Is it acceptable?

[Thorgasm]

Well that's easy. December 1, 2012 my wife announced she was leaving and taking the kids. At that point, I lost my raison d'etre, so I said I was going to commit suicide. She called the cops, they took me seriously and after cuffing me they threw me in the back of the cop car and hauled me off to the county hospital. I told the first doctor I saw there that I was planning on going home and getting completely ****-faced, so he decided to put me on a 72 hour hold. Because it was a weekend and the way the legalities work, the 72 hour countdown didn't begin until Monday. The rest of the week (after midnight on Thursday), I stayed voluntarily until Monday because I didn't know what I'd do when I got home. Monday I started partial hospitalization where I went home at night, and spent most of the day at the hospital. That lasted about a month more.

That sounds like quite the ordeal. I'm glad you are better now and can talk about it.

 

[CanadaJohn]

I have noticed a trend with young people. They seem to think it is acceptable to text their boss that they won't be able to come to work that day. It has always been my policy that they must call. What say you?

I'm retired, so I can't be accused of being young, but when I was working if I had to be away from the office I always informed my secretary, my assistant, and my boss's secretary via one email message. That way I saved having to send off multiple messages when I wasn't feeling well and I knew they all would be informed promptly.

If today's technology of choice is text, so be it. It's not so much how you inform those who need to know, it's why you inform them and if you use technology to hide the true reason for your absence, it will eventually catch up to you.

I see no problem with this new trend.

 

[Dragonfly]

As an owner/boss you make the rules. If you don't like text messages you need to spell that out clearly and directly.

Make sure it's beyond completely understood that text messaging is grounds for termination if you absolutely feel that way.

I think it's rather silly to be that strict about things, but if it's your business you make the rules.

If employees are doing something you don't like, it's really your fault for not nipping that behavior in the bud.

I personally prefer text messages over phone calls for most things.

 

[Your Star]

How do they keep their job if they are calling in all the time?

Not all the time as in they take off work all the time, all the time as in that is how they let their boss know they are going to be out.

Boss's also text to ask if you can come in if they need you. No big deal.

 

[Mr. E]

I would prefer to recieve a text at 3am vs a phone call. In my line of work an individual calling off isn't an emergency (or a big deal). Besides texting my boss I would also change my status on Lync so my coworkers were aware. I think this really depends how connected a workplace is with current technology.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

I wouldn't do it as long as I had voice enough to speak-- but only because I would want immediate confirmation that my message was received and understood. Not really a matter of respect in my eyes, so much as a matter of responsibility; if I can't confirm that my boss knows I'm not going in, I have to go in... but if I'm calling out, that's a really bad idea.

 

[Gipper]

Might be okay if you're flipping burgers. If I tried that at any of my jobs, I'd be looked at like I lost my damned mind.

In grad school, one of the biggest things they tried to instill in us is the ability to communicate, present, inform, and conduct in a professional manner. Now, maybe if I received an advanced degree in sociology, it'd be okay. In the business world, that's how you get mocked and dismissed.

I'm too professional to ever text my boss something like that. I used to text him on Fridays that I'd be in the office and I'd let the cleaning crew in (job was 10 hours, M-Th) while I caught up on work. That's probably the limit, however.

 

[radcen]

People should probably ask when hired what company policy is about calling/texting in sick. Personally, I want to hear your voice, so I can determine how legitimate the sick call sounds.

That's easier to fake than your parent's signature in high school.

 

[falcata]

My boss seems to forget more when I call. I only text when I know they are busy and cannot answer the phone, but at least this way she has a reference to remember i cannot come to work.

 

[Cephus]

Not a chance. My employees know that texting a sick call will be ignored and they will get an unexcused absence. If you're sick, get on the phone and make a call like a responsible human being.

 

[Fisher]

Not going to be able to text for much longer when you lose your job and your paycheck that pays for your telephone.

 

[Cephus]

People should probably ask when hired what company policy is about calling/texting in sick. Personally, I want to hear your voice, so I can determine how legitimate the sick call sounds.

And to be sure they're not at the beach or an amusement park or something. If I don't hear your voice, you don't get an excused absence.

 

[ARealConservative]

we have a web-based in-out board. no phone calls or text messages unless I need to communicate something other then "I'm sick"

what a waste of time taking a phone call and placing the phone call. get with the times people

 

[Jerry]

I have noticed a trend with young people. They seem to think it is acceptable to text their boss that they won't be able to come to work that day. It has always been my policy that they must call. What say you?

I've had bosses who prefer text over a call for everything.

You can check a text when you want, not the moment it comes in as with a phone call. If you miss a cal, now you have to go into your voice mail and that takes even more time, whereas a text is sitting right there for you to read any time. If you're talking to someone you don't have to be interrupted, you can wait a moment and check the text, or check the text while talking. I can check and reply to texts while on a call and no one is the wiser. Also, in construction, the building can interfere with reception or power tools drown out the speaker.

There's also something to be said for having certain things recorded. Being able to go back and re-read what someone said is useful, not only for disciplinary purposes but also for accuracy.

 

[Jerry]

People should probably ask when hired what company policy is about calling/texting in sick. Personally, I want to hear your voice, so I can determine how legitimate the sick call sounds.

Are you a doctor that you can diagnose a medical problem through a voice? Wow. I didn't know my voice changed when my back acted up, but you say you can tell which vertebrae the strain is at simply by the sound of my voice...and over a phone, no less. That is truly astounding.

If you don't accept texts, then how am I supposed to get you a copy of my proof of treatment? I have CamScanner and could send you a very clean pic of the form, but I don't know how to speak the image over the phone to your ear, or how you would take that sound and print out an image.

I've never called out for my back, fyi, but I wonder how it would sound if I did.

The kind of people I'm used to working for don't like to deal with bull****. If you have a problem, ok, if you don't have a problem, they'd rather mail you your last check so they don't even have to look at you, and forget about talking to you.

 

[Jerry]

We've had people quit via text, 'call off' on shift, you name it.

Personally, I think it's disrespectful to communicate anything of importance via text.

Imagine a text from LE or hospital:

Sorry to advise your X has passed away in an accident.

Doesn't work for me.

I wish my X would pass away in an accident....that's a good day no matter how you tell me.

 

[notquiteright]

People should probably ask when hired what company policy is about calling/texting in sick. Personally, I want to hear your voice, so I can determine how legitimate the sick call sounds.

If ya haven't learned how to sound sick by the 5th grade you probably don't have a job worth tricking the boss to keep! :mrgreen:

It might be a generational/ tech thing. Younger folks just love their smart phones. My IT wife rarely talks to the people she works for, several she never met face to face, never left the house to interview, do the work, get paid and bank it.

It is a brave new world.

 

[radcen]

Kicking and screaming will some be dragged into the 21sy century.

 

[Jerry]

Kicking and screaming will some be dragged into the 21sy century.

I've been wanting a smart-phone every since I saw the first episode of Star Trek: TNG. It's nice to see tech finally caught up with my 13 y/o self. Now if we can just get it caught up with my present self, that would be great.

 

[grip]

Are you a doctor that you can diagnose a medical problem through a voice? Wow. I didn't know my voice changed when my back acted up, but you say you can tell which vertebrae the strain is at simply by the sound of my voice...and over a phone, no less. That is truly astounding.

If you don't accept texts, then how am I supposed to get you a copy of my proof of treatment? I have CamScanner and could send you a very clean pic of the form, but I don't know how to speak the image over the phone to your ear, or how you would take that sound and print out an image.

I've never called out for my back, fyi, but I wonder how it would sound if I did.

The kind of people I'm used to working for don't like to deal with bull****. If you have a problem, ok, if you don't have a problem, they'd rather mail you your last check so they don't even have to look at you, and forget about talking to you.

I'm sorry did you say something, I couldn't hear you?

 

[Green Balls]

I think it's very disrespectful to text your boss when you're taking the day off. It's also unfair to the people who don't have cell phones since they would have to call. I'm old fashioned in that sense, but I remember a time when people not only got fired for texting the day off, they were the laughing stock of the office.

 

[Jerry]

I think it's very disrespectful to text your boss when you're taking the day off. It's also unfair to the people who don't have cell phones since they would have to call. I'm old fashioned in that sense, but I remember a time when people not only got fired for texting the day off, they were the laughing stock of the office.

Who are these people who don't have a cell phone? And how would you expect them to make a call?

 

[Green Balls]

Who are these people who don't have a cell phone? And how would you expect them to make a call?

I don't own a cell phone, but I have a home phone. They still make those you know.

 

[Jerry]

I don't own a cell phone, but I have a home phone. They still make those you know.

What's a "home phone"? I have a people phone, people use it, not homes. You mean your Wifi? Or do you mean you have one of those 'smart-homes' and it will call in for you?

 

[Jerry]

I guess I just don't understand why there should be any kind of generational gap when it comes to modern tech. My Squad leader is 46 and knows more about computers and networking then anyone. Frankly I don't understand why he's an engineer and not in IT or intelligence.

Why the assumption that you're stuck with the tech you grew up with? Why can't you learn as time goes on, it's not like you aren't there when these changes occur. You don't have to identify with the current generation culturally, but these items exist while you are alive and mentally able, so why not adapt?

Does a 60's child truly have nothing to gain from a teen angel music list, or quick access to find parts for a 1963 Chevrolet Impala survivor?