Newest Threads

Jeepaholic · 03-01-2013, 04:03 AM

I am a assistant manager of a hardware store. In the Midwest we have been hit hard by some strong (for us) winter storms. I have always been to type to drive big Jeeps on and off road as a result I enjoy the challenge of driving in the deep snow. During the last 2 storms 2 of the other managers have not been able to get to work making it much harder on me and the store manager. When it comes to work I do whatever it takes to take care of my responsibility including getting to work when I am needed.

Is it too much to ask a person of responsibility to show up at work? (I'm not talking about a minimum wage hourly worker) The rumor is I will have my own store soon. I want to know where the line is. I feel it is the same as a person not coming in because its raining and all they have is a motorcycle and don't want to get wet. I say drive whatever you want, but have a plan in place to take care of your responsibilities. They have the option to spend the night at the store, or get a ride from somebody else. I was asked to take the head cashier to work witch I was happy to do. They feel it is no big deal even though as a hardware store these are very big days for us. We need to be open so people can get what they need for the storm.

What is your opinion on this? please vote.

danbe · 03-01-2013, 04:15 AM

If you are scheduled to be there , be there. Document a verbal warning. Then you tell them next time it happens they will get written up. Third time they are fired. Give them a time period, so after say 30 days they start all over. If they keep repeating this pattern every 30 days over and over you have all the documentation needed to not give them a raise or give them a poor annual review.

Beernik · 03-01-2013, 04:24 AM

I guess it depends on how bad the storm is.

Around SLC, 12 inches of snow and 30mph wind gusts is nature's way of double-dog daring you to drive to work. We had some pretty bad storms this winter including a morning commute with freezing rain. I made the 20 mile drive into the office in all but one of them and I drive a Prius.

The one storm I decided not to drive in, the roads were getting clogged with accidents at 6:30am. So I opted to telecommute instead.

**Airplanedoc** · 03-01-2013, 05:09 AM

Do these people work for you or are they coworkers? If they don't work for you, then its not your place to "coach" them. When you are the store manager, then you can try to make sure there is a plan in place to get them to work on time if you want.

bluelakebrewing · 03-01-2013, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beernik

I guess it depends on how bad the storm is.

Around SLC, 12 inches of snow and 30mph wind gusts is nature's way of double-dog daring you to drive to work. We had some pretty bad storms this winter including a morning commute with freezing rain. I made the 20 mile drive into the office in all but one of them and I drive a Prius.

The one storm I decided not to drive in, the roads were getting clogged with accidents at 6:30am. So I opted to telecommute instead.

agreed. sorry but not everyone drives a big time hot shot jeep. it can be dangerous driving in conditions like that if you arent prepared or have necessary experience. How would you feel if someone was seriously injured or killed on there way to the hardware store. More important things in life bro. im all for morals but put yourself in other peoples shoes.

Jeepaholic · 03-01-2013, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airplanedoc

Do these people work for you or are they coworkers? If they don't work for you, then its not your place to "coach" them. When you are the store manager, then you can make sure there is a plan in place to get them to work on time if you want.

We are on the same level. I know it's not my place I have no intention to. I am talking about later in my career.

bluelakebrewing

I agree about not having a car that does well in the snow. As far as my "big time hot shot jeep" goes my daily driver is a bone stock Cherokee worth less than $3,000. If you don't feel comfortable driving in it there other options. I listed 2 of them in the original post. I know several managers that slept in their stores. You talk about the danger of driving, what about the family that has had the power go out at home but cant get fuel for there heater because nobody is there to open the store? Or the person cleaning the side walks, parking lots ect. that needs ice melt to make a safe environment?

Edit: as far as not being prepared why would you not be? You live in a area that it snows. You know it will snow, so if you are not prepared it is because you did not care enough to do so.

nrbxbuev · 03-01-2013, 05:47 AM

I made the 20 mile drive into the office in all but one of them and I drive a Prius.

**fuzzy2133** · 03-01-2013, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepaholic

Edit: as far as not being prepared why would you not be? You live in a area that it snows. You know it will snow, so if you are not prepared it is because you did not care enough to do so.

How often it snows and how bad it normally is needs to be taken into account. That is what I kept thinking. Now it comes to the storms severity and what their conditions are at their houses. If they are buried in that's a problem that would be ok not to be in for work. Like open the front door and the snow is 3/4 to the top!

**AussieBrewerInColorado** · 03-01-2013, 06:38 AM

My answer is pretty simple: If you're expected to work, unless there is a huge storm and your boss calls you to tell you that you don't have to come in, you be at work. Simple as that.

**Zuljin** · 03-01-2013, 12:29 PM

My dept is essential personnel. We are expected to make it in, "if at all possible." That's a big if. Most of us do, most of the time. I've not missed, yet. It has taken careful planning and driving. I've gotten up early to beat the rush and have the time. Not everyone has that option. We're a 24 hour facility. Some folks days start at different times.

We don't get blizzards here, but we do get snow, and even worse, ice. Roads have been closed. There is no plowing of neighborhoods. Only choice highways get treatment. Maybe the city will sand the main drags. Maybe.

We've a front wheel drive car and a rear wheel drive truck. One day it snowed and iced pretty bad, for here. I was off work but decided to try driving because it was the worst I'd seen. Neither vehicle could get more than half a block. The car got stuck at the end of the driveway. The truck slid into the curb after I nearly wrecked into the neighbor's truck. Said neighbor's kids helped us push everything back into the driveway. It was funny, but had that been a work day, I'd have called in.

I've a motorcycle too, and drove that in the snow around the neighborhood once. I would not try that all the way to work.

Now, if these folks are calling in every time it dusts out, that's a problem. If it's truly dangerous or even impassable, that's life on planet Earth. It's going to happen that in some parts of the country, at some times, you get stuck where you're at and you have to miss work or maybe stay at work.

I wonder what the ramifications would be if a company had a policy to discipline or fire an employee if they didn't come to work in truly inclement weather and an employee got killed or killed someone else trying to drive in anyway. If no criminal consequences, there's still civil court. And there's still the court of public opinion. Mom and Pop's Hardware would look pretty bad to the community if it were their company policy that contributed to deaths in the community.