The Story of Joe
Joe is an employee of the Little Pine Ranger District he has been working on the district for 9 years 2 of which were temporary. He likes his job marking timber. The recently had a new baby, Joe Jr. His wife Michelle has not gone back to work yet, but she plans to soon. Joe like to go home in the evening and play with Joe Jr. He seems to grow an inch a day and louder each night.
Joe has had the same supervisor,Sam, for the past eight years. Sam has been with the agency for twelve years. He moved from the west in what seems like a long time ago. The supervisor has settled in and everything is going fairly well. Except last year the district was short a little on some of the targets and timber was down by about 20 percent. Sam is a little more edgy since then, but seems to be handling things fairly. Everyone is stepping up a little more in order not have a year like last year. Joe likes the challenge and is pulling his weight.
The baby has been a little colic for the past two week. Joe and Michelle has been running all night in and attempt to calm the baby and get some sleep. Joe was late to work for three times this week once for fifteen minutes and then thirty minutes on Tuesday and Thursday. Sam called Joe in his office on Thursday and discussed with him about being late three morning this week. Sam explained that the entire crew is having to wait for him in the mornings and Sam tells Joe again the need to get the timber marked for the year. Joe is agreeable and just wants to hurry the meeting up and get out of there. The supervisor although friendly on most days, just seems a bit more on the edge today. Joe is tired from already this morning from being up till two in the morning with the baby. He just wants to get on with the day and go home, Friday is his day off and Joe looks forward to it. The day goes smoothly and one unit is completed.
The next week the crew was able to complete the marking and all went well. Several months go by and the crew is moving through their accomplishments. Joe finds himself coming in late one morning. A half hour should not be a big deal he has not been late since his supervisor, Sam and he discussed the situation some months back. Nothing is said and Joe makes his day and heads home.
On Thursday the supervisor call Joe and says he would like to meet with him in the Rangers office at nine this morning. Joe thinks nothing of the call and meets with the Ranger and his supervisor, Sam. During the meeting Joe's supervisor explains that over a period of months he has been late four times and even this week he was late one time. Sam continues to explain that he has a zero tolerance for being late. The Ranger, Sally just listens and without expression hands Joe a letter. The bold type at the top of the page says "Letter of Warning". Joe is taken back he has heard of these letters going to employees but he is off guard and feels his heart sink. Many questions goes through his mind in what seems like a matter of seconds. While Joe is there the following thoughts race through his mind "What does this mean?" "Why would this happen to me?" "I am a good employee, I get my job done." Joe become defensive, he asks "What do you mean a letter of warning. The Ranger sensing the change reassures Joe that right now this is nothing and will only be kept by the his supervisor Sam. Sam assures Joe the letter will be in his desk and no will see it. Joe is still upset but calms to a point where all the emotions are not whelming up in him. Sally the Ranger continues to be reassuring and she discusses the letter with Joe. She asked him "Do you have problems at home that are keeping you from getting to work on time?" Joe feels the need to explain but holds back, only saying Joe Jr. was sick this week. The Ranger sensing the meeting should end sent Joe on his way by saying "This will be ok, you have nothing to worry about, you are a good employee." Everyone leaves the meeting. Joe goes back to his crew.
The crew asked many questions as to why Joe was in the Ranger's office. Joe holds off telling them what just happened, till later in the day. Fred, the union steward for the district happens to be on Joe's crew too. Joe talks with him in private throughout the day. Joe asked "what does this mean, am I going to lose my job? Are they going to suspend me?" Fred is patient and explains that the "Letter of Warning" is not a disciplinary action, but it could have future consequences. Joe is puzzled to him it seems disciplinary, but Fred takes the time to explain that he has the right to grieve the letter and this maybe the best course of action, but he has only twenty one days to proceed. Joe lets Fred read the letter. The letter all seems to be in order. The last paragraph has a statement about the grievance rights Joe has concerning this letter. As it seems he has some extenuating circumstances at home with Joe Jr. and Joe senior like the rest of the crew is on a maxi-flex schedule. Joe holds off, he wants to discuss with his wife Michelle when he gets home. The rest of the day passes uneventfully and Joe goes home at the end of a bad day.
Over the next week Joe and Fred talk about the letter, Joe appears to be cooling to the idea of grieving the letter when he tell Fred "I don't want piss them off more." Fred explains that there is no way to determine what the future holds, but the letter could have future consequences. Fred goes on to explain that it is his choice.
The crew continues on for several months, Joe did not raise the issue of the letter in a grievance. Everything seems to be going fine and the crew seems to be accomplishing a lot of work. Joe's family is doing well his wife, Michelle has gone back to work and Joe Jr. is in a good day care.
On Thursday this week Joe is called into the office again with the Ranger and his supervisor. Joe is concerned because on Monday he got to the office at ten minutes after eight. No one said anything that day nor Tuesday or Wednesday. "Now to the office again", Joe thinks. When he arrived at the office his supervisor Sam and the Ranger were already there talking. The Ranger invites Joe right in. The Ranger start by asking Joe a question, "Joe was you late on Monday?" Joe says "Just a few minutes I didn't think it was a big deal." Joe went on to say, "I put it on my time sheet last week." Sam jumped in and said, "Yeah we know that." Sam continues, "you know we discussed this some months back, right?" Joe says, "yes". Sam continues "and I told you of my zero tolerance of being late, right? Joe says "yeah." This meeting goes on for nearly forty five minutes and Joe becomes more and more uncomfortable. Finally the Ranger says, "One last question Joe, what do you think should happen in this situation?" Joe feeling real uncomfortable at this point says "I don't know you...." and he trails off to silence. "Well" the Ranger said "we will be in touch." Joe leaves none to soon. The rest of the day is uneventful. Joe does mention this mornings encounter to Fred. Fred's is very concerned having seen several of these situations in the past with other employees. Fred tells Joe if he gets called to another he should say "I want my Union Representative at this meeting." Joe is nervous about asking for the Union Rep, but is still confused about the meeting this morning.
Friday is Joe's day off. He talks to Michelle over the weekend of the event of the past week and his discussion with Fred the Union Rep. Michelle is concerned but not overly concerned she knows Joe does a good job and he is well liked on the district.
Monday morning comes and Joe is at work on time. Then the phone rings it is the Ranger "Joe can you come to my office?" Joe says he will be right there. Upon arrival Joe finds the Ranger and his supervisor Sam in the office talking again. Joe is invited in. The Ranger starts the conversation "Joe we have this proposal for you, take sometime to read it here and ask us any question you might have." Joe reads the header "Proposal to Suspend - Five Days" Joe finds it difficult to breathe, he can hardly read the letter, the words don't seem to sink in. Then he reads "you were given a Letter of Warning on....."
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This story goes on from here, but it happens everyday. What could Joe have done differently? When should he have done it? What can Joe do now?
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None of the people named above represent any person, but are fictional characterizations to convey a point.
Joe has had the same supervisor,Sam, for the past eight years. Sam has been with the agency for twelve years. He moved from the west in what seems like a long time ago. The supervisor has settled in and everything is going fairly well. Except last year the district was short a little on some of the targets and timber was down by about 20 percent. Sam is a little more edgy since then, but seems to be handling things fairly. Everyone is stepping up a little more in order not have a year like last year. Joe likes the challenge and is pulling his weight.
The baby has been a little colic for the past two week. Joe and Michelle has been running all night in and attempt to calm the baby and get some sleep. Joe was late to work for three times this week once for fifteen minutes and then thirty minutes on Tuesday and Thursday. Sam called Joe in his office on Thursday and discussed with him about being late three morning this week. Sam explained that the entire crew is having to wait for him in the mornings and Sam tells Joe again the need to get the timber marked for the year. Joe is agreeable and just wants to hurry the meeting up and get out of there. The supervisor although friendly on most days, just seems a bit more on the edge today. Joe is tired from already this morning from being up till two in the morning with the baby. He just wants to get on with the day and go home, Friday is his day off and Joe looks forward to it. The day goes smoothly and one unit is completed.
The next week the crew was able to complete the marking and all went well. Several months go by and the crew is moving through their accomplishments. Joe finds himself coming in late one morning. A half hour should not be a big deal he has not been late since his supervisor, Sam and he discussed the situation some months back. Nothing is said and Joe makes his day and heads home.
On Thursday the supervisor call Joe and says he would like to meet with him in the Rangers office at nine this morning. Joe thinks nothing of the call and meets with the Ranger and his supervisor, Sam. During the meeting Joe's supervisor explains that over a period of months he has been late four times and even this week he was late one time. Sam continues to explain that he has a zero tolerance for being late. The Ranger, Sally just listens and without expression hands Joe a letter. The bold type at the top of the page says "Letter of Warning". Joe is taken back he has heard of these letters going to employees but he is off guard and feels his heart sink. Many questions goes through his mind in what seems like a matter of seconds. While Joe is there the following thoughts race through his mind "What does this mean?" "Why would this happen to me?" "I am a good employee, I get my job done." Joe become defensive, he asks "What do you mean a letter of warning. The Ranger sensing the change reassures Joe that right now this is nothing and will only be kept by the his supervisor Sam. Sam assures Joe the letter will be in his desk and no will see it. Joe is still upset but calms to a point where all the emotions are not whelming up in him. Sally the Ranger continues to be reassuring and she discusses the letter with Joe. She asked him "Do you have problems at home that are keeping you from getting to work on time?" Joe feels the need to explain but holds back, only saying Joe Jr. was sick this week. The Ranger sensing the meeting should end sent Joe on his way by saying "This will be ok, you have nothing to worry about, you are a good employee." Everyone leaves the meeting. Joe goes back to his crew.
The crew asked many questions as to why Joe was in the Ranger's office. Joe holds off telling them what just happened, till later in the day. Fred, the union steward for the district happens to be on Joe's crew too. Joe talks with him in private throughout the day. Joe asked "what does this mean, am I going to lose my job? Are they going to suspend me?" Fred is patient and explains that the "Letter of Warning" is not a disciplinary action, but it could have future consequences. Joe is puzzled to him it seems disciplinary, but Fred takes the time to explain that he has the right to grieve the letter and this maybe the best course of action, but he has only twenty one days to proceed. Joe lets Fred read the letter. The letter all seems to be in order. The last paragraph has a statement about the grievance rights Joe has concerning this letter. As it seems he has some extenuating circumstances at home with Joe Jr. and Joe senior like the rest of the crew is on a maxi-flex schedule. Joe holds off, he wants to discuss with his wife Michelle when he gets home. The rest of the day passes uneventfully and Joe goes home at the end of a bad day.
Over the next week Joe and Fred talk about the letter, Joe appears to be cooling to the idea of grieving the letter when he tell Fred "I don't want piss them off more." Fred explains that there is no way to determine what the future holds, but the letter could have future consequences. Fred goes on to explain that it is his choice.
The crew continues on for several months, Joe did not raise the issue of the letter in a grievance. Everything seems to be going fine and the crew seems to be accomplishing a lot of work. Joe's family is doing well his wife, Michelle has gone back to work and Joe Jr. is in a good day care.
On Thursday this week Joe is called into the office again with the Ranger and his supervisor. Joe is concerned because on Monday he got to the office at ten minutes after eight. No one said anything that day nor Tuesday or Wednesday. "Now to the office again", Joe thinks. When he arrived at the office his supervisor Sam and the Ranger were already there talking. The Ranger invites Joe right in. The Ranger start by asking Joe a question, "Joe was you late on Monday?" Joe says "Just a few minutes I didn't think it was a big deal." Joe went on to say, "I put it on my time sheet last week." Sam jumped in and said, "Yeah we know that." Sam continues, "you know we discussed this some months back, right?" Joe says, "yes". Sam continues "and I told you of my zero tolerance of being late, right? Joe says "yeah." This meeting goes on for nearly forty five minutes and Joe becomes more and more uncomfortable. Finally the Ranger says, "One last question Joe, what do you think should happen in this situation?" Joe feeling real uncomfortable at this point says "I don't know you...." and he trails off to silence. "Well" the Ranger said "we will be in touch." Joe leaves none to soon. The rest of the day is uneventful. Joe does mention this mornings encounter to Fred. Fred's is very concerned having seen several of these situations in the past with other employees. Fred tells Joe if he gets called to another he should say "I want my Union Representative at this meeting." Joe is nervous about asking for the Union Rep, but is still confused about the meeting this morning.
Friday is Joe's day off. He talks to Michelle over the weekend of the event of the past week and his discussion with Fred the Union Rep. Michelle is concerned but not overly concerned she knows Joe does a good job and he is well liked on the district.
Monday morning comes and Joe is at work on time. Then the phone rings it is the Ranger "Joe can you come to my office?" Joe says he will be right there. Upon arrival Joe finds the Ranger and his supervisor Sam in the office talking again. Joe is invited in. The Ranger starts the conversation "Joe we have this proposal for you, take sometime to read it here and ask us any question you might have." Joe reads the header "Proposal to Suspend - Five Days" Joe finds it difficult to breathe, he can hardly read the letter, the words don't seem to sink in. Then he reads "you were given a Letter of Warning on....."
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This story goes on from here, but it happens everyday. What could Joe have done differently? When should he have done it? What can Joe do now?
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None of the people named above represent any person, but are fictional characterizations to convey a point.
How many Joe's are out there? Too many! To all the Joe's out there please..... No actually I am not begging just telling you to call your union rep. immediately. Don't let it go. This illustration is exactly how it happens. First its ok, no big deal, then its all used against you. Every little word you have said and every little thing you have done ( and the little letter of warning ). Take this advice. Don't be a Joe, ask for your union rep.
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It needs a little gramatical editing, but it was a good story. Sadly, it probably happens often. So many of us aren't completely familiar with our rights as employees. Many times we are told things by our supervisors that are incorrect. I have had personal experiences with this. It makes me want to learn more about the correct way to handle problems.
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Who ever wrote this article needs to work on their grammar. Joe had multiple chances before anything there were consequences. Joe should have sat done with his boss and explained his situation and even called in to the office and let them know he was going to be late. As far as the five days suspension goes had Joe been working in the private sector, Joe would have been fired not just sent home for 5 days. It is Joe’s responsibility to get to work on time not Sam’s.
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