Posted on 08/19/2004 1:12:36 PM PDT by Cagey
There are certainly a lot of people who feel strongly about this. Just what on earth does a 61 yr old man do that is so indispensable in an emergency? Interesting comment to say the least.
He wasn't a paramedic, he cleared weeds........
We frequently are. My mother is 82 and was in Bonnie's path just days ago. We cope, we don't desert our jobs, particularly if we have agreed to be a 'first responder' for emergencies.
His experise was clearing waterways for which he was a first responder. Perhaps you are not aware that flooding is often a larger problem than wind during hurricanes.
Private employers are subject to looser restrictions than public employers, however. And aside from whatever law may apply in this case, I expect that a public outcry will get this guy his job back.
The reason they have you report to work is not always so you'll be of assistance during the storm, but so that you'll be able to be dispatched immediately after the storm.
In Florida, clear drainage could be a very important issue after a storm. Clearing away debris that has collected at drainage sites or in creeks/waterways that would accelerate drainage of a flooded zone would be a very important job, once the storm had passed.
I didn't think it was possible to fire a government employee. Apparently there are isolated instances. You can always depend on government to do the wrong thing at the wrong time.
"Public sector employees often do not get their usual coddling in emergency services sectors. They hire them to do their job, if they refuse, or can't no matter what the reason, they are subject to getting fired.
It's not a compassion thing. It's a practical need of society that MUST be met in time of emergency. What do you think will happen next time there is an emergency? I'll bet all the folks at this guys shop show up. As it should be. He is being treated like an adult, and doesn't like it. C'est la vie."
I love your hard hearted Hannah routine. No compassionate conservative you. Forget the fact that the man had an EXEMPLARY work record, had worked for them many, many years, and was 61 years of age, one year from retirement. You say he "had" to be there, as a public servant, or else get canned. Yeah, his job was so critical:
"Gesicki earned $35,000 a year as a Largo spray technician, clearing weeds and plants from city waterways."
He clears weed and plants from waterways!! And you would say that this is such a critical job that he couldn't be away from it for a day to take care of his 81 year old mother? Geez. Wouldn't want you for a boss, ever.
First, I hope your Mom is OK.
Second, fine. I can concede a need for a reprimand or suspension of some length of time. However, a just society doesn't take 30 years of admittedly good service to the community and crap all over it because of one infraction of this level.
Loyalty goes both ways. What does this tell his co-workers about how management views them?
Would you be in a hurry to put your family or home on the line knowing what little regard was being paid to your legitimate concerns and that you could and would be dumped so cavalierly?
This guy was a first responder. He knew his responibilities in an emergency. Probably even practiced. He had a special duty to his community and should make arrangements ahead of time for his mother's care KNOWING he has to perform in an emergency.
Can you imagine if all the emergency workers felt the same way and left?
Apparently you didn't read the part where he was an emergency 'first responder'.
I would hope that if it is 98 degrees and their is a major power outage, you will not complain if all the power company employess decide to take the day off ...
I think the punishment was a little harsh, something like 30 days supension without pay seems appropriate to me.
Look at Kerry, he ran from being a first responder and got a bronze star...
Desertion of duty in an emergency and you want just a reprimand? He was told specifically to show up for work that day because of the expected emergency. He disobeyed a direct instruction from his supervisor at a time of an expected emergency.
And here's the ironic part.
My husband is a first responder and we are in a nearby vicinity. His "call" was activated on Thursday, but he was allowed to come home, make preparations for our home, get his stuff and report back to work (which he did in the wee hours of Friday AM).
Since the storm turned before it got to us, they deconstructed the "team" at 9 pm Friday night and he got to come home. Normally, he would have been required to be on call through the weekend (72 hours) if the storm had hit.
This guy would have been released from emergency status so much earlier than he had ever imagined if he had reported to work.
IMHO, you can't "Play" with the system. It sounds like the instructions from his supervisor were the exact same instructions that are given to other first responders in our area.
If you don't show up for emergency duty, don't bother showing up at all after the emergency is over.
Its Bush's fault and I question the timing of this report.
"But show up for work Friday - the day the hurricane was expected to hit - or lose your job."
How could he work IF he showed up?
Wasn't everything closed down?
City departments aren't shut down.
There were first responders in almost every department on hand during the emergency. Even the mayors of the cities are on hand for the emergencies.
Here are a few examples of departments that have first responders:
Police and fire, or course.
IT/Network guys to keep the communication network open and trouble shoot any problems in the system.
Leisure Services, some of which have their rec centers turned into shelters.
Wastewater/Sewer, especially hard hit if there is flooding, could cause sewage to be released into the Bay if there was a problem and facility wasn't manned properly
Sanitation employees
Road crews
Anything that can go wrong in a city must be planned for in advance and have first responders on hand. If the first responders aren't on hand during the emergency, they may be so cut off from their department by the storm that they wouldn't be able to report in to access the heavy equipment or facilities for days.
City departments aren't shut down.
There were first responders in almost every department on hand during the emergency. Even the mayors of the cities are on hand for the emergencies.
Here are a few examples of departments that have first responders:
Police and fire, or course.
IT/Network guys to keep the communication network open and trouble shoot any problems in the system.
Leisure Services, some of which have their rec centers turned into shelters.
Wastewater/Sewer, especially hard hit if there is flooding, could cause sewage to be released into the Bay if there was a problem and facility wasn't manned properly
Sanitation employees
Road crews
Anything that can go wrong in a city must be planned for in advance and have first responders on hand. If the first responders aren't on hand during the emergency, they may be so cut off from their department by the storm that they wouldn't be able to report in to access the heavy equipment or facilities for days.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.