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Attendence issue - a bit freaked about possible loss of job

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lostforgottensoul

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Ok, so my job is amazing employee wise. They are empatheic to employee needs and go out of their way to meet them. They treat employees like family members. There has been little issue until now and for the most part, it is a miss read of their end.

Let me explain. Their attendence policy is far lacking. They have personal and sick leave, which I though was the end all. Have it and you use it without getting in trouble. That was not correct. A year that's what I thought and learned in December that's not correct. You can have all the sick and personal time all you want, and still get in trouble for calling out as it is about patterns. But, patterns can be seen and can be wrong. So, when you lay out 16 (now 18) days out in a year, they could look like a pattern, without context. 3 days this month, 3 days 2 months later, maybe a day 2 months later, maybe nothing for 4 months but lay them out for anyone, without any context, just dates and they could look like a pattern. And unknowingly, all year, I have accentently laid out a call out pattern. It has been a bad year for me getting sick wise. But, what they are actually seeing is get sick, try to work for 2 or 3 of my 5 day work week trying to get to my days off, get sicker, be forced to call out the last 3 or 2 days of my work week. Or be forced to call out the 2 or even the last one. But, because there are 3 days about every 4th month, at least, and the 2 days between there, it lays out like a pattern. When it's just good work ethic in a disabled body...who gets sick much faster then the typical person but can work fulltime. I think 16 days is very excessive in one year. It was a bad year. No one is looking at the first 9 months I worked there. June to the following March (this call out "pattern" starts in March) and didn't call out once. But it's now 2018 so I guess that's all that matters.

Anyway, I have the flu and bronconitis and on the edge of like pnuemonia (which would mean 3 more days in the hospital...if not more as the more you get pneumonia the harder it is to treat thus the longer you are in the hospital. This will be my 4th time, if I do get it) if I cannot stablize my blood oxygen above 92%. It's average at about 90 righr now but I can get it higher so I know it's not pneumonia yet.

Anyway, 3 days ago and the day after, I pushed myself to work though I work in a call center and had no voice and had to whisper all day long and even though I had a cough that was so super deep into the chest that literally it paralyzed me. Even though every customer asked me why in the world I was working and every employee gave me that dirty look about being congagious, I was told that my 16 days I called out from March to Oct was a pattern and so, I was terrified to call out. Even though, I drove home dizzy as f*ck, feeling as drunk as f*ck the last day I worked (Sun), with a head that was about to explode with one of the worst headaches. [Edited to add: Forgot the 102 temp I had Sun that I worked with that finally broke over night Sun but started late day Sun and started to rise quickly and stopped at 102.2]. I should not have been driving [ETA: Fever included] and I wondered how in the world I was going to do this on a Monday morning with Orlando traffic.

Well, yesterday morning I couldn't stand. I stumbled over myself. At 6:15 when my alarm goes off. I tried. I showered (I think). I actually don't remember much between when I woke up at 6:15 and when I finally called in and slink on the couch knowing there was no way in hell I was putting myself in the driver seat of a car. I slept until about 10 and that's when I finally felt ok and able to drive the 2 blocks to the walk in clinic that Dr said no work until after Thurs then after that I went straight to work to let them know (after the pharmacy to learn the entire town is short on Tamaflu generic. Had to wait to get it a bit later today for that but got the antibotic and Prednisone yesterday at least). I thought that would be a good thing but maybe that makes it look like I am not sick enough? I am sick enough to drop vapping within a second and not want it when highly addicted to it (come off cigs that way). But they don't see that stuff. With their "pattern without any context" attendence policy, anything, literally, can be read into it. When I went there yesterday, I went to my sup to explain and he said, as all sups do "take care of yourself medically" and then he said "we'll talk when you are better". That didn't make me feel better but I said ok and took my note HR. HR took the totally vague work note that said I was to be off Monday to Thursday but it didn't explain why. The page that explained why I would of handed over without hesitation except it has part of my meds of it. Seriquel XR 200 megs and Xanax .5 mgs. I don't work to know those at the moment. There will be a time for that possibly but not now. When I pointed it out she said "oh, I just made a note on here, it's ok". I said "but this says more then the flu. This has broncontis as well as my blood oxygen being at 89 and my need to seek emergency treatment if it doesn't stablize..." (a walk in clinic will send you to the ER with a blood oxygen of anything below 92 if they can't get it to come up. We were able to with deeper breaths, after the breathing treatment but the Dr had to walk me through the deep breaths. The weezing is very loud.) Anyway, my point to HR is that, that page shows positive for influenzea, broncotis (which i am not such has a test but suprised to see it with the flu and not one or the other) which proves why I need the days off, and it also shows that I may need to go to the hospital, for more says off and why. She kept insisting that the one vauge page with her "flu" sticky note was enough. Though, it's missing broncontis which is important to the possible penumonia/hopistal stay/more time off.

Anyway, I accepted that and asked about it being approved. As, when my sup went over the 16 days in a year "patteren", those are unapproved and unplanned. What is approved? Well, that's when HR takes a medical document for an unplanned absense, sends it over to management to ask them to approve it. That doesn't go against you. But, there is not set anything for this and not every doctor's note will be approved. Thus why I was pushing so hard for them to take the other paper that proved how sick I was. But, this now looks like more of the same pattern. Worked 3 days, (was only just getting sick the first day was sick Sat and really), off 2.

This is becoming way longer then intended so let me get to the point. HR told me that it is up to leadership and management to decide if it's enough for approve unplanned or not approved unplanned (my sup said it was up to HR). So, I went back to my sup (managment)...who makes those calls and told me that they simply usually side with what HR said. He said that they usually take HR's word for it. Have to go off the pattern. I told him that if I knew I coul be written up, I would force myself to work he repeated that I have to medical take care of myself, but they have a business to run and with Florida being a State they can literally fire you without reason, and with such a vauge attendence policy, I am terrified that they will not approve this and will not even bother writting me up and will fire me. I mean, my stats have gotten better but those words just won't leave my head. You have to take care of yourself but we have a business to run to.

Others talk about your thoughts on all of this as I am just in a mental frenzy. I didnt have a chance to talk any further with my sup as he just kept saying the same thing, and my body was doing way worse yesterday and had already driven about. I did take a copy of the doctor's note but i dont think it will matters. Not in Florida. Florida is an at-will State. They can fire you and don't need a reason. What do you all think? A write up I can handle. It would suck but I can handle it. But their attendence policy is so vauge that it doesn't even call for corrective action. It just says up to termination. Though I don't have that part memorized and the only part of the handibook they email you is code of conduct when hired. The rest I believe is in their intranet. I cannot find their attendence policy online for nothing and it's also not in my email. So it's not like I can look there but I don't remember it having a set up corrective action before termination. Wouldn't they do that first? I am not written up for anything else. I go talked to about my tone but that's back when I was first hired and my AHT is way down. I'm all internally worked up over this but those words "you have to take care of yourself medically but we have a business to run too" has really freaked me out! Help! So I can properly rest and get better!
 
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I'm totally confused about what their attendance policy is, so I don't have any specific advice. If they are good to work for, like you describe, then I'd guess they aren't going to be in a hurry to fire someone. Also, with unemployment as low it as it, people are harder than average to replace. And you have experience. They probably don't want to fire you. Relax and get better. It's true they have a business to run. I'm sure there's a point where an employee misses so much work that it creates a problem for them. But I think they are more worried about people goofing off than they are people being really sick. You aren't goofing off and that's not something you'd do. (Actually, now that I think about it, if they wanted to fire you, they'd have just fired you not said they'd talk things over when you got back to work.)

You're already doing everything you can to do your job. That's all you can do. Rest, follow your doctor's orders, get better. What ever happens after that you can deal with, you've already dealt with worse.
 
people are harder than average to replace

They are hiring like crazy. Mainly because he more and more calls. But a class of 20 or so every few weeks.


I'm totally confused about what their attendance policy is,

Me too but bascally, the way I understand it is its about patterns of call outs. Like the example he gave is every Friday or every payday. In my case it is only when i had gotten sick but when laid out it looks like a few days every few months.

Actually, now that I think about it, if they wanted to fire you, they'd have just fired you not said they'd talk things over when you got back to work.

That's true. Though, those words even made my pharmacist said "oh f*ck". Scared me for sure! He did say that i wouldnt see him until Monday of next week but my last job waited to fire me too. Waited a week. But totally different circumstances.

I really wish HR would of take why I was calling out. If just the flu I'd probably come to work with a flu mask. The flu, broncostis, and blood oxygen 89%, which is now nearing pneumonia and that's another story. And I did work with double pneumonia once. I've worked up to a hospital addmission more then once. I really wish they could see that. Its not a pattern. Its not every few Fridays. Ugh! It makes me mad that it even looks like a pattern and why they take all context and reason out of why I have called out. 90% of the time I was sick.

However, if it was never an issue, he wouldnt of taken me off the phone to have a coaching about my attendence.
 
I get a lot of this is PTSD worrying and anxiety. That's why I have posted here. I needed a place to talk it out. Figure out how to manage it? Maybe just the wrong area?

ETA: Also had to cancel therapy tomorrow and now won't see my therapist for 4 weeks. Which is the longest time I have been without seeing my therapist.
 
I get a lot of this is PTSD worrying and anxiety.
I'm sure you're right about that and it's got to be at least a little helpful that you know that. I'm not an expert on the best place to post stuff, but you might also bring it into your diary. Going 4 weeks without seeing your T is a longish time. I'd like to think it would help if you hung out here more during that.

Like the example he gave is every Friday or every payday.
THAT makes some sense. And, like you said, it's not what you're doing. You've been sick. For real sick. If it looks like there's a pattern, it's a coincidence. The people they're looking for are the ones thinking, "Oh goody, I got paid, I'm getting drunk tonight and skipping work in the morning." Definitely not you! I know things can go sideways, but let's hope they don't. Meanwhile, take care of yourself.
 
THAT makes some sense. And, like you said, it's not what you're doing. You've been sick. For real sick. If it looks like there's a pattern, it's a coincidence. The people they're looking for are the ones thinking, "Oh goody, I got paid, I'm getting drunk tonight and skipping work in the morning." Definitely not you! I know things can go sideways, but let's hope they don't

I agree, but if it weren't a problem, he wouldn't of taken me straight off the phones, outside of our normal coaching timeframe and had all 16 days off in the year in a graph with just dates and zero context and tell me "this looks like a pattern". If it weren't an issue, he wouldn't of done that. And then when I went in to tell him, trying to show them I am trying to do the responsible thing to let them know what's going on and to provide HR with the Doctor note from the walk in clinic saying I need to be off until Thursday. Which they still did not approve as of yesterday (which do not show up in that graph) so now there are 2 more side by side days to add to the graph without context. And if it weren't an issue he wouldn't of said "you need to take care of yourself but we have a business to run too."

Yes, I was sick 99% of the time I called out but according to their attendence policy, it doesn't matter. Thus why I said it's lacking. When you put any person't call out days in a date graph but no context, no reasoning next to it, it can look like a pattern when it is not. It's the most f*cked attendence policy I have ever heard of. Most especially when you have accured sick and personal time.


I'm sure you're right about that and it's got to be at least a little helpful that you know that. I'm not an expert on the best place to post stuff, but you might also bring it into your diary. Going 4 weeks without seeing your T is a longish time. I'd like to think it would help if you hung out here more during that

Yes, it's a real long time and I'm already deatablizing. I'll try to hang out more there or maybe make another thread about it specificlly. Not many answer diaries (though a few do) and it can get feeling like you are just talking to yourself at times. Maybe make a post on my program asking for more to try to answer there? I don't know. Just incredablly freaked out over that wording he used.

ETA: Oh, and the 4 times stronger albuterol nebulizer stuff the doctor gave me has my heart rate in the 150s and body shaking worse then ever for hours. It's 4 times stronger then the other ones I have. It worked and got my blood oxygen up and stablized above 92% for the most part but holy hell the side effects of albuterol this strong!
 
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but if it weren't a problem,
I'm going to issue a "rabbit hole alert". If you can keep yourself from ruminating on that, I think it would be better. We don't know, exactly, why he did what he did. Obviously something about your attendance triggered some kind of alert in their system. We don't actually know what their system IS. Maybe it issues a lot of false alarms. You know that you're on the radar screen for attendance, true enough. And, of course it would be better if that hadn't happened. What's a fact is that you're doing the best you can and that's all you can do. Another fact is it will be a few days before you get any more information. That sucks, because living with uncertainty definitely sucks, but that's where things are at and there doesn't seem to be any way to change it at the moment.
Oh, and the 4 times stronger albuterol nebulizer stuff the doctor gave me has my heart rate in the 150s and body shaking worse then ever for hours
THAT doesn't sound very good! I can't help but wonder if it doesn't also create some extra feelings of anxiety. Don't you go & have a stroke or something!
Just incredablly freaked out over that wording he used.
I do that kind of thing too. Often enough it turns out the wording doesn't have the same significance to the speaker that it had to me.
I'll try to hang out more there or maybe make another thread about it specificlly. Not many answer diaries (though a few do) and it can get feeling like you are just talking to yourself at times. Maybe make a post on my program asking for more to try to answer there?
Good ideas! Tag a few people if you want to attract their attention and have some conversation. I know there are a lot of times when I don't read stuff just because of the mood I'm in and maybe it looks like nothing's going on, but I'd get involved if someone attracted my attention.
 
I don’t think the context will matter to them, one way or another. Even if you went back and submitted medical records - sounds like the ‘business to run’ side of it is, the job requires x number of days per week. Their system is likely automatic, and ‘pings’ either when a person has hit a certain number of sick days, or a certain number of specific day of the week sick days.

I think they were great to let you know that there was a problem emerging. They aren’t expecting you to give those days back. What matters to them is what your attendance behaviors are, going forward.

It’s hard sometimes when people don’t give us what we wish they would. I’m sure that if your supervisor was really vocal in expressing that they believed you, encouraged you not to worry, said they understood you had it extra hard....you’d probably feel a little better. But, if they did that, your supervisor wouldn’t be giving you good information.

It’s a stronger stance for an employee in your situationto admit being ignorant of the policy, and to make a strong apology with a stated intent to comply with policy, going forward.

Put the energy into getting a real working understanding of what goes into a successful request for a sick day. I bet HR can talk you through how it works, from the company’s perspective (how they decide what to approve and when). That’ll be important for you, in future.
 
THAT doesn't sound very good! I can't help but wonder if it doesn't also create some extra feelings of anxiety. Don't you go & have a stroke or something!

Oh, abolutely! It was needed to stablize my blood oxygen. If it just sat low as it was, it would of turened into pneumonia. It's why she gave me stronger vials for the nebulizet but been eating xanax like candy. Hopefully I have enough and don't run short but I did have quite a bit when I got it filled so I think I'll be ok.

I don’t think the context will matter to them, one way or another. Even if you went back and submitted medical records - sounds like the ‘business to run’ side of it is, the job requires x number of days per week. Their system is likely automatic, and ‘pings’ either when a person has hit a certain number of sick days, or a certain number of specific day of the week sick days.

It can't be a certian number of sick days of a week or even specific days. My days called out are usually 2 or 3 at most in a row but those are sperated by months. I think it is me pushing through my first 2 or 3 days then calling out 2 or 3 days right before my days off. Creating a pattern accidently. [ETA: Though, there are some days on there, no where near my days off, where I couldn't make it through the day and left early. Thus, not so much those specific days]. But, they do need context in my opinion. Yes. I am there to fullfill business needs but there is a reason we get sick, personal, and vacation time and I am still using accured sick and personal time. People get sick. I see a big difference in Johnny who called out to go to the beach with his buddies and someone that called out for the flu. But, maybe that's just me. I thrive with structure. Most call centers have occuences. Up to so many and you are good. Then the next would be a verbal warning, next a written, and next or more termination. Structure. What I need to do is to stop trying to work when I am sick. I many times can push myself to my days off and never need to call out. But, when it's bad then I need to just call in. Therefore, it's not creating a pattern right before my days off. But, honestly, he didn't even talk about the days of the week. He was talking about 3 days one month, 3 more 2 months later, a day the next, 2 three months later, etc. Again, June '07 to March '08 when I didn't call out once counts for nothing I suppose.

I think they were great to let you know that there was a problem emerging. They aren’t expecting you to give those days back. What matters to them is what your attendance behaviors are, going forward.

Right. And a week after the coaching I'm calling out again. See my delemma there? It's been two months since I called out last but only a week after the coaching.

It’s a stronger stance for an employee in your situationto admit being ignorant of the policy, and to make a strong apology with a stated intent to comply with policy, going forward.

Done. In the coaching a week ago. Though I still don't understand it though he read it to me. It makes no since. Especially since we are given sick and personal time that the days I happened to get sick this year created some sort of pattern.

I bet HR can talk you through how it works, from the company’s perspective (how they decide what to approve and when

Already asked. They state it is a case by case basis and a doctor's note is never an auto approval. No documentation is an auto approval according to them.

I ask a lot of questions by nature and want to know all that I can on any subject. This attendence policy has me baffled.
 
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This attendence policy has me baffled.
Do I have this right?

Employee is allocated a certain number of paid sick days per year.

According to their policy, they reserve the right to approve or deny those sick days on a case by case basis. If employee knows in advance they'll be out (like for a planned surgery, or difficult-to-schedule doctor appointment), they should submit their request (with appropriate documentation) in advance. If employee has to use a sick day unexpectedly (wakes up too sick to come to work), employee is expected to provide documentation after the fact (proof of illness). Employer reserves the right to terminate employment based on improper employee use/abuse of sick days.

Each employee also gets a certain number of paid vacation days per year. These probably expire annually or quarterly, have rules around accrual, and require a supervisor to sign off on the planned vacation days.
 
employee is expected to provide documentation after the fact (proof of illness)

Which I have done every single time I was sick. They do not approve every doctor's note but that does not mean I was not sick and it doesn't mean I didn't go out of my way to provide them documentation that I was sick.

And their attendence policy isn't written up like that. Sick and personal time mean nothing. Documentation of sickness means nothing if not approved. If it creates a pattern (to them, void of reason) then it's a problem.

It was a bad sick year for me. Which is why I wish they'd include June 2017 to March 2018 in their assessment, where I didn't call out once. They are making it seem like I call out this much always and that isn't the case. But, I absolutely had sick and personal time to use and I absolutely went out of my way to provide documentation of sickness to HR.
 
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