does this sound right..

johnwayne · Jun 21, 2018

3 routes and aux in office. I run aux route 715-1200, I also sub on a reg route. One of the other routes is without a carrier one day. I have a doctors appointment that day. Never filled out a leave sheet, because i wouldnt have to take leave, as the appt is in the afternoon. Pm informs me that there is no one to work one of the other routes, and i have to do it on said day. Since i had not filed leave papers, and apparently the others have..even though the sub dedicated to that route gets no paid time off..doesnt seem right to me..but ive been assured thats just the way it is..

Quivo · Jun 21, 2018

Unfortunately yes. You are an RCA and so you only go home when management says you can. And they schedule you whenever they want. Even when you are on good terms with management, they will turn on you if it would ever make them look bad to their boss.

If you need time off for a dr appointment, have them sign a leave slip giving you the day off, even if you aren't earning sick days or annual. The other sub apparently did.

The final thing is you can call in sick, but this can lead to discipline, especially since they know you wanted the day off and they couldn't give it to you.

faceindawind · Jun 21, 2018

If you did not inform management or anyone else of this day late appointment. You can run part of what is asked and run it until you can make your DR appointment, return to office stating not feeling right. You're going to see DR that day anyway. Have them write a slip you have been observed and fit to return to work. No discipline action taken.

If action taken, chances are LOW. Behave for 6 months. They need bodies on the route. If not you there are other RCA'S out there to pressure before they have to run it themselves.

johnwayne · Jun 21, 2018

well this was a long shot to happen..but im still not happy about it. 2 reg routes on vacation. one sub who doesnt want to work. I was third in line to work that route. I have one year until someone retires..Thing is..this sub likes to not be able to work. So i guess i have to cover my own before every holiday for the next year.

btdtret · Jun 23, 2018

johnwayne -- "I run aux route 715-1200, I also sub on a reg route. One of the other routes is without a carrier one day. I have a doctors appointment that day. Never filled out a leave sheet, because i wouldnt have to take leave, as the appt is in the afternoon."

-- Next time fill out a 3971, which is a lot more than just a "leave request". Just in case.

-- Or to expand on "Faceindawind's" posting. Some "if's" come into play. IF you can do part of the route, and IF you are in a hot part of the country and IF you are near the doctor's office near your appointment time, call into the office and IF someone answers, say you think you are having a "heat-related" event and are on the way to the doctor's office. If manglement wants to send someone to the doctor's office to finish the route, fine, IF not, with the doctor's okay you'll finish the route. IF the original appointment was a short one, have the doctor write you an "excuse" slip and finish the end of the route.

-- When back at the office you can probably say that since manglement has yet to give a Stand-Up about "Heat-Related Illnesses" you wanted to be safe rather than sorry!

-- IF manglement complains you might have missed dispatch, you can ask them if they would rather be answering questions from OSHA officials about a "heat-related" incident.