No leave automatically granted except in emergency

By Raymond Dreyfack -- Plant Engineering, 2/1/1999

Electrician Grade II Sam Burton approached his boss' desk one Friday afternoon.

"I gotta have next week off," he said. "I'm applying for a leave of absence."

"You have got to be kidding," Maintenance Foreman Al Pollack replied. "You know we're backlogged and short-handed. You're scheduled for that lab wiring job. Leave of absence, no way! Figure on heavy overtime instead."

"Impossible. This is an emergency."

"What kind of emergency?"

"My brother's coming in from California. I haven't seen him in 2 yr."

"Your vacation's next month. You can fly out and see him then."

"No way, I can't afford the air fare."

"I'm sorry, Sam. We're in a bind and that lab job is urgent."

"Then I'll take the leave without approval."

As he stomped off Pollack called out to him, "If you do, don't bother to come back."

Burton ignored his boss' threat and took the following week off. When he returned to work, he found a dismissal notice in place of his time card. The electrician made a beeline for his shop representative who protested to Pollack that dismissal was too harsh a penalty for the offense.

Question: What do you think? Is Burton's termination justifiable?

Todd's verdict: "Absolutely," Plant Engineer Jack Todd ruled, upholding Pollack's decision. "A clause in the policy manual states clearly that employee leaves during heavy workload periods will be granted only in case of family catastrophe or illness, in which case medical proof would be required. A visit from Burton's brother falls far short of emergency. Job urgency has to take precedence over personal desire or convenience. The termination stands."