What to Do if You're Called into the Office?

The do's and don'ts if you get called into the office,

Ask for Your Steward: If management calls you into the office, ask for your steward. It’s your right and it’s common sense.

Keep It Simple: Answer management’s questions with clear simple answers. Don’t fall for fishing expeditions.

Don’t Remember? Just Say So. If management asks you about something and you don’t know the details, just say “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember.” The worst thing you can do is to make up a story and give management an excuse to try to discipline you for dishonesty.

File a Grievance: If management gives you a warning letter, talk to your steward and file a grievance. Don’t let them build a case that they can use against you later.

If you’re called into the office, you have more than the right to have your shop steward present.

Your steward has the right to know what the meeting is about and to meet with you to talk before the meeting starts.

You also have a right to take a break during the meeting and talk to your steward privately. Just say you want to go in the hallway and “caucus” with your steward.

Use a caucus to ask questions, to fill your shop steward in on important facts and to get on the same page. That way, you can face management in a united way.

First, do not refuse to take a test! You can be discharged for refusing to take the test and that is nearly impossible to overcome.

Have your steward find out why the test is being given, i.e. is it random, post-accident, or “reasonable cause”.

If it is reasonable cause testing, your shop steward should find out which supervisor observed your behavior, when they were trained in this, and what the specific behavior in question is.

The longer you wait the more you allow the company to claim the injury took place off the job and you could be denied workers’ compensation.

If management tries to discourage you in any way from reporting the injury, or retaliates against you for reporting an injury, contact Local 701 immediately.

Call an ambulance if you need to. Do not hesitate to leave the job if necessary, but make sure you inform your supervisor. If you go to the doctor after your injury, let your doctor know it is a work-related injury.

If you or someone else is injured, call for medical attention. Then, let your Steward know right away so he/she can advise you.

 If you believe you were injured as a result of the accident, contact a workers' compensation representative.

After you’ve notified management, take pictures, and be sure to write down the location and time of the accident, personal information of others involved and any other details.

Important information includes:

• Name

• Driver’s license

• Vehicle license plate and registration

• Year, color, make and model of any other vehicles involved

• Insurance information

Don't Leave the Scene of the Accident

It is against the law to leave the scene of an accident until after the police have arrived. When it comes to breaking the law or listening to a rogue supervisor that says to keep delivering, make the smart choice!

If only the company vehicle is damaged, it is safe to drive, and a supervisor instructs you to continue to do deliveries, and then write down what you are told with the time, date, and name of the supervisor.