My wife’s 72-year-old brother was “written up” at work recently [View all]

[KansDem]

Last Monday, my wife and I went to her family’s annual holiday get-together. While we were exchanging gifts and partaking of holiday treats, I learned that my wife’s 72-year-old brother was “written up” for falling asleep on the job.

Now, a little history—He spent his younger and middle years as a famer helping his dad on the family farm. At one point during the mid-1970s, the farm was sold due to his dad’s growing back problems and to pay off debt accrued over the decades. The brother then went to work in a series of odd jobs like bartending. He managed to land a decent job as a security officer for a local company and worked there for many years. His main responsibility required him to work out of a small, windowed office at the company’s entrance gate where he checked drivers in and out of the plant as well as monitor the plant’s security cameras. So he spent the bulk of his time chatting with truck drivers and other customers while watching a few TV screens.

Well, that business folded so he moved on. I don’t know how many jobs he had but he now works as a security officer for a company that, in his own words, doesn't treat its employees very well—at least not a well as his previous job at the plant.

He works "9 to 5"—that is 9pm to 5am. He doesn't have the camaraderie that his job at the plant had—there is no one to really visit with. He sits at a desk and monitors several security cameras. I don’t know if he makes rounds but it sounded like he mostly sits and watches TV screens.

Recently during his shift, he fell asleep and was discovered. This resulted in his being “written up.” Two more “write ups” and he’s fired. But really, how many of us half his age could watch security monitors all night long, night after night, without doing the same? Hell, our visit with my wife’s family lasted only about 3 hours and I saw him nod off a couple of times.

He spent the first half of his life as a farmer, and as such, he has no retirement and only a small Social Security stipend to live on. Hence, his need to keep working at age 72.

There should be a stronger safety net for our senior citizens so they won't have to work jobs that tax their physical and mental health during their "golden years."