Thank you all. As for a trade, there is a trade school close by that offers courses where the apprentice hours are completed in the school shop. Another question. If you are too sick to work safely, do they accomodate those as well or are you shown the door?
Lone Geep
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I think I know the answer to this one: short term they'll work with you (depending on your affliction of course), but anything chronic or long term and you're gone!
lone geep If you are too sick to work safely, do they accomodate those as well or are you shown the door? Ulrich I think I know the answer to this one: short term they'll work with you (depending on your affliction of course), but anything chronic or long term and you're gone!
If you are too sick to work safely, do they accomodate those as well or are you shown the door?
Ulrich I think I know the answer to this one: short term they'll work with you (depending on your affliction of course), but anything chronic or long term and you're gone!
I seriously doubt that railroads, as an industry, are any more or less tolerant of incapacitating illnesses. This is more a matter of each company's management policies.
I'm retired now but I can honestly say that every company I ever worked for in 40+ years (and there were too many) bent over backward to accommodate those who were incapacitated. In fact, I often thought they went a little too far for the good of the company and other workers This was true for both railroads and other companies (never worked for government except the military)..
This is not to say that malingerers aren't shown the door, as you put it, but do you want to work with someone who could be taking money out of your pocket and / or endangering your safety by not doing his job to the best of his ability?
ChuckAllen, TX
Not always. There's many guys out here that are fighting things like cancer. They still have jobs, even if they have to be off for long periods of time.
It's the healthy people that mark off "sick" every weekend that usually are disciplined for attendance. Of course the guys/gals that have serious medical problems also have the medical records/visits/details to prove it.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
lone geepIf you are too sick to work safely, do they accomodate those as well or are you shown the door?
Boots on the ground railroading requires a certain amount of physical ability - even getting on a locomotive requires one to be able to climb a bit, never mind all the walking and other climbing that is required.
A key to your question is the duration of your illness. A secondary question is the severity of your illness.
If you're going to be out for some limited amount of time (perhaps even some illness or injury that requires several months to recover from), I'd imagine most companies will still have your job for you when you get back, assuming you are able to perform it. Or not.
If you are no longer able to perform the job, the railroad may try to find a position that you can handle (ie, perhaps a desk job, if you are otherwise qualified and one is available). But there's no guarantee of that, either (unless it's in the contract).
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I'm thinking along the lines of a bout of the common flu with the effects of drowsiness, stuffed nose and weakness, that would blow over in a day or two.
I don't think any employer would show you the door for having the sniffles. Even if they wanted to, there are laws that govern how and when and why an employer can fire someone.
Talking about the major, unionized carriers if a railroader gets sick or injured (does not have to be railroad related) and will be unable to work for a few months, they can take a Leave of Absence. It protects your seniority while you're off work. We have a few guys in that status right now.
I would think the non-union short lines, or most employers in any industry, would work with someone with a long term illness or injury. (I'm sure there are some that won't, but I would like to think they would be in the minority.) Especially if you have been a good and reliable employee.
Ulrich, in many locations in the US, employment is considered "at-will" and you can be dismissed for anything except for certain reasons that are protected by law. Unless you are protected by an employment contract that spells out reasons for dismissal. There was a case in Iowa a while back where a woman was fired literately because of the way she looked. She worked for a doctor/dentist and the doc's wife thought she was too good looking, too much of a temptation for the doc. The woman applied for and was ultimately denied unemployment benefits because of the way Iowa law reads. It was appealed and I don't know if it's been settled yet or not.
If you're sick a day or two with the flu, they won't fire you. That's assuming you're over your probation period and you aren't "sick" too often or every weekend and holiday.
Jeff
lone geep Thank you all. As for a trade, there is a trade school close by that offers courses where the apprentice hours are completed in the school shop. Another question. If you are too sick to work safely, do they accomodate those as well or are you shown the door?
We work and are protected under this act, FMLA.
You must first use up any sick time,vacation time and personal leave time for this to kick in.
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As a onetime teacher who started railroading at 31 years old and with a master's degree, I suggest hiring out first instead of going to college. Seniority is everything on the railroad; the more you have, the happier you'll be. If you decide you don't like it and want to go to college, you'll have made some good money to help pay for college in the meantime.
Now happily retired and with a good Railroad Retirement pension (the best retirement plan a working man can have today in the US), I'm very glad I stuck it out and stayed railroading.
Hello again,
I've been reading some old railroad magazines from the 90's and there is an article by a railroader who explained "derail insurance" and recounted the times he used it. From what I saw Derail Insurance was (or is) something bought from the union that a railroader can claim if he is suspended for awhile over a minor rules violation. Is there still a thing as "derail insurance'?
lone geep Hello again, I've been reading some old railroad magazines from the 90's and there is an article by a railroader who explained "derail insurance" and recounted the times he used it. From what I saw Derail Insurance was (or is) something bought from the union that a railroader can claim if he is suspended for awhile over a minor rules violation. Is there still a thing as "derail insurance'?
Around my carrier it is called 'Job Insurance'. There are several companies that offer it.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
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