blowing a tire somehow. When he finally got there, he told the manager what happened, and angrily asked if the company was going to buy him a new tire. Of course, all he got in response was a brush-off, somewhere along the lines if, "I'll look into that."

Irving Patrick Freleigh · #9 02-26-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Quoth ShortTemperHatesStupidity

Ya know, you bring up a good point. Why aren't more companies inclined to close if the roads are shitty?

In the case of my company, if they decide to close stores due to bad weather, then they have to pay all the employees who would otherwise be working. I don't know if this is just company policy or a state law.

Therefore, our stores don't close for anything, except maybe the impending end of humanity.

That said, my store did close early for a blizzard we had last year, but not until 6:00 pm. That way they don't have to pay as many employees who are missing their shifts.

ShortTemperHatesStupidity · #10 02-26-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Quoth Irving Patrick Freleigh

That way they don't have to pay as many employees who are missing their shifts.

My company does that-they close the office at 3 (we open at 8:30 and close at 5:30). That way, the people who took "voluntary leave" have to use a vacation day to pay for their time off on incliment weather. The other bitch of it is that our office is 5 minutes from corporate, so we don't close unless they do... and you know they aren't closing... bitches.