MANVSMACHINE wrote:WOW! It was a 5 month probation that I was on! I came from a graphic corporate world into the railroad for stability. I can honestly say the corporate world runs totally different. Those 6 times within those 5 times were all legitimate reasons that were out of my control. Things happen in life that we as people can't control, and time is one of them. I bust my ass to get there everyday on time and worked my ass off. I took that job more than serious, it was my only livelihood. If it's paying my bills, then its serious, TRUST ME! I thank you all for your advice on the matter, but now I realize them letting me go was probably the best thing for me and a wake up call.
Many people who come from the corporate, 9 to 5 world do find it difficult to adjust to the schedule of the railroads who expect you to BE there. As you build time, you can also build up vacation, sick leave, and personal days with which to take care of "personal problems". If you can get past that probation period and demonstrate dedication to the job, it is sometimes possible to "mark off" for emergencies. I only had a couple of unforseen absences in my career as well. One was one morning when I was on my way to work at 7 AM with PLENTY of time to arrive. I was following another car when his bumper literally flew off, and before I could dodge it, I ran over it and ruined two tires! within a mile of the shops!
Well, there I was with only one spare so I was stuck. I called the shop and told my supervisor what was wrong and she asked where I was. She came out there, we called a mobile tire repair guy, and he put on two tires. (Cost me $290, too)
When I got my paycheck, there was no docking of pay: I got paid for the hour and a half that I was late. Why? Because (and as my boss put it) she knew that I was NEVER late to work and, when the coffee was not made that morning, she knew something had happened to me!
There are people who are chronically late. I've known these kinds all my life. You have, too. Its the guy that tells you that he will be there at 8 AM, and he shows (if at all) at 8:20! No matter the hour, they always seem to "fudge" or make excuses for their habitual tardiness and, indeed, see nothing wrong with it! It is part of their ethic (?) They have been taught, or have convinced themselves, that it is OK. And it is NOT "OK"! It is, at the very least, inconsiderate and presumptive, and at its worst, disruptive to the lives and work of other people! IOW, It is
all about "ME" and my problems and screw YOU! There is a huge difference in the occasional late arrival and and an habitual offender. I don't mean to be harsh, but if I were a railroad supervisor, I would deal with the "problem" in the same way! GONE!