Work Dilemma Again

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At 43, the only skills I have are EMT and warehousing. I am looking into taking free courses to learn something else, but not sure how much it will help me to secure another career.
 
Emergency Medical Technician. I am in an ambulance all day long. I am not a paramedic, nor do I want to be. Too much responsibility on my shoulders.

As mentioned I am looking into free classes to maybe help with another career.
 
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Not all states have unions, or at least unions for all careers. It’s hard for me to explain. Florida is considered a right-to-work state which basically neuters unions from being useful. so, there aren’t many unions.

The major unions are here, such as railroad and electricians. I think one or two others, but not for people such as me.

I’m hoping I explained that correctly.
 
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We have both federal and state labor laws which apply in right-to-work states. The OP has been advised in the past to speak to someone about these laws.
 
My supervisor said that they’ll have me start earlier, so that I can get when I need to. Which is basically what I suggested to begin with.

So, I’ll be able to go see her as long as they are able to get me out on time, which with his text I have that as backup for why I need to be out by 4pm.
 
Yes, I have been, but I have talked with my girlfriend’s mom who works in a lawyer’s office which also deals with labor laws that unless I want to be labeled as a troublemaker and have difficulty finding a job ever again, it is best to not to go that route.

If I were to get fired because I decided to call out because I wanted to see my daughter receive her first award where I was the only family to be able to go see her, I would have a better chance of finding employment when I explained the situation than if I were to squeal to a lawyer or the labor board.

That is per her advice dealing with today’s situation and since she has been working in a lawyer’s office now 20 plus years, I will head her advice.

I am going to have to just apply to a different ambulance company for now.
 
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Cecilia_Dympna said:
I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds like you have no work rights.
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Please note that lack of a union does NOT mean a person “has no work rights” as federal and state laws govern many aspects of labor in he US whether unionized or not.
Cecilia_Dympna said:
So your daughter will just have to accept that you won’t be there.
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The OP asked for a shift change or day off. When the OP started this thread he had not heard back one way or the other and went immediately to a worst case scenario of his boss saying “no”.

I suggested he reach back out to the boss to follow up, and it turns out the boss approved the shift change.

So this was much ado about nothing and worked out just fine sans union to complain to.
 
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lonegreywolf20 said:
That is per her advice dealing with today’s situation and since she has been working in a lawyer’s office now 20 plus years, I will head her advice.
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Unless she is a labor attorney this is not legal advice but rather an opinion, like any other.
 
Another thing I see from your posts OP, and I think others have said this, is that you have a tendency to react and believe the worst possible scenario. You need to stop doing this - as this incident shows, there was no need for the panic. Try to deal with things productively instead of immediately assuming everything will go wrong. Your thought patterns here are something for you to consider and work on - you seem to pass your mindset onto everyone else, and that’s good for no-one. You don’t want your daughter to internalise it either.
 
Yes, you are correct. However, other than this being about my daughter’s ceremony, my daughter doesn’t have the faintest idea about whether or not I’m going yet. I wouldn’t tell her that until I knew for sure. However, she would expect me to be there as her only family besides my mom who cannot get there in this state.

It is, believe it or not something I have been working on and I am much better than I was a couple years ago. However, at 43 years old, it’s not easy to change how you were raised and didn’t know you needed to change till you were in your 40’s.

My girlfriend has a saying and it’s “not to borrow trouble” which I try not to. When it’s something as important as what’s coming up on Thursday I tend to revert back to worry.
 
It’s good you’re working on it. Your girlfriend’s right, don’t go borrowing trouble - and also don’t go in expecting it. If you do, you’re more likely to find it and that’ll just feed your thoughts and reinforce them. And if it’s to do with how you were raised, you may want to reconsider going to your mother and asking what she thinks, because that’s also likely to reinforce your worries.

So until Thursday, stay positive about your boss. Work on the assumption they will do as they say and don’t think they’ll change their mind. Keep calm - don’t catastrophize.
 
Yes, you need to let her know now hat is a possibility you won’t make it. What would you do, tell her that day? No, that would be worse. Just tell her you are planning to be there because you put in to get off early, but there is a small possibility you might not be able to get there if something comes up. That’s all. Don’t speculate or give her reasons to get anxious. Then change the subject and ask her where you wants to go to dinner to celebrate.
 
I am only going to say that when you have PTO time to take, you should be able to take it when you ask to take it no matter what your reason is.
 
That’s what PTO is. Paid Time Off. It’s for us to take for personal days or vacation. We do not actually get vacation time other than PTO. We don’t get sick days or even holidays.

So PTO in our field is designed for us to take when we want without question. That is the way it has always been and this is my fourth EMS job in 17 years. Along with talking to others in the EMS field.

It is not merely my opinion, but fact.

“Paid time off or personal time off (PTO) is a policy in some employee handbooks that provides a bank of hours in which the employer pools sick days, vacation days, and personal days that allows employees to use as the need or desire arises.” From here: Paid time off - Wikipedia

This is how PTO has always worked for me and the expected outcome of having PTO.

From our Standard Operating Guidelines:

“The purpose of Paid Time Off (PTO) is to provide employees with flexible paid time off from work that can be used for such needs as vacation, personal or family illness, doctor appointments, school, volunteerism, and other activities of the employee’s choice. The company’s goal is to reduce unscheduled absences and the need for supervisory oversight.”

The only stipulation is that it must be in by the day of our pay as that is when our next two weeks of scheduling comes out. I had it in ebfore the required time.
 
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lonegreywolf20 said:
So PTO in our field is designed for us to take when we want without question.
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No, not without question. Business needs allowing. You would not be able to take PTO if, for example, the maximum number of people were already scheduled off on a particular day, someone quit and your company were now short handed, you worked in an industry that had “busy season” or “busy times” such as no one can take Mondays off, etc.

PTO is available but must still be approved.

However in your case your boss approved your schedule change.
 
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Explain to your daughter that you are trying to get coverage, but might not be able to.
These are the types of real life dilemmas that happen to those of us who work for a living.
Please don’t screw over your co workers with a fake call out. They’re depending on you.
 
Lou2U said:
And if it’s to do with how you were raised, you may want to reconsider going to your mother and asking what she thinks, because that’s also likely to reinforce your worries.
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That is an excellent point.
 
My partner is the one who suggested it and since he is the only one on with me that day, I’d say he gets that say.

He would do the same for his daughters!
 
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