What if you were to get geniunely sick? How could that be a disciplinary matter? How can they prove otherwise?
I am assuming you can self certify for a few days? If so, you do not have to see a doctor so they cannot demand a sick note which means they cannot dispute it and you cannot get done for it this time.
I'd throw a sickie in a split second. You company has bad, inconsiderate management and clearly care more about money than their employees welfare.
If I were you, I'd look for a new job in the new year.
EDIT: Do not forget to ring in if your are 'sick'!
I wouldn't call in sick. That's not fair on your other colleagues. Is it possibe to ask for a compromise? i.e offer to work one of the days and have another off. If they're asking you to come in on a Sunday which isn't your normal working day could you use the lack of public transport as an excuse?
I wouldn't call in sick. That's not fair on your other colleagues. Is it possibe to ask for a compromise? i.e offer to work one of the days and have another off. If they're asking you to come in on a Sunday which isn't your normal working day could you use the lack of public transport as an excuse?
Make out your a devout Christian and working on the Sabbath is against your religion.
I've actually handed my notice in to avoid working Christmas Day! I've arranged to go on the bank so I can work when it suits me. My kids are 2 and 6 and you can't make up for lost time. It would be very different if all I was missing was an adult get together. Before I had kids I worked Christmas nearly every year.
I don't feel guilty about it at all. I worked out that after shelling out for taxis I be earning just £5 an hour. There's a big difference between being diligent and having MUG written across your head.
I've actually handed my notice in to avoid working Christmas Day! I've arranged to go on the bank so I can work when it suits me. My kids are 2 and 6 and you can't make up for lost time. It would be very different if all I was missing was an adult get together. Before I had kids I worked Christmas nearly every year.
I don't feel guilty about it at all. I worked out that after shelling out for taxis I be earning just £5 an hour. There's a big difference between being diligent and having MUG written across your head.
Nice one. I did lots of o'time whilst Mrs Scott was pregnant, but since baby scott came along I've been Mr 9-5.
I can tell my managers don't like it - and I am probably looked upon as "not a team player", "not committed" and that kind of cr@p. If challenged, I'd like to think that I'd say the them "I am committed, just more committed to my family than my job". :rolleyes:
You certainly can't make up for lost time, and I am sure nobody ever said on their death bed that they wished they'd spent more time in the office!
Nice one. I did lots of o'time whilst Mrs Scott was pregnant, but since baby scott came along I've been Mr 9-5.
I can tell my managers don't like it - and I am probably looked upon as "not a team player", "not committed" and that kind of cr@p. If challenged, I'd like to think that I'd say the them "I am committed, just more committed to my family than my job". :rolleyes:
You certainly can't make up for lost time, and I am sure nobody ever said on their death bed that they wished they'd spent more time in the office!
Or the nursing home, washing up and peeling potatoes.
I don't see how taking a sickie from a call centre is letting your colleagues down. The only people you are letting down are your unreasonable and inflexible bosses. In this situation it does sound like us and them, if employers treat people with more consideration then it is a better working environment. I have been happy to put in extra time in jobs that have given me some responsibility and a feeling of worth.
Whilst I do advise taking a sickie, you do have to be careful if the job is important to you.
I know it is hard to change jobs and easy to stick with what you are used to, but it sounds like you have had enough of the situation and would be happier in another job.
I don't see how taking a sickie from a call centre is letting your colleagues down. The only people you are letting down are your unreasonable and inflexible bosses. In this situation it does sound like us and them, if employers treat people with more consideration then it is a better working environment. I have been happy to put in extra time in jobs that have given me some responsibility and a feeling of worth.
Whilst I do advise taking a sickie, you do have to be careful if the job is important to you.
I know it is hard to change jobs and easy to stick with what you are used to, but it sounds like you have had enough of the situation and would be happier in another job.
Thank you for all your replies. I have decided to just grin and bear it.
There is no way that they would believe that I was ill because I also work on Thursday and Friday. I also read through my contract last night and missing work can be gross misconduct and it's not really worth potentially losing my job. I can still get home at 8.45 and go straight down the pub . I did ask if I could start my shift 1 hour earlier which would allow me to get home for the family meal so fingers crossed.
And I don't have to work NY Day which is a relief (even though I shouldn't of had to). I'm only going to be there now for another 6 months and as I've said it's not worth losing my job.
I don't see how taking a sickie from a call centre is letting your colleagues down. The only people you are letting down are your unreasonable and inflexible bosses..
It is fairly simple - a call centre predicts it is going to have 1000 calls per hour on a certain day. A call centre agent takes an average of 10 calls an hour therefore the system says that they need 100 agents in to handle the call volumes. To take into account sickness and if the call volume is higher than anticipated they will request 110 people to come in.
If 30 people dont bother coming in because they would rather be down the pub you then have 80 people attempting to take 1000 calls.... this results in pressure being put on the agents in because you arent meeting you targets, your team leader puts pressure on you because the centre isnt meeting its target of how quick calls are answered/ rate of abandonment etc..... to top it all off the customers are more likely to pissed off and take it out on the agent because they have had to wait for a long time in the queue. In worst case it also means that people get asked on the day to work longer shifts because they need the bums on seats to attempt to limit the number of lost calls/ irate customers
Whilst I am sure that some will come back with the response "well one person wont make that much difference" but that attitude being wide spread really does make a difference.
i started with a new company a few weeks ago - yesterday we had a meeting which highlighted how many people had been sick over the last 12 months & although didn't name names - they did say that certain people were on sickness monitors.
Then at the end - said 'but please if you are unwell don't come into work until you're ready!!!!' I almost laughed because their sickness records are not as bad as previous companies I have worked for!!!
My theory is if you are unwell stay off. If you want to go to the pub or whatever - get a holiday
Prisoners could be trained to read the script cards and provide cover for call centre drones on bank holidays. In fact, I'm surprised that the government hasn't already set up a couple of phone rooms at Yarl's Wood so that the potential illegal immigants who are waiting to be processed could do something to earn their keep. The government could sell the call centre capacity at a rate that undercuts whatever the going rate is (do UK-based call centres pay the national minimum wage?) ... in fact, they could even undercut the Indian rate :-)
Im sorry but why on earth do call centres need to be open on Xmas Day/Boxing Day/New Year?? Apart from 999 Emergency obviousley. Anyone who phones a call centre on those days needs to get a life!
When I worked for a mail order company we always got phone calls on boxing day to say that we had ruined little timmy's Xmas because we didnt deliver his presents in time (which they had ordered on Xmas Eve and the catalogue said was a 2wk delivery time)
There are also plenty of other emergency helplines that really do need to be open on these days (electricity, gas, water, emergency helpline, stolen vehicle tracking, medical emergency alarm, burgaler alarm monitoring, lost/stolen credit cards).
Im sorry but why on earth do call centres need to be open on Xmas Day/Boxing Day/New Year?? Apart from 999 Emergency obviousley. Anyone who phones a call centre on those days needs to get a life!
if you get burgled on xmas eve i'm assuming you'd quite like to be able to cancel your credit cards when you wake up on christmas morning? :rolleyes:
Prisoners could be trained to read the script cards and provide cover for call centre drones on bank holidays. In fact, I'm surprised that the government hasn't already set up a couple of phone rooms at Yarl's Wood so that the potential illegal immigants who are waiting to be processed could do something to earn their keep. The government could sell the call centre capacity at a rate that undercuts whatever the going rate is (do UK-based call centres pay the national minimum wage?) ... in fact, they could even undercut the Indian rate :-)
ok we're not 'drones'. Even the indian contact centre workers usually have degrees. There's a lot more to my job than reading from a script. :mad:
ok we're not 'drones'. Even the indian contact centre workers usually have degrees. There's a lot more to my job than reading from a script. :.mad.:
Do you need a degree to do your job, either here or in India? If so so, what subjects is it best to hold a degree in? Ooh, here's a thought ... what about a new specialist qualification ... a degree *in* script reading for call centre telephonists?
Do you need a degree to do your job, either here or in India? If so so, what subjects is it best to hold a degree in? Ooh, here's a thought ... what about a new specialist qualification ... a degree *in* script reading for call centre telephonists?
actually believe it or not there is a 2yr hnd course at my local tech for call centre working.
No i don't need a degree to do my job. Just good inter personal skills, maths and english qualifications and a huge amount of patience, along with the ability to do 3 things at once under a huge amount of pressure.
Comments
Wow that's really clever! Not!
I am assuming you can self certify for a few days? If so, you do not have to see a doctor so they cannot demand a sick note which means they cannot dispute it and you cannot get done for it this time.
I'd throw a sickie in a split second. You company has bad, inconsiderate management and clearly care more about money than their employees welfare.
If I were you, I'd look for a new job in the new year.
EDIT: Do not forget to ring in if your are 'sick'!
Make out your a devout Christian and working on the Sabbath is against your religion.
EDIT: Don't try that, it won't wash!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/4714261.stm
I don't feel guilty about it at all. I worked out that after shelling out for taxis I be earning just £5 an hour. There's a big difference between being diligent and having MUG written across your head.
Nice one. I did lots of o'time whilst Mrs Scott was pregnant, but since baby scott came along I've been Mr 9-5.
I can tell my managers don't like it - and I am probably looked upon as "not a team player", "not committed" and that kind of cr@p. If challenged, I'd like to think that I'd say the them "I am committed, just more committed to my family than my job". :rolleyes:
You certainly can't make up for lost time, and I am sure nobody ever said on their death bed that they wished they'd spent more time in the office!
Or the nursing home, washing up and peeling potatoes.
Whilst I do advise taking a sickie, you do have to be careful if the job is important to you.
I know it is hard to change jobs and easy to stick with what you are used to, but it sounds like you have had enough of the situation and would be happier in another job.
Very well put.
There is no way that they would believe that I was ill because I also work on Thursday and Friday. I also read through my contract last night and missing work can be gross misconduct and it's not really worth potentially losing my job. I can still get home at 8.45 and go straight down the pub
And I don't have to work NY Day which is a relief (even though I shouldn't of had to). I'm only going to be there now for another 6 months and as I've said it's not worth losing my job.
It is fairly simple - a call centre predicts it is going to have 1000 calls per hour on a certain day. A call centre agent takes an average of 10 calls an hour therefore the system says that they need 100 agents in to handle the call volumes. To take into account sickness and if the call volume is higher than anticipated they will request 110 people to come in.
If 30 people dont bother coming in because they would rather be down the pub you then have 80 people attempting to take 1000 calls.... this results in pressure being put on the agents in because you arent meeting you targets, your team leader puts pressure on you because the centre isnt meeting its target of how quick calls are answered/ rate of abandonment etc..... to top it all off the customers are more likely to pissed off and take it out on the agent because they have had to wait for a long time in the queue. In worst case it also means that people get asked on the day to work longer shifts because they need the bums on seats to attempt to limit the number of lost calls/ irate customers
Whilst I am sure that some will come back with the response "well one person wont make that much difference" but that attitude being wide spread really does make a difference.
Then at the end - said 'but please if you are unwell don't come into work until you're ready!!!!' I almost laughed because their sickness records are not as bad as previous companies I have worked for!!!
My theory is if you are unwell stay off. If you want to go to the pub or whatever - get a holiday
There are also plenty of other emergency helplines that really do need to be open on these days (electricity, gas, water, emergency helpline, stolen vehicle tracking, medical emergency alarm, burgaler alarm monitoring, lost/stolen credit cards).
if you get burgled on xmas eve i'm assuming you'd quite like to be able to cancel your credit cards when you wake up on christmas morning? :rolleyes:
ok we're not 'drones'. Even the indian contact centre workers usually have degrees. There's a lot more to my job than reading from a script. :mad:
actually believe it or not there is a 2yr hnd course at my local tech for call centre working.
No i don't need a degree to do my job. Just good inter personal skills, maths and english qualifications and a huge amount of patience, along with the ability to do 3 things at once under a huge amount of pressure.