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[imported_Tomato]

I got back from Vegas around 6:30am Monday morning... there was so much traffic driving back to LA, partly because of the 2-lane highway, and also because there was an accident which had everyone backed up for miles.

We left Vegas at 6pm and returned home, once again, at 6:30am.

I didn't party or drink much at all in Sin City (although I did lose 15% of my life savings... but that's a story for another time, I think I have a gambling problem). The drive really wore me out though, and I called my boss to leave a message and let her know I got in late, wasn't feeling well, and that I would be in on Tuesday.

When I got into work this morning, she was furious.

My coworker was angry with me as well, and basically told me "It's your fault for fvcking up. You should have come into work no matter what... these are your responsibilities as a coworker... and calling in "tired" is no excuse for not being here. You might get fired for this."

This is the first time I've ever called in tired... and other than that, I'm a pretty good worker. I get all my duties done, and have gone above and beyond the call of duty in terms of creativity/preparing marketing materials for my boss.

She's been in a bad mood lately because our numbers are down, and I just took a message from the head of human resources for her... apparently she'd called her, and the head of HR was returning my boss's call.

I have a gut feeling I'm going to be canned... I was planning on moving jobs anyway, but not like this.

Will/should I be fired for this?

I guess I can see it from both points of view, but losing my job might be a little harsh, IMO.

Opinions from employees/employers?

 

[spidey07]

No way should you be fired.

Unless of course you call in sick often in which case maybe a written warning.

 

[Heisenberg]

If this is the first time something like this has happened, and you have sick leave to cover it, I don't see what the big deal is. Sounds to me like they're overreacting a bit.

 

[moonshinemadness]

I think losing your job is seriously harsh, they should b!tch at you yeah but nothing more, hop it goes ok

 

[Spooner]

Just put out. Then you'll be fine.

Oh wait.... that's if I was your boss

 

[pyonir]

You should have called in sick...not tired.

 

[atom]

...so I'm guessing you don't have any sick/vacation days to use? If you don't then yeah I'd guess I'd be mad.

If you have sick days though, they can fsck off. You should be able to use them for whatever.

 

[moonshinemadness]

I think losing your job is seriously harsh, they should b!tch at you yeah but nothing more, hop it goes ok

 

[GasX]

If you get fired for calling in sick (assuming you have sick time to take), you have a nice little lawsuit. However, they can fire you "for other reasons..."

 

[blackdogdeek]

are you in a mission-critical position?

were you responsible for something that was released friday or is in production for the first time today?

EDIT: if not i think getting canned for calling in sick is a little extreme.

 

[imported_Tomato]

I have a "private closed-door meeting" with her at 4pm.

I'm so nervous. I know I'm going to apologize and promise it'll never happen again, but that seems so cheesy. Is there anything else I can/should say?

Yes, this is the first time it's happened, and yes, I have sick time to cover it. I rarely EVER take sick days, and last year I lost 4 sick days because I never used them (and they don't roll over).

 

[bandana163]

You shouldn't be fired. If they decide otherwise, feel free to despise them.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

no u def. should not be fired...

esp. if u have sick days that u havent used

 

[OutHouse]

yip use sick, never tired.

as far as your co-worker, tell her to mind her own damn business. Nothing pisses me off faster than a co-worker poking their nose into my business between my boss and I.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: atom
...so I'm guessing you don't have any sick/vacation days to use? If you don't then yeah I'd guess I'd be mad.

If you have sick days though, they can fsck off. You should be able to use them for whatever.

My boss made it EXPLICITLY clear in the beginning that sick days were to be used ONLY if I'm "really sick." And she called me at home the last two times I used them to make sure a) I was really sick, and b) I sounded sick.

My boss means well, but she's kind of anal. She's a career-driven woman... the type who doesn't want any kids because they'll get in the way of her career. She scared the hell out of my friend who I brought to a movie showing with my boss and coworkers... she likes her power, which is good in a business sense and for those above her, but not so good for anyone beneath her.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
are you in a mission-critical position?

were you responsible for something that was released friday or is in production for the first time today?

EDIT: if not i think getting canned for calling in sick is a little extreme.

No, and no.

*sigh*

Thanks for the support, guys. I'll post an update after my 4pm meeting.

 

[aircooled]

Is it feasible? Yes. Is it probable? well.... Depending on the laws of your state, the number of employees, and your company policy.

ANy sick days remaining? have you been wrote up in the past?

I'd be on my best work behavior for a bit......

 

[ggavinmoss]

This sounds a bit harsh. If you're otherwise a good worker then it sounds like they'd be stupid to get rid of you. Is there more to this story, e.g. - Monday being a particularly important day at work, etc.?

-geoff

 

[MrDingleDangle]

i dunno if "tired" is the word you should be using...say because of trying to get back in time u spent the whole night driving and u felt "sick" not "tired"...at least thats what i would do...this is assuming that u told them y u missed it

 

[Armitage]

Sound like they are looking for a reason to fire you ... or at least somebody in your department. Are things getting tight there?
When things get tight, you gotta stay squeaky clean, cuz if they're going to lay people off anyway, they'd rather fire you for cause and save any severance or benefits you might be due in a layoff.

But if this was a one-time, isolated event, it sounds pretty harsh.
Good luck.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Citrix
yip use sick, never tired.

as far as your co-worker, tell her to mind her own damn business. Nothing pisses me off faster than a co-worker poking their nose into my business between my boss and I.

My coworker's kind of a drunk and a d!ck. He's a brilliant guy, he's just lazy... hence, he's 33 years old, in the same position as I am, making the same salary I am ($32k/year). So yeah, he's bitter... and he and my boss go out to lunch together every day. I eat alone in my cubicle.

 

[Jzero]

How is it any worse than anyone else calling out "sick" on Monday because they got plastered that weekend and were too tired to come in?
At least you were honest.

You might get fired for it, but I don't think you should unless they fire everyone who calls out.

 

[brtspears2]

I say it is a sick day. I went to vegas too last weekend, expanded my life savings by 15%, and went to work, very unproductive. A sick day would have been just as good as me sitting at my desk reading all these threads, hungover and tired from driving back in I-15 at 5mph between baker and barstow for hours. Perhaps another night in the venetican would have been better.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss
This sounds a bit harsh. If you're otherwise a good worker then it sounds like they'd be stupid to get rid of you. Is there more to this story, e.g. - Monday being a particularly important day at work, etc.?

-geoff

Nope... nothing I can think of, at least. Nothing significant happened yesterday. My boss was even gone for an appointment or something... my coworker was the only one who was in, and he said "you're lucky nothing important happened yesterday" when I came in.

I can't even eat lunch, I'm so nervous. Wish me luck...

 

[atom]

Um wow....I don't think I could ever work for a boss like that.

My dad works for the government and has his sick days maxed out too. His manager actually encourages him to take sick days off instead of having them wasted.