Thursday, October 27, 2005

Pick up the &!#@$ Phone!

The AP is running a story on a Michigan woman who was discharged for missing work after seeing her husband off to war.  If I had a nickel for every termination that resulted from a lack of communication, I’d be richer than Bill Gates.

According to the story:

Boler recalled being asked, not ordered, to start back at her job Oct. 17, the day after her husband left. She told her bosses that she would try to return that day but if she could not, she would definitely be back Oct. 18, she said.

Although Boler was back home on the Sunday, October 16th (the day before she was ?asked? to report back to work), she decided not to go to work the next day.  Apparently, when she didn?t show up for work on the 17th, the employer called her—in the afternoon—to tell her she was fired.

Now why didn?t either party make a call on the morning of the 17th?  I would think that Boler owed her employer that much, but doesn?t the company also bear some blame?  According to the story, ?other factors were involved in the decision?, although the company spokesperson didn?t elaborate.  Now, I?m sure everything will come out in the wash (i.e., unemployment hearing), but it seems to be a case in which the employer took a short cut.  Missing work is an easy excuse to fire an employee, even if the truth is more damaging.