I received a write-up today...

[morillon]

I have worked as a dispatcher for a transportation company for the past two years. In these two years I have never been written up or gotten in trouble for anything.

The only times I have ever taken off were for my vacation days. This past week and over the weekend I have been really sick with the flu. I went to work for the last two nights, but I have gotten much more sick. I decided to call off this morning at 7 a.m. which is 13 hours prior to the start of my shift. I also found someone to cover my shift easily.

I was told that the general manager is giving me a write-up for calling off. The last that I heard, the policy was to call off 4 hours beforehand. When I told him this, he said that the company is "zero-tolerance" and it does not matter what time I call. I hung up with him and started to research.

I have been trying to find out information all morning and want to know if this is legal or not. I think it is unfair that I am being written up for this, but if they were going to get me in trouble is not the first step a verbal warning, then written warning, then termination? (remember that I have never been in trouble for anything)

What I plan on doing when I go in tomorrow is bringing a doctor's note and refusing to sign the write-up. Is it wise? Can somebody please help me?

 

[Patricia_Young]

Progressive discipline steps are not required by law. Disciplinary write-ups are not addressed by law. Refusing to sign a write-up could be considered insubordination. Signing it does not mean you agree with the fairness of the write-up; it means you have been advised of the employer's stance on the situation. A doctor's note has no force of law unless FMLA is involved; the employer can give it any weight he chooses, or no weight at all.

Unfair and illegal are not the same thing.

 

[theretoo]

I have worked as a dispatcher for a transportation company for the past two years. In these two years I have never been written up or gotten in trouble for anything.

The only times I have ever taken off were for my vacation days. This past week and over the weekend I have been really sick with the flu. I went to work for the last two nights, but I have gotten much more sick. I decided to call off this morning at 7 a.m. which is 13 hours prior to the start of my shift. I also found someone to cover my shift easily.

I was told that the general manager is giving me a write-up for calling off. The last that I heard, the policy was to call off 4 hours beforehand. When I told him this, he said that the company is "zero-tolerance" and it does not matter what time I call. I hung up with him and started to research.

I have been trying to find out information all morning and want to know if this is legal or not. I think it is unfair that I am being written up for this, but if they were going to get me in trouble is not the first step a verbal warning, then written warning, then termination? (remember that I have never been in trouble for anything)

What I plan on doing when I go in tomorrow is bringing a doctor's note and refusing to sign the write-up. Is it wise? Can somebody please help me?

ask for a copy of the 'zero tolerance policy'

then print and hand them this case policy, not that your illness qualifies as a disability, but if the reason you called in had been due to a disability, it would land your employer is some pretty hot water

http://www.laboremploymentlawblog.c...late-the-americans-with-disabilities-act.html