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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

I've always had problems sleeping during the day, but I can't work days because I'm not a company approved driver. I can't be a company approved driver due to my bad driving record (too many tickets). If my luck holds out, my driving record will be clean in a year. I'm careful to follow the speed limit except when forced to attend out of town meetings (a 45 minute round trip). When I can barely keep my eyes open, I figure the less time I spend behind the wheel, the safer I and other drivers around me are. The company I work for is very strict on attendence at mandatory meetings. My immediate supervisor excused me from a meeting once and the CEO was pissed. I'm afraid bringing it up at the corporate office will get me fired. That's why I was hoping there was a law to protect me. Apparently there isn't.

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Why not try to carpool with some of the other workers? With the cost of gas It might make sense to them too... you give them the $5.00 once a month.

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I am assuming they are paying you for 2 or 4 hours and not the actual interval the meeting lasts?

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ORIGINAL: kalikshama

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Why not try to carpool with some of the other workers? With the cost of gas It might make sense to them too... you give them the $5.00 once a month.

I think the real issue is that the employer is showing complete disregard by scheduling a mandatory mid-day meeting for graveyard shifters.

I would try the chain of command route, and offer suggestions. Perhaps the meeting can be changed to the end of your shift, if not every month, then every other month. That way everyone is inconvenienced.

Are there other graveyard shifters who will back you up on how disruptive this is for your sleep schedule?

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ORIGINAL: SpiritedRadiance

If your not alert enough to drive, well then wake up 10 or 20 minutes earlier and have some juice.

Or better yet come on over to my job, pull 12 hour shifts every night your scheduled to work 8, and then have to come back for 3 or 4 weekly meetings half way through your sleep for the night. this is at least 3 meetings EVERY WEEK.... Also factor in the winter travel time because as a utility company you cant call off for weather.....

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ORIGINAL: barelynangel

You know, i really don't believe this is as dangerous as you are making it out to be, i think what it is, is you are trying to find any reason NOT to have to get up and go to this meeting because you don't like having your sleep interupted.  If you are THAT concerned about your driving record or falling asleep then take a cab on the days you can't car pool or get a hotel for that one day.  Its your responsibility to get to work and to not endanger others, NOT the company's.  If you don't like what the company expects of you, then you can find another job.  All in all, i think you are laying it on a little too thick. 

The company isn't liable for traffic accidents YOU cause while off the clock. AS you have indicated they aren't doing anything illegal according to the laws of your state.   A Company requiring you to come to work does so whenever you are scheduled to work.  HOW you get to work is usually your issue and if you choose to drive recklessly because you are so tired, then you are responsible NOT your company. 

Your wanting to put the responsibility on the company because they make you do something you don't like once a month, is irresponsibility on your part.  There are other options for you, if you choose not to take them, then its not the company's fault.   You can continue to try and make this the Company's problem but legally its your problem.

Have any of you brought up a possibility of attending via telephone?  You all call in and listen to the meeting from your homes?

angel

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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

So employers can force their employees to break the law and aren't held liable for it.

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ORIGINAL: angelikaJ

angel,

To be fair to dbg, Thurday night she works 11p-9a (a 10 hr shift) and Friday she has to go in, not at 11p but at 9pm for another 10hr shift. So, in the middle of her day, she has to get up and go to where the meeting is (which is in a different place than where she usually works). If she can't nap prior to then that means she won't be getting to bed until after 2:30 or 3pm.

On the other hand, dbg, were you to take a nap before the meeting and get up @ 11:45, then go to the meeting... that should help with the impaired driving issue.

As mentioned earlier, I would suggest having the graveyard shift workers request an earlier time for the meeting. it is not an unreasonable request.

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On a more positive note, at least someone with involuntary manslaughter on their criminal record will have an easier time finding a job (when they get out of prison) than those with no criminal record due to affirmative action.

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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

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ORIGINAL: angelikaJ

angel,

To be fair to dbg, Thurday night she works 11p-9a (a 10 hr shift) and Friday she has to go in, not at 11p but at 9pm for another 10hr shift. So, in the middle of her day, she has to get up and go to where the meeting is (which is in a different place than where she usually works). If she can't nap prior to then that means she won't be getting to bed until after 2:30 or 3pm.

On the other hand, dbg, were you to take a nap before the meeting and get up @ 11:45, then go to the meeting... that should help with the impaired driving issue.

As mentioned earlier, I would suggest having the graveyard shift workers request an earlier time for the meeting. it is not an unreasonable request.

Glad to see someone understands. I did make suggestions to my current supervisor. The company is very big on following chain of command (which one of our mandatory meetings a few months ago covered). My guess is, my supervisor was afraid to risk her own job by mentioning the issue to corporate management. After a year and a half, she finally allowed me to switch nights with a co-worker to resolve the issue. The co-worker I switched with has now been promoted and will soon be my new supervisor. He plans to ask the new hire to switch nights with me, but because of the way the corporate office has the shift scheduled, he can't force the issue. Hopefully, my situation can be resolved soon. But this does nothing for other employees who work that shift and are forced to attend the meetings. It does nothing for employees throughout the US who are forced by their employers to break the law. I've considered the idea of sending a signed petition to human resources, but I'd feel terrible if everyone who signed it lost their jobs. Since it's illegal to drive when deprived of sleep, it should be illegal for employers to require it. In cases where employers have forced sleep deprived driving, they should be punished, not the employee. I wonder how many Americans workers are sent to prison for involuntary manslaughter because their employers wouldn't allow them adequate sleep.

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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

On a more positive note, at least someone with involuntary manslaughter on their criminal record will have an easier time finding a job (when they get out of prison) than those with no criminal record due to affirmative action.