[Saije]

This seems a little harsh if these employees truly couldn't get there.

[darkwing104]

Brutal...

[FlingWingFlyer]

Algore's fault!

If he hadn't stopped global warming, this wouldn't have happened!

sarc/

[353FMG]

Have any congress-critters been fired for snowstorm absences?

[RockinRight]

I had a day that there was no way at all I could have gone anywhere during that storm. Even with four-wheel drive, my truck wouldn’t BUDGE.

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

this is completely harsh and without mis-understanding.

[blackbart.223]

"This seems a little harsh if these employees truly couldn't get there."

I notice no government slugs suffered the same fate. They were paid to stay home. What is wrong with this picture?

[ConorMacNessa]

Trains and Metro weren't running - what did they expect these people to do - walk to work?

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[DanielRedfoot]

I see two RED FLAGS here

Washington Post and “Union Representatives say...”

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that there is WAY more to the story.

[linn37]

Its possible that these same people had wracked up enough occurences to get the boot when they missed work due to a snow event.

[Titan Magroyne]

>>> “This seems a little harsh if these employees truly couldn’t get there.”

Especially the one nurse who, once she did make it in, spent the night at the hospital to ensure she wouldn’t miss her next shift. There’s dedication.

The article mentions inclement weather transportation for key staff, a policy also maintained by the hospital associated with my employer. The notice is posted via email at every hint of impending snow/ice.

If the person was perfectly willing to go in but couldn’t due to lack of transportation, that’s that. To fire them, and for “gross misconduct,” is way over the top.

[ottbmare]

Well, now I know better than to apply to Washington Hospital Center for work. There is no way on God’s earth I could have gotten through three feet of snow and high winds out to anything resembling an open road. Our neighborhood, 20 miles from DC, did not see a plow for several days. It would have meant a walk of mile after mile through hip-deep snow. No one here has the equipment to deal with that. I’d have lost my job, too.

[Earthdweller]

The bean counters run the hospitals like prisons for paid inmates. Not surprised here. Any problems encountered are always the fault of the overworked worker. These administrative fascists are the poster children for a government takeover of health care. I hope they get an earful.

[EDINVA]

I would imagine employees are supposed to have an emergency plan. They can’t just close the hospital because workers can’t get in. I’ve seen hospital employees stay at the hospital for days during an emergency. This storm wasn’t unexpected.

[JoeProBono]

[TASMANIANRED]

I’m betting there is more than meets the eye.

[Eagle Eye]

May the decision makers on this receive a tenfold payback.

[Kirkwood]

Should have called in sick. Sick of the snow.

[Mamzelle]

Does the WaPo ever tell the whole truth?

[rlmorel]

I have worked in a hospital environment in New England most of my adult life.

You get to work. That’s it. People depend on you to be there. No matter how bad the weather is, you try to get there.

Not everybody makes it. And if you work in Dermatology and you don’t make it, nobody makes noise.

If you work in the ER, radiology, respiratory therapy or on floors or units, you get there. It is the right thing to do. If you can’t commit to it, you shouldn’t be accepting a paycheck.

[MamaDearest]

My brother tried to reach federal offices in DC via phone and got repeated messages that they were short staffed due to the snowstorm several days after the original snowstorm. Wonder if they got their paychecks docked......?