Threatening more punishment

I have been with this company over 17 years. Never caused a problem never so much as had a tardy. This past weekend they wanted us to work Saturday and Sunday. A lady I worked with and myself did not want to work it. She was having a lot of back and leg issues, my dad was getting out of the hospital following his second brain surgery. We were told we had to have a doctors note or get one point per day we missed. Friday our supervisor asked if we would be there. We said no. She ended up being able to get a doctors note. Monday morning the manager and supervisor take us into a meeting together. He pushes her doctors note to her and says it has to have more information on it. He then proceeds to point his finger in her face saying she got the upper hand on them this time. She asked him to stop while she was crying and he did it more and kept repeating you got the upper hand on us. He then looked at me and said as for you for not showing up you get two no call no shows. And when HR gets back you will have more consequences. How can they tell me I'm being punished in a different way than originally said. And why do I deserve more punishment? Also, they took us both in together and were discussing her medical issues in front of me. I'm sure none of this is illegal, but I thought maybe someone could give me some advice on how to handle my meeting with HR and if there is anything I can do. Thanks.

Since none of us are in your HR department, and none of use can read the minds of the folks who are in the HR department, we can't even begin to guess what might happen in the meeting, much less how to handle it. All I can say is to try to remain calm and explain your situation, then listen to what HR has to say.

I have some questions for you. The answers to these questions have a direct bearing on what, if any recourse you have.

1.) How many employees does this employer have within 75 miles of your location?
2.) Do you work for him full or part time? If part time, do you work more or less than half time?
3.) Were you needed to care for your father?
4.) Did your employer know about your father's illness and that he was being released from the hospital?

We aren't going to discuss the other employee. Her circumstances were not the same as yours.

Thanks for the replies. Within 75 miles of me they have hundreds of employees. I work there full time. I specifically did not have to care for him as my mom was able to do it. I more or less just wanted to be there for support and to help if she needed. I was willing to take the points for this reason. My supervisor was aware of him being released as I did end up leaving early on Friday when he was released. Thursday I said I might work Saturday but probably not Sunday because I wanted to be able to spend time with my dad and I was tired and stressed out after dealing with the hospital part of it also.

This is something that will have to be worked out with your HR and isn't really much of a legal issue. It will have more to do with company policies.
For what it's worth, you told them Friday you would not be coming, so it is hardly a no call no show situation.

You might look into your company scheduling policy. When were you informed that they wanted you to work the weekend? Is there a policy regarding notice of schedule changes?

We were notified Thursday afternoon. I believe they said 24 hours is there policy. The thing is we don't have a handbook or anything available to look at. I've asked a few times then gave up. A new company purchased us at the beginning of the year and it's been a pretty rough changeover. I forgot to mention we did go to the manager Thursday after the meeting and he called hr and she said while it sounded like a miscommunication in the way he told us ( he told us our department didn't have to work first, then a lead who was in the private meeting beforehand and had a chance to to speak then complained in front of everyone and he said well then everyone is working) we had 24 hour notice so we had to work or get points or a doctor note. We do not have HR available on our site at all times

If you were not needed to care for your father, then the law that might have protected you does not apply and you can legally be disciplined for not being there. They can change or add to the discipline you were initially told of because there isn't a law that says they cannot.

Aurora said:

A lady I worked with and myself did not want to work it.

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The bosses become agitated if someone tells one of their underlings, NO.

The bosses expect complete obedience and extreme deference at all times.

Aurora said:

We were told we had to have a doctors note or get one point per day we missed.

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The bosses always make sure something EXTRA is required if someone says NO.

Aurora said:

Friday our supervisor asked if we would be there. We said no.

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If a subordinate tells one of the bosses (or an underling) NO, there will soon be pain!

Aurora said:

Monday morning the manager and supervisor take us into a meeting together. He pushes her doctors note to her and says it has to have more information on it. He then proceeds to point his finger in her face saying she got the upper hand on them this time. She asked him to stop while she was crying and he did it more and kept repeating you got the upper hand on us. He then looked at me and said as for you for not showing up you get two no call no shows. And when HR gets back you will have more consequences.

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See, NO was uttered, pain and rage were meted out.

As usual, the HOW is always explained by the DID.

Aurora said:

How can they tell me I'm being punished in a different way than originally said. And why do I deserve more punishment?

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If I were you, I'd avoid asking more questions, thereby exhibiting more defiance.

Remember, the bosses demand obedience and subservience at all times.

Now you can ignore the above sentence, but pain will follow, eventually ending in terminations!

Aurora said:

I'm sure none of this is illegal, but I thought maybe someone could give me some advice on how to handle my meeting with HR and if there is anything I can do. Thanks.

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You might start looking for another job, because sooner or later, you're going to get fired.

It might not be illegal to give me more consequences, but it definitely does not seem right. I accepted their punishment and then they decide that's not good enough so they will punish me more and they are saying I no call no showed after I did inform my supervisor I would not be working it. I am looking for a different job. This place has become more stress than I can handle and does not care about the employees.

Aurora said:

I am looking for a different job.

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Smart choice, good for you.

But, remember, don't say NO to the bosses about work matters, schedules, etc...

Do say NO, and I QUIT, if the bosses molest you sexually, touch you inappropriately, or otherwise do and say nasty, naughty, things to you!

Aurora said:

This place has become more stress than I can handle and does not care about the employees.

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Most employers, as in the bosses, see employees as mules.

The bosses treat some employees as they would prize thoroughbred race horses.

For the most part, the remaining employees are mules to the bosses.

The mules get worked hard, ignored, paid as little as the bosses can pay, and abused for sport.

army judge said:

Smart choice, good for you.

But, remember, don't say NO to the bosses about work matters, schedules, etc...

Do say NO, and I QUIT, if the bosses molest you sexually, touch you inappropriately, or otherwise do and say nasty, naughty, things to you!



Most employers, as in the bosses, see employees as mules.

The bosses treat some employees as they would prize thoroughbred race horses.

For the most part, the remaining employees are mules to the bosses.

The mules get worked hard, ignored, paid as little as the bosses can pay, and abused for sport.

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You are right because they have let some people not work the weekends for way stupider reasons and that's ok no punishment needed. I for once in my life try to stand up for myself and I am punished.

Aurora said:

I for once in my life try to stand up for myself and I am punished.

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It is troubling that this happened to you.

However, you need to understand the bosses.

The bosses think they are queens and kings.

Bosses believe the employees are their servants, maybe slave, and must obey everything the bosses say.

Employees must smile, be happy, and never refuse to do whatever it is the bosses want done.

The only way to avoid the anger, rage, and pain the bosses dish out, is to pretend you enjoy your job.

Yeah, it sucks to work your fanny off for $10, $15, even $20/hour; heck some folks get this treatment when they make $1,000/hour.

The bosses are abusive by nature.

The bosses want to see happy, smiling, agreeable employees.

As you go forward, never fight the bosses, you can't win.

If somehow you do manage to beat the bosses, it'll take years of sacrifice, which means you lose even when you win.

It is just a wretched, dead end, nothing job, so all you have to do is pretend you enjoy it, if you want the bosses to keep doling out that pitiful paycheck.