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March 2012 Moms
Written up for calling in sick?!
I have high blood pressure, sciatica, carpal tunnel, and other such exhilarating pregnancy complications. My boss knows all of this. My OB has recommended me to take it easy at work by taking on fewer hours and putting my feet up whenever possible (I work retail, so that doesn't happen). My boss also knows this. I still work the same amount of hours in a week and for long stretches (my co-workers get 4 hour shifts, yet I have 9).
I woke up this morning with a severe migraine. When I checked my blood pressure, it was a lot higher than is typical for me (157/89). I laid on my left side and drank lots of water for an hour, but I couldn't get my bp down, and my head hurt so bad, I couldn't sit up. My OB has told me that I need to keep my feet up if this happens, and call her immediately if it hits xx/99+. Going to work typically elevates my bp, so I wanted to 1) nurse my head and 2) monitor my bp; so I called in sick to work.
It's a Saturday so every employee was scheduled to work. I called another manager and asked him to come in an hour early and stay two hours late to cover part of my shift. Then I called the opening manager to let her know that I wasn't coming in, and the arrangements I had made with my co-worker. She told me to text the district manager to let her know what the plan was, so I did. My DM is very hands-on and so we are asked to keep her informed of random things like that.
I slept the day away, got rid of my migraine (bp is still pretty high), and didn't hear anything about there being a problem with my calling out today. Twenty minutes before my shift would have ended, my GM calls me to find out where I was. I told her I called in because I was sick and having complications, and she asked why I didn't call her. There is a big sign in the back office that says NOT to call the GM when calling in sick, but to call the DM, so that's what I did. She told me that was an old sign and only for holidays (how would I know? The store has only been around since October and that sign was there the entire time- obviously the other manager thought that was the deal, too, as she had me get a hold of the DM). Then my GM told me that I am required to get my shift covered- EVERY EMPLOYEE WAS ALREADY SCHEDULED. Who would cover my shift? I got the last few hours covered.
She pretty much told me when I got in tomorrow, we would discuss it in person so she could give me a written warning. What. Are you friggin kidding me? One of the other managers purposefully switches for a midshift so she can call in sick without worrying who will open or close the store. She's never been given a written warning. And my GM randomly schedules herself off for 5 day stretches so she can take trips to Vegas; she also never works Saturday mornings so she has time to get over her hangovers. How is it that the sick, pregnant woman is held to a higher standard than the other managers?
I'm furious and annoyed. I told my husband that I want to put in my final notice for mid-Feb when I hit 37 weeks, and he told me we can't afford it. I really hate my job, so quitting is something we've discussed before. The original plan was to keep my job and look for something during my maternity leave either A) in my field or 
overnights, that way if something didn't pan out I still had something to fall back on. It's a good, safe plan, but I really don't know how much longer I can handle this place, especially if I'm going to get written up for being legitimately unable to my job.
If she seriously writes me up, I'm going over her head to complain to her boss, and her boss' boss, if I have to. I just don't know if I'll be able to hold my tongue when I get my talkin'-to tomorrow.
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Re: Written up for calling in sick?!
I effing hate retail. I'm sorry this is happening. If this is a job you need and may need to fall back on post-leave then I would play the game. Apologize for "your mistake" and guarantee the manager that it won't happen again. I wouldn't fight it or go over her head if this is a job you need to keep and/or need references from. A lot of retail managers think they are so special and love it when someone plays into that. Don't be a boat rocker unless you don't need the job.
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That is awful! I would try to fight it...it isn't like you are calling in sick to go shopping...you are SICK!
Good Luck to you! Hope you are feeling better soon!
RETAIL!! OMG!!! Girl when i was a mgr my DM made me MISS MY OWN GRANDMOTHERS funeral!!
Screw them! You have sick time! They just like to play these games!! Fight IT!!
Married: 1/2008 ~ DD#1: 3/2012
TTC #2: Started 4/2014 BFP 7/30/15 MC 8/3/15 BFP 9/4/2015 EDD 5/16/2016
Are you a manager or an associate? I've never heard of an assoc having to call higher then their manager and I've never heard of a manager having to call anyone higher then their DM. I was a manager for years and hated it!
1) check your employee hand book, bring that with you.
2) call your dr and see if you can get a note even if they didn't see you in the office. Knowin you have bp issues etc I can't see why they wouldn't do that for you.
3) if there is still an issue after that contact your HR department
Agreed. And from what you wrote, its not like you slack off anyways - 9 hr shifts when others are doing 4. Besides, would they rather you came in and then need to be rushed to the hospital??
I agree! Also, get a note from your OB about it, just in case. If you have that on record, it may help.
I would do this exactly. Yes, you should state your case, but you need the references and to maintain that bridge. I would back up your case with a note from your doctor, and I would also take the advice of getting a note from your OB for no more than 4 hour shifts, 5 days/week, or something to that effect. Because it is retail, the note HAS to be specific.
In the little retail experience I had, I had fabulous managers who would work with you. My little sister is not so lucky and has managers who live on another planet. They're ridiculous. Anyway, I would also keep reading the classifieds, networking, etc... and trying to find a new opportunity. GL.
If I won the lotto I'd open my own little clothing boutique. I've always wanted to do that!
Besides being infuriating and unfair, is it a big deal to be written up? When I was in grad school editing a journal we would put letters in people's files when they screwed up, but it was the weakest most useless punishment ever. It only bothered people who cared. There was no way for anyone outside of the journal (within the larger university, or employers calling for references) to ever find out about the letter, even if it was for something serious like plagiarism.
What's the letter going to say, that you were only able to get part of your shift covered when you were sick because literally every other employee was already working? Don't sign anything that admits any wrongdoing on your part, because you did exactly what you needed to do for yourself and your baby, and you worked a hell of a lot harder to minimize the consequences of your perfectly understandable absence than most people would have. Plus you were following the posted rules.
If your GM is just doing this to shame you, but it's not going to have real professional consequences, maybe you should just shake it off and keep this incident in mind to motivate you to get a better job. With my current job I keep a catalog in my head of all my gripes so I don't get too complacent and wind up staying there 10 years.
BFP: March 22, 2011 M/C: April 8, 2011 @ 7 weeks
BFP: June 29, 2011!!! Crossing my fingers for a sticky baby
LO Born early March 2012 We are so blessed