Workers in Texas told to use vacation time for lost pay from storm: report

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill


BY JOSEPH CHOI - 02/23/21 12:40 PM EST

Dozens of employers in Texas have told workers who were unable to come in to work due to the extreme winter weather last week that they must either consider the lost days as vacation days or go without pay, the Daily Beast reports.

It said that the businesses that have given such directions include aerospace manufacturer Bell Textron Inc., BAE Systems and United Ag & Turf, which has 53 locations in the U.S..

“Employees who are unable to fully dedicate their time and attention to company business due to current conditions should use available PTO, vacation, or holiday flex time if they wish to be paid for today,” an email from a Bell executive obtained by the Daily Beast read.

“Otherwise, employees who do not have any remaining PTO, vacation, or holiday flex time or do not wish to use their unused PTO, vacation, or holiday flex time will not be paid for today.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/540074-texas-employees-told-to-use-vacation-time-if-they-want-pay-for-time-lost

[underpants]

1. I used to work at a place that did this.

They call a snow day and then we’d have to take time or lose money. Evil nasty people. I got the hell out of there.

[NCjack]

2. In non-union shops, expect wages to be reduced in Texas.

[Thomas Hurt]

3. my company allowed us to charge it off to an emergency code but they paid me for the down time

[Dustlawyer]

4. The corporate overlords say no!

We really do need to help unions make a come back.

[Magoo48]

15. Yes.

Every worker in America deserves the protection of a strong union until such time when all business is employee owned and operated.

The rampant greed of vulture, extraction capitalism never fails to repulse.

[Magoo48]

16. Yes.

Every worker in America deserves the protection of a strong union until such time when all business is employee owned and operated.

The rampant greed of vulture, extraction capitalism never fails to repulse.

[al bupp]

5. That'll be sure to improve employee morale /nt

[twodogsbarking]

6. The employee beatings will continue until morale improves.

One of my favorites.

[cannabis_flower]

7. I don't think....

I'm going to be paid for the 3 days I was out for the storm. And my husband is still out. No electricity at his shop.

[soothsayer]

8. Those places doing government contract work don't have the overhead to cover these things

...and still pay the partners handsomely

[Blue Owl]

9. Wow, what a coincidence...

I was planning on spending my vacation in a sub-freezing place with no heat or electricity anyways!

[ananda]

11. Glad you made it through.

I'd like to see some class action lawsuits against
the Reeps and the energy sector.

[johnnyfins]

10. A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket...

...everytime the unregulated Texas energy grid and Texas Government fails its customers/constituents during a weather/climate emergency

[BadgerKid]

12. We had to do this for Covid

Hours were officially cut, but we were given the option to supplement to full-time using vacation time.

[LiberalArkie]

13. Unless the company closes the location due to whatever, it is your responsibility to make it to work

The last job I had was pretty good about closing the campus if the ice or snow was going to be bad. If they did we were paid for the time off.

[cannabis_flower]

23. My location

Is at home on a computer - no internet, no electricity, no work.

[LiberalArkie]

25. N drive either.

[Runningdawg]

14. It's a good thing we don't live in TX

Hubby was forced to use his vacation time for quarantine TWICE. Mainly because protocols are not being enforced at his University. Add to that, at the height or the winter storm when power and water companies were telling us to shut down everything to preserve the grid, Tulsa University and OKC Thunder BOTH held games in 135K+ arenas that were fully heated and EMPTY.

[dalton99a]

17. Kick

[LittleGirl]

18. Lincoln freed the slaves! eom

[turbinetree]

19. How's that Right To Work For Less State going now .............

just adding more insult to more injury ...................

[COL Mustard]

20. These Companies Better Not Get Any PPP Loans

Or have gotten them last time.

[riversedge]

21. Company moral will do down. Do the CEO's care? prob. not. workers are expendable.

I am in a not so good mood today and things like this really get to me.

[Mr.Bill]

22. I've never worked anywhere that would pay me

if I didn't show up due to weather.

[OldBaldy1701E]

24. Story Time

So, I used to work in Land Surveying. Now for those people who may not know about this profession, it requires using precision equipment. This equipment, at least back in the day, does not like being wet. So, we had 'weather days' when we would get precipitation of any kind. We were paid for a half day, but you still had to show up at the office to get it, even if we usually left in like 20-30 minutes. Now, the main piece of precision equipment we had was the surveying theodolite, or instrument. (We would usually call it 'the gun'). These things cost plenty. They cost plenty to repair. Therefore, one does not endanger the instrument. So, in bad weather, we got a (half) paid day off. Well, one day a few of our survey chiefs went to a seminar where they were shown the newest survey instruments by Leica. The rep stood in front of the assemblage and said, "Before we go any further, I want to show you all this first thing!" He then took the instrument sitting on the table in front of him and walked over to a large barrel of water. He then proceeded to dunk the instrument into the barrel, even swishing it around. "This instrument is completely waterproof!" The chief that usually worked with me leaned over to the other guy he was with and whispered, "We are not going to tell Hal (the boss/owner of the company) about that part."

[Jimvanhise]

26. VACATION ALL I EVER WANTED. . .

Yes, because when someone goes on vacation they want to sit in an unheated dwelling, huddled together with no electricity. It gives new meaning to STAYCATION. Leave it to businesses to figure out a way to make a bad situation worse.