In the army if you took unofficial leave you would be arrested and charged spending a minimum of 14 days in the detention barracks. In civvie street things work differently and normally it would cost you your job depending on who you work for. In SA a staff member normally has to have 3 warnings of the same offence before you can fire them over a 6 month period and why the system is all for the employee.
We are at that time of the year again where staff have made plans and have not told anyone hence their absence from work. We know only 1 staff member asked for time off due to moving house which means we should have 12 staff members and we only have 5. They were all given double checks this month as they all deserve a bonus and this apparently is the first bonus they have received in the last 4 years. I wish we could do more and will at some point for those individuals that do not let us down. Fair is fair in my book as the business makes money then everyone benefits, but do not mess me around because then you will be shown the door.
The problem is with our line of work we remain open and we need all hands on deck. The 2 days after New Year I can understand as it basically gives them a week off. We were back at work on Friday the 27th and worked the 30th and 31st so there is no real breaks as the orders still keep coming no matter what.
If they asked for leave they are entitled to it so we just have to work around it but at least you can plan ahead. This afternoon we were informed we have a weights container arriving and this is a big job as this container can take 6 hours to off load with experienced staff who have done it many times before. Everything takes the strain besides the staff including the fork lift and pallet jacks. This is a container of solid steel and takes some effort to off load.
In the past we have always asked for a little notice so we can be prepared yet somehow that memo was ignored and telling us in the evening that a weight container is coming in the morning screws us all. This is what happens when people have no clue what transpires behind the scenes and I presume do not care.
The one bit of news which is more positive is I have employed my handy mans cousin who starts on Monday as we need a stronger team around us. There has been too many people dropping the ball and we need more eyes and ears on the floor. It may or may not work out, but he is keen having been unemployed for a few months already. A job is a job as when you are employed it is easier to find another job and the way the economy is you take anything you can find.
I am paying his salary directly out of my pocket to help relieve the pressure on my family and at some point will work it into the budget. Like I said it is not much, but it will keep food on the table for now and is more of a charitable gesture on my part as I know how tough things can be. In the Western world we have things too easy, but here there is nothing to fall back on and he would be looking at $20 per month via a government grant.
Those who never pitched up to work this week will have a question mark looming over their heads and no doubt will not like the idea of having someone new around. The idea for now is to keep everyone unless someone decides to take another week off as I am presuming they will all be back on Monday. In the past I have learned it is dangerous to presume so will wait and see.