If you were the manager what would you do?

[pax 0]

You can’t and shouldn’t try to take away someone’s right to protest, march or penalize them for exercising that right, or maybe illegals don’t have any rights? Not even basic human rights? Its an insane idea to suggest that people should be fired for taking the day off march or no march.. if I had a boss that called and showed up at my house, I’d happily tell them where to put there job before smacking them in the face. I really detest the type of people that assume because you’re their employee then you’re their or the company’s property.

While I agree with you in theory, Aidan, the key here is whether or not ALL employees are given similar freedom to take time off to attend protests or to do volunteer work. If a worker wanted to go to the immigration rally and was allowed to do so, but another worker wanted to attend an anti-war rally and was not allowed, clearly the situation would be unfair. I don't know of any business that allows for "protest days"; generally the worker(s) would have to take personal days.

In this particular manager's position, I think she'd have to suck it up. Without clear proof that employees were abusing sick time, there's not much she can do, and it probably would end up seeming divisive and heavy-handed to do much of anything.

[chocolaterie 0]

I think if anyone could fire a man or woman for exercising their right to protest peacefully or discriminate against people simply because of there race, religion or simply where they are from.. or even worse, declare that everyone should speak/read & write in English, since when was English the only official language in the US? or use other dirty tricks on employees.. Then what has the world come to? Are people beginning to devolve back into the creatures that had the sickening mentality that brought about mass discrimination based on.. anything certain people (idiots) deemed right!

You can’t and shouldn’t try to take away someone’s right to protest, march or penalize them for exercising that right, or maybe illegals don’t have any rights? Not even basic human rights? Its an insane idea to suggest that people should be fired for taking the day off march or no march.. if I had a boss that called and showed up at my house, I’d happily tell them where to put there job before smacking them in the face. I really detest the type of people that assume because you’re their employee then you’re their or the company’s property.

I agree with you

While I agree with you in theory, Aidan, the key here is whether or not ALL employees are given similar freedom to take time off to attend protests or to do volunteer work. If a worker wanted to go to the immigration rally and was allowed to do so, but another worker wanted to attend an anti-war rally and was not allowed, clearly the situation would be unfair. I don't know of any business that allows for "protest days"; generally the worker(s) would have to take personal days.

In this particular manager's position, I think she'd have to suck it up. Without clear proof that employees were abusing sick time, there's not much she can do, and it probably would end up seeming divisive and heavy-handed to do much of anything.

Very interesting point. Would we ever have protest days in the future?

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

most states are at-will employment. you can be fired for the smallest thing. just most don't due to lawsuits....

regarding the topic - if i could prove that such was being abused by the employees, off with their heads. if not, then let it go.

[Fuzzness 2]

I assume DHL it too big and too good of a company to hire illegals. I would just remove them a personal day. assuming that DHL gives its employees personal days.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

I presume said employees have proper paperwork? Valid GC, valid SS..

If they are legal immigrants, then I agree taking off a personal day if they have no Dr's note (or can get one if they can't get seen the same day), aren't quite obviously sick or injured, or are not in an ongoing situation at home that the company is aware of (like PsychoKat is).

That was standard practice at many places i worked in the UK for heaven's sake.

You can't just skip off work cos you feel like it..

[Fandango 1,439]

I think if they were fired because 1) they're Mexican and 2) they just weren't there, DHL would have a huge discrimiation lawsuit on their hands.

Who can say where they were without assuming? And is DHL really going to make an assumption based on race?

[Kajikit 65]

Nothing really to do with the topic, but if you want to see our doctor you have to make an appointment at least two days in advance... so how are you meant to get a doctor's note to cover a one or two day illness?

I had that problem in college the ONE TIME I was sick enough to be forced to stay home - the stupid doctor said he couldn't verify that I was sick before the appointment so the note only covered the next day and not the two days I'd had to take off before that while I was waiting to see him...

[Fandango 1,439]

Nothing really to do with the topic, but if you want to see our doctor you have to make an appointment at least two days in advance... so how are you meant to get a doctor's note to cover a one or two day illness?

I had that problem in college the ONE TIME I was sick enough to be forced to stay home - the stupid doctor said he couldn't verify that I was sick before the appointment so the note only covered the next day and not the two days I'd had to take off before that while I was waiting to see him...

Hah! exactly! My doc had a 4 day wait

That's why I loved living in England...you get sick, you get out of bed & just go right down to the docs

[rejane 1]

I had a talk about that last week with my precedent boss her husband do have a buisness and he warned all his employees to come to work, if they do not have the day off...

[Yodrak 7]

chocolaterie,

What has the manager done in past situations where employees called in sick on a Monday?

She'd best do the same for these 3 or a lawyer could have a field day with her.

Yodrak

My husband works for DHL. Today, mysteriously 3 employees from his department called in sick. All 3 happened to be Mexican. Arizona is a right to work state. My husband's manager is no dummy, she knows they won't be able to bring in a doctor's note validating their absence. If you were in her shoes, what would you do?

I am curious to everyone's answer. Obviously, this ties in with the whole immigration issue. Would you give them special treatment?

Edited May 2, 2006 by Yodrak

[Sister Fracas 5]

I think if anyone could fire a man or woman for exercising their right to protest peacefully or discriminate against people simply because of there race, religion or simply where they are from.. or even worse, declare that everyone should speak/read & write in English, since when was English the only official language in the US? or use other dirty tricks on employees.. Then what has the world come to? Are people beginning to devolve back into the creatures that had the sickening mentality that brought about mass discrimination based on.. anything certain people (idiots) deemed right!

You can’t and shouldn’t try to take away someone’s right to protest, march or penalize them for exercising that right, or maybe illegals don’t have any rights? Not even basic human rights? Its an insane idea to suggest that people should be fired for taking the day off march or no march.. if I had a boss that called and showed up at my house, I’d happily tell them where to put there job before smacking them in the face. I really detest the type of people that assume because you’re their employee then you’re their or the company’s property.

A few points....yes, in the United States, they should be required to speak and read English in the workplace. That's just the way it is. Were I to move to France, Japan, Germany, etc...I'd be required to learn the language to communicate effectively.

Also, you say you can't take away the right of someone to protest...but the is it the "right" of someone who is already breaking the law to say...change it!!! I think it's outright galling of an individual to work in a job illegally and then expect the same rights as legal employees.

Finally, when you take a position, you agree to their terms and policies. If they have a policy that says you must submit a Dr's note when you call in sick, you must comply or suffer the consequences. Otherwise you can just find a job that better suits your philosophy. Thankfully I work at an organization that allows a certain number of personal/sick days in addition to vacation time. I can call in, say I'm taking a personal day and I'm not required to tell them why I'm taking off. Not all organizations work the same way though and unfortuantely you have to agree to their terms when you take a position.

Nothing really to do with the topic, but if you want to see our doctor you have to make an appointment at least two days in advance... so how are you meant to get a doctor's note to cover a one or two day illness?

I had that problem in college the ONE TIME I was sick enough to be forced to stay home - the stupid doctor said he couldn't verify that I was sick before the appointment so the note only covered the next day and not the two days I'd had to take off before that while I was waiting to see him...

Hah! exactly! My doc had a 4 day wait

That's why I loved living in England...you get sick, you get out of bed & just go right down to the docs

It depends on your Dr's office/insurance because I can get in to see my primary physician on the same day I call. A specialist is a different story.

[faith 0]

yeah i get into my doc same day too. never had a problem with that.

the tricky thing with sick days vs. personal days is just that. A lot of companies are now switching to PTO days as opposed to sick or personal days. PTO is a total of your sick/personal/vacation days. You use them as you see fit. You can even use certain hours of the day for just that. "I need a 1/2 day on such and such day"

I work for my brother. Let me tell you, it sucks when one of my kids or sick or I'm sick and I have to sit there and explain in detail what is wrong so I can stay home (I'm hourly and have no sick/personal/vacation/PTO days) It is degrading to have to say "I'm sick." oh that's not good enough "I've been up all night puking" or whatever else is wrong.

If these guys were not required to have a doc's note for one day absence then really the manager can't do anything about it. Unless there is proof they lied about being sick.

[Reba 2]

if they're legal workers (and I'll assume they are) and they have an allowance of so many sick days per year, then I see no reason why any company should retaliate against an employee for taking a day off. I used to call in for "mental health days" all the time.

If they're illegal workers, then what the hey is DHL hiring them for anyway?

[chocolaterie 0]

Very good points everyone. Yes they are all legal workers. I don't believe the manager would do such an obviously wrong action of firing based on race. But I can see her firing them based on the fact that she had issued a pre-warning prior to May 1st and that they may not have proof validating their excuse. I wonder what her stance is on honesty. Maybe if they had given advance notice that they would not be there because this was a personal reason, she would see otherwise?

[Sister Fracas 5]

yeah i get into my doc same day too. never had a problem with that.

heh...you and me and that same insurance coverage....