Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by takyon on Wednesday August 31 2016, @06:11PM   Printer-friendly
from the demerits-incoming dept.

An Anonymous Soylentil 'Connor the Kicking Cog' writes:

Under two months ago I started working at a massive incumbent telecom company in their regional call center. From the start it has been a draining experience. The orientation lasted two days, alternating between how much the company loves us, especially veterans, and how unions are awful things. The first real day of training included a bunch of inane policies such as:

  • In the first 90 Days no time off is allowed, even sick time, unless it was brought up during the interview process.
  • During the 90 Days, missing a day of work for any reason causes a demerit which is given as a "verbal written warning".
  • During the 90 Days, two demerits goes to "final written warning".
  • During the 90 Days, three demerits is an automatic firing.
  • At any time being more than 10 minutes but less than 2 hours late is a half demerit.
  • At any time being more than 2 hours late is a full demerit.
  • Time off can be used to counteract a demerit, but only if incurred after 90 days.
  • Demerits incurred during the 90 Days do not "wash off" but the warnings do, and the threshold increases before warnings start.
  • You cannot be promoted or make a lateral move before one year of service. This is repeated endlessly.
  • You cannot be promoted or make a lateral move if you have any warnings within the last six months.
  • If promoted after a year there is another new 90 Day period where no time off is allowed. Even if you have more than a decade of service this policy remains.
  • The company does not hire for many positions from the outside, so you must do one year in a lower role before being considered. This is true even if you have done work at that level or even higher elsewhere.
  • The shift you accepted during the hiring process cannot be changed for one year.
  • If you change your shift after one year, you must wait another full year before you can change it again.

Call centers are regimented things, but these policies are so worker-hostile I am surprised staff turnover is not an issue already. The training completed before the 40 day mark, but was longer some time ago, yet the 90 day period remains.

Thankfully another company has hired me and all background checks have cleared so I will be departing from the soulless mega-corporation. Being a professional I would prefer not to needlessly burn bridges, but I am not going to give the customary two weeks notice. Based on the above policies I believe it is likely I will be immediately escorted out should I do so without any compensation for the two week period. Does anyone reading this believe they would "recoup their investment in training me" by keeping me on for those two weeks?

Is it worthwhile to state in my resignation email that these policies were major motivating factors in departing as soon as possible? Or would such an email only be cathartic for me at best? Or even a risk at worst?


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 31 2016, @06:36PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 31 2016, @06:36PM (#395789)

    Instead of quitting, stay for the two-week notice period and spend that time helping to unionize the place. They'll probably fire you (illegally) and you may get severance and possibly money from a civil judgement.

    To get back at them for being mean to you, give them what they fear the most. It's even legal to do.

    Starting Score:    0  points
    Moderation   +5  
       Insightful=1, Interesting=4, Total=5
    Extra 'Interesting' Modifier   0  

    Total Score:   5  
  • (Score: 3, Informative) by Capt. Obvious on Wednesday August 31 2016, @06:48PM

    by Capt. Obvious (6089) on Wednesday August 31 2016, @06:48PM (#395795)

    If it's their policy to immediately terminate people on giving notice, I doubt "but I was also organizing a union" would somehow make it an illegal firing.

    In fact, I'd saying organizing a union after giving notice may be some kind of legal interference with the company.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 31 2016, @08:09PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 31 2016, @08:09PM (#395834)

    You, and the 4 people who have modded you up so far, appear to be unfamiliar with the concept of not burning bridges.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 31 2016, @08:14PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 31 2016, @08:14PM (#395839)

      Yeah the employer shouldn't have built that bridge out of tinder then.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 31 2016, @10:11PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 31 2016, @10:11PM (#395891)

        What's tinder to one man, are match-sticks to another ;)

  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by dingus on Wednesday August 31 2016, @11:19PM

    by dingus (5224) on Wednesday August 31 2016, @11:19PM (#395924)

    better plan: try to unionize the place without giving any notice whatsoever. They'll try to fire you, and then it's illegal. Probably not worth the money and time to press charges though, just send a complaint to the NLRB or something.

    And if they don't try to fire you, quit and don't show up to work. Who cares what they think.