OP, go to your primary care provider. Apologize for not making it upto them,but you cant do anything about it? My kingdom for sensible, trauma-informed, non-security-theater workplace safety training. Two toddlers during Sandy Hook. But since I am pretty much exhausted, I dont need anything more than my bed and a days sleep. Im a teacher and have been in charge of children during these drills. Any good boss and company should want you to stay home and recover if you're sick. My mom worked for a large company and has to deal with several (not at her location, thankfully, but as HR she had to deal with the aftermath). Yes, there are employers who know or try to get around laws meant to protect Reservists. Top 10 Excuses to Get Out of Work - Shout! Factory If youre super close with them, theyll probably just laugh and say theyll catch you later. Honestly since youre the only woman in the office, if you normally wear makeup just dont the day before or after to confirm the sick story. 2. I would discount everything that he said about you and take away what he said about himself, namely that he would sacrifice your life for his. The idea that I could be leaving them behind AND as a result, might never see them again because a twit with a gun he should never have had access to shot up their school is utterly unfathomable. Jeez, people go to work to *work*, not to LARP or to do choreographed dance routines. An avian flu outbreak was even the disaster they had to simulate! Somake a call and tell them how your place is flooded with water and you need to fix itas soon as possible. Ive been participating in active shooter drills since high school, know about run-hide-fight, and have friends who have lost siblings to gun violence. Then you have a Soldier with real issues like a family member dealing with cancer and there is no allowance period. This will make the time go by faster and itll be more bearable. Tell them how you were all dressed up for this party, but at the last moment, you found out that your car tire is punctured. I bet too many people at work would opt if they could (even just for if Im going to be at work I have actual work to do) and make it not useful training. Bomb threats were a constant fact of life. We were located in an area where street violence was a significant risk. except that some law enforcement dont recommend doing this because in the event of an active shooter, its a high probability going to be an employee or former employee. I did the same put it on mute and played it in a separate tab, then checked every 5 minutes or so to advance to the next chapter. You're going to an important family event, 9. this isnt an Im calling my lawyer so I can sue knee-jerk thing, its consultation on employment law and options when the obvious ones are made inaccessible for one reason or another. It took maybe 30 minutes total. And a huge waste of time too. I grew up in the Seventies and Eighties in the UK with the IRA. Michelle Rennex, Film I doubt it. Rush inside? She cant even bear to see guns on tv. Also: Now after 30 years, trying to get out of teaching. They don't call us a generation of flakes for nothing. No?). Everyone knows how to call 911. Seriously, I dont understand how it goes for seven hours. I remember going to a 4th of July party thrown by a combat veteran friend-of-a-friend. The point is, now, when you get the same news, and youre not as excited as you may have once been. Asking not to be contrary but because Im genuinely curious what you mean by this comment. My friend who worked at Harrods was in the Harrods bombing. Theyre about 1/4 mile away, so they usually make it while the guard is on the phone to the alarm company explaining that nothings wrong at the sensor that triggered. And so on. Part of our run-hide-fight training is a very well-done, professionally-shot video set on our hospital campus. From my recollection, they never talk about peoples legit reactions in the moment. It traumatized her. (everything turned out all right and he actually used the time to talk about chemical reactions, Because Teacher, but it was not a happy day for him). Sorry, I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come follows author Jessica Pan's hilarious and painful year of misadventures in extroverting, reporting back from the frontlines for all the introverts out there. But the last one was letting us know that there were rumors of a violent event being planned for the next day. It is also a less confrontational and frightening way to approach those issues, putting the onus to explain on him rather than on you. Id been through a training so I found the safest (not safe, safest) spot in the room and went to it. Now, chill and relax. I like Alisons phrasing for what to say to your boss, it doesnt necessarily imply mental health issues, just that you have a past experience that makes this too close to home. As a general rule, you cannot be excused from drill. See also so many links and comments above on why these do not work. Theyd just experienced one in their community. Ill explain later. I used to live in a country that had earthquake drills. Here are some valid excuses for missing drill: I still dont see any reason to simulate a real event that thoroughly. If you feel you need to address it with your boss directly, you could do that while being vague. Im a survivor of gun violence and Ive lost a loved one in a mass shooting. Want more Junkee in your life? I have never ever called in sick for any reason other than actually being too sick to leave my bed. It was a tough meeting. . Hey, would love to come tonight- would you mind picking me up? Pretty sure I called in sick that day. The active shooter training was a short part of the overall agenda. Im so sorry youre dealing with this, OP, and that your boss made a joke about directing a shooter to you. (And as a 6th grader at the time of Columbineoooof I am so sorry for all of us that literally nothing has changed since then). Ill clear my head first, get in a better place and come to the next one. I have tried to transfer out of this unit 3 times. It's apart of my contract. And just like that, my butt is covered. Take the next day off too. And if you are not looking up for one, have a detailed conversation with him,and I bet you will scare him off. A FULL DAY training is incredibly excessive and triggering, unless you think people dying is funny. Now that my eldest is in school, I am grateful every day that I married a British man and moved to his hometown. They left FEMA after Katrina to join another agency which was setting up an emergency preparedness team as a result of what went wrong during Katrina. Its stupid and sexist, but it works. Im a boomer and if I can understand I dont know what your bosss problem is. It was investigated, law enforcement believed it was just a rumor, and there would be extra police presence at school the next day. This is considered a valid excuse and your commander should work with you to find an alternate solution . Maybe you can convince them to reconsider? Agreed, why is this training seven hours long? Who should I talk to for that?, If he mocks you or implies youre a delicate snowflake, consider saying: You and I are coming to this with a very different frame of reference. They youd be able to get your note without having to have an excuse, you legit had to miss because you had an appointment that day. Also, we do have accommodations for those who cant watch the video. Given that shes already on record as not wanting to participate and the boss reaction, this might be the first time I would ever consider advising someone to just no-call no-show and eat the occurrence. Hey [Name], thanks for the invite but Im going to use this evening to recharge. I think Alisons advice is really good. But for moments like this and in workplaces like this where there isnt a great way out this is what these lies, excuses, or pivots are for. something to consider! Lost colleagues and students. Oh, I just had a horrible thought. Not to deal with the threat to the campus. Im sorry about your boss, OP. The whole experience just changed the entire trajectory of their career and also the field of emergency preparedness. What are they planning for 7 hours? Even worse was what they advocated we teach kids they expected that we would teach 5-year-olds to run in a zigzag pattern across the playground and show them a safe location to run to (like the next school down the street), or discuss the possibility of an active shooter with them every fall. I empathize. Between the GUN SHOTS outside the classroom, and the unbelievably unqualified instructor who gleefully talked about all the times his hyper-vigilance protected his girlfriend on the mean streets of our farm state, it was too much. They're basically faster, safer, and more supportive- you can check them out here. I planned out my escape routes the first time I walked into the office and figured out which things on my desk would make the best projectiles by week one. In the military, missing 4 hours of a required training equals one unexcused absence. It was a no-brainer to help them with the very small procedural hurdle to opt out. But as long as we expect children to go through this, we adults need to also, dont we? When staff brought this and other safety concerns to upper management, these were brushed away, even though 1) they hired the trainer to come and say these things, and 2) we had violent threats and probably at least 1 or 2 lockdowns per year. Privacy Policy. Make sure to tell them that your boss has been dismissing your concerns and you dont trust him to handle mental health issues with any seriousness. I dont think I could do a drill again. Agree. (I was not told there would be role-playing including people pretending to be people with ptsd or other mental illnesses who NEEDED TO BE NON VIOLENTLY RESTRAINED. You Had Other Car Issues 11. In one, most of it occurred in the park across the street from campus (which was lovely, and we always had to tell new students that it looked nice, but it was Not Their Park), and wed get a text alert to stay away from the windows on that side of campus. But I like a little theatre. -You have a family emergency (documentation may be required) Do you know what are the common types of spam email messages? To unsubscribe, please use the link included in the newsletter. And hiding or fighting is just not in the cards. A SEVEN HOUR drill would definitely be too much for me, too, and Id seriously consider quitting if I was forced to do that (especially if there were pellet guns like another commenter said, thats horrific.). Are there many gossipers in your work place? No. Literally had preschool orientation for the older one the month after to the day. Are you prepared to weave this story into conversations for the next few months to cement its accuracy? Generally youre not asked to disclose why youre opting out. 9 Foolproof Excuses To Get Out Of Your Weekend Plans - Junkee Yup. Even though technically I graduated from HS pre-Columbine, guess what? Additionally, if you are pregnant or have recently had a baby, you may also be excused from drill. About two months later I quit that job, but because I really liked most of my coworkers, I sometimes went there and bought a sub or a burger on my way home from college. Sending my best wishes to you. Well. From my vantage point at the organ console, there are no close exits; so should I hide behind the console, trapped in a corner?? I do agree that theres a difference between physically practicing something and reading about it (and frankly, at some of my performing arts jobs, Id have really loved to have even talked through some sort of emergency response plan for an increasingly not-unlikely situation). This is your time to show that you are the best and that you can definitely take the weekends off and enjoy the weekend. Im aware of the exits on campus, and my personal area is chock full of hiding spaces. It took less than ten minutes and it never referenced any acts of violence. I dont remember anyone ever failing a fire drill, but I definitely went home that day with the impression that wed failed this one. It doesnt matter what people think. Really, have no qualms about it. What in the actual hell? For example, if you have more than three unexcused absences in a row, or more than six unexcused absences in a year, you could face disciplinary action. My kid survived by diving under their desk and huddling there, shaking, as the shooter stalked the room looking for more targets, listening to the screams of their colleagues who had been shot, and expecting to die in the crossfire once law enforcement arrived. But they made the change less than 30 days before drill. As the World's Most Accurate Online Grammar Checker, Grammarly Premium goes beyond grammar to help you ensure that everything you write is clear, engaging, and professional. and our Hey [Name], my stomach is not in the best of conditions at the moment so its probably best for everyone if I stay at home this evening. Heres a list of foolproof excuses thatare sure to get you out of any weekend plan. If you have a valid reason, such as work or school, you can request an exception to miss a drill weekend. 10 Good Excuses for Not Working on Weekends 1. The site ate my previous post, so Ill do a shorter version. But theres no reason why you cannot ask in advance for a weekend where youre not rostered on. SEVEN hours??? No one processed the paperwork and the slot got filled up every single time. Id feel the same way. -Get together with some friends and head to the range. (Joking, of course, but trying to make a point.) For more info, please see our Earnings Disclosure. The simple answer is that if you are ADMITTED to the hospital then it will probably be an acceptable excuse. Categories + 18moretakeoutthe remedy diner, tupelo honey, and more; excuses to get out of drill weekend - zirpp.org one of her students went to the supply closet and distributed scissors and protractors to his classmates during a suspected active shooter event. cristina's restaurant salsa recipe. Just call in sick. Regardless of that, though, opting out should be a reasonable accommodation for anyone with cause to believe the training will have mental health ramifications for them. (Id clue in a coworker who could text when that part is over. You can easily use this one if the host lives far away. Ive done Portal of Safety Drills in martial arts when I was younger. You're going to an important family event 2. 2. (Even those who havent had personal connections to any of the many, many mass shootings in recent decades.). In my 20s and 30s would have loved to have got a job living in NYC and generous vacation leave meant i used to visit multiple times a year. It was a labyrinth of shelves, and being the basement, there were no windows. Do that after lunch the day before and you can go home very believably. You should probably go ahead and [Insert Activity] without me. A total of 27.2% of working people volunteered, compared to just 21.4% of unemployed people. I am lucky in that my dean is sympathetic. Im so sorry you are dealing with this. I mean your boss sounds delightful so maybe he is concerned he may be a target, but the chances of you ever needing to use that mass-shooting situation at work is low. Ive never been through any kind of shooter drill. Yup I was going to do this pre-pandemic to get out of a (much more minor) mandatory fun activity that happened to involve one of my anxiety triggers because I knew trying to explain why something most people think is at worst annoying makes me shake with nerves was just not worth spending political capital on. This has led to a lot of frustration among soldiers, especially those who were looking forward to the opportunity to train and bond with their unit mates. Its basically go to X room if you can, use Y furniture to block the door, use Z panic code on the phones to silently call law enforcement to your location. You dont owe anyone any explanations. On my stomach lining, which makes me puke, nearly immediately. His video gave at least one employee a panic attack at her desk. 4 You have religious obligations . All-day first aid training? For anyone to work in a position where they may have to do non-violent restraint and not have hands-on training in a controlled environment is INCREDIBLY dangerous and would open your facility to a huge amount of liability, both civilly and criminally. So is drill. Read More 7 Common Types of Spam Emails and How to IdentifyContinue. And if they press you too hard, start crying. Not only does a well-designed drill help participants remember what to do in a real scenario, it gives you the opportunity to identify critical issues before an emergency. They were told that had this been a real event, they would be dead. That means if you click and buy a product, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our local high did one that lasted several hours. It was brief, watch the video and discuss. Attend events and functions, volunteer for leadership positions, and just generally be a positive presence within your unit. Ive seen plenty of law enforcement response to school additions. You should absolutely opt out if you want to. And because he isnt reasonable you cant reason with him. Well I thought a good excuse would be to call in sick which I did. Agreed. I work for a public-facing government agency. Hes that cavalier about mass mayhem?? Creating an outer impression of niceness is not that hard if a person has halfway decent social skills. You've only watched 16 videos of veterans coming home to their dogs and you promised yourself you'd break 30 tonight. I work in a large hospital. Pardon me if I dont exactly trust law enforcement to do your training for one minute let alone seven hours. As a side comment, if you have not yet sought out a mental health professional who is experienced in dealing with PTSD, you may wish to explore that at some point. As another university admin assistant (also for a dean) who has just spent the last couple of weeks dealing with a real recent active shooting event on a campus: what?!??!! Make a complaint or request or whatever afterwards if you feel up to it, but for now just protect yourself by disengaging, and make sure you give yourself lots of TLC and distraction on your sick day. And Im autistic, so the alarms and strobes are hard on my nervous system. We should be ashamed that we are teaching children to be prepared for violence, and to be prepared to commit violence from the time they are toddlers on. The session before it was about what to have in your desk emergency kit in case of an earthquake. Some of these excuses are a little ridiculous, others are genius (if we do say so ourselves)! Also want to say: I hear that there are differences between younger folks experience and us middle aged people who grew up prior to mass school shootings being so frequent. Read More How to Write a Professional Email At Work (with Examples)Continue. 4. I think Alisons language about what to say to your boss is really useful. I mostly worked the busy evening shift anyway because I was at college during the day, so there was always someone else who could go instead of me. I could have written this post myself. In the last year we had a shooting at another campus in my district, and a lockdown on my campus for a suspected shooter (someone on the street with a gun who did not end up coming into the building). Its been really hard to deal with for them and me as their mom who couldnt protect them from this happening. If you are a National Guard member, there are certain circumstances where you can be excused from drill. Instead of a drill, why not just some quick tips on what to do and not do? I think practicing repeating whatever line works for you, to avoid being needled by him about it in future, might be worthwhile. We didnt have ours as often, and the threat seemed a little more distant, but some of those early ones were poorly handledand (given what weve read about the boss in question) I think letter writers office one sounds like it has the potential to be as well. Even ignoring personal history, seven hours is enough to upset anyone! When my former workplace held an active shooter training, they said it was mandatory and no one could opt out. Especially for people with a history of trauma. If you know ahead of time that you wont be able to make it to drill, try to work with your units first sergeant or commander to see if theres any way you can make up the training. Finally we learned they had just been required to offer an active shooter training by their insurance. Its just easier that way, unfortunately. If youre a party person, in your teens or early twenties, a party at Davids is news that will stir a lot of excitement. Question regarding missing drill weekend. Law enforcement continues to train others and practice drills. My husband cant eat in public with his back to the door. Thats such a heartbreaking thing to hear and yet, I understand why shes thinking about it. Hes a nice person but has very deeply entrenched ideas about mental health, anxiety, young people, and triggers, and I dont want to have to disclose my own mental health diagnoses to him, make him think Im simply not tough enough to handle it, or come across like a millennial snowflake, etc.. Are you willing to orchestrate an elaborate tale about a fake aunt and her knee surgery? are being killed. dental?) Then laughed. You dont know how you will react until you are in a situation, but a one-time seven hour LARPing of a horrible situation will not help you and certainly can traumatize you. Heck see if you can schedule an appointment JUST FOR THAT DAY. they understand that all you need to do is stay in bed (and watch a movie you just bought). As everything that could go wrong did go wrong, they ended up doing a whole a lot more than IT as it basically became an all hands on deck situation. Full stop. Id call in sick. Why was a child being asked to pose like a dead body for the police?????? Otherwise, its always a really hard day. Ever. I snuck out between the lecture piece and the hands-on drill to sob in my office and then go home sick for the rest of the day. Combine that with the militarization of police, and these trainings are an abusive nightmare. Additionally, I grew up in a part of the States that has very little gun culture to speak of; I wasnt around guns at all, didnt know anyone who owned one, never touched one till my mid-30s. We no longer politely hold the door open to let a stranger into our secure building. Working too much will cause you to burn out, which will be detrimental to your productivity and mental health. My library system makes staff watch Active Shooter Training videos each year, but theyre just videos. Otherwise, there is no harm in considering. Thats about all you can do to prepare for such a horrifying, unpredictable event. By 4pm, societal standards really will have done all the work for you. Its a little trickier because youve already told him youd rather not attend, but if this is the easiest of the options for you, you can do it. Here are some valid excuses for missing drill: 1. This sounds like the episode Emergency Response from Parks and Rec, so interesting to hear about a real-life counterpart of it/how true to life that show really was.
