Theres no need for public participation. I hope she takes option #4. See you in hell. Reading your letter, I immediately jumped to the call out sick recommendation. And the best part is that no onedoubts them a pinchbecause they all sound so real, dont they? Some people either dont want any gun laws modified as they think that is the start of taking away all gun rights and also now there is such hatred for the political partyso their representatives vote against it. Your email address is only used to send you NTRW updates. Telling David a massive no straight to his face will come across as rude and will likely hurt his feelings in the process. Seriously, I dont understand how it goes for seven hours. I would argue that children shouldnt be doing these drills, either, and everyones time would be better spent working on reducing shootings overall. Hey [Name], sorry I can't make your party tonight. Our population is very low-functioning, so having them do an active shooter run-hide-fight type of drill is pointless. Get the paperwork in place for legal accommodations. Id call in sick. Those chatty folks? Here are some tips: There isnt a traditional HR department here, and this is an office where were really subject to the dictates of our boss. Less than perfectly shiny styled hair is practically a sign of leprosy. But the elderly retired people didnt evacuate, even the ones who can do stairs. Nope, apparently were supposed to magically ignore our actual needs as well as whether you can actually do any of this running and hiding in the building/area we work in. Most mass shootings happen at schools or venues where there are a lot of people because the shooter wants notoriety. The kids at that school KNEW A SHOOTING COULD HAPPEN. The US is particularly bad because of its gun laws. Since its not one ofthefrequently used excuses, people are most likely to fall for it. Another pro-tip for basic make up: if you want to pick out a lipstick/tinted lip balm that will look good on you, apply the sample to the tip of your middle finger then pinch your finger just above the first knuckle. Many of us work in professions where we are obliged to work on the weekend, and there are some benefits to weekend work such as higher pay, and more freedom from your boss. I really hope this changes some day in the US. And a huge waste of time too. They dont have to be genuine for you. As a teacher I participated in lockdown drills and in ALICE training, which is the run-hide-fight style that I guess is more popular now, rather than the hide-and-lock-the-door style we used to do. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Because lets be honest, who does not want to have a hot mug of coffee on the terrace while watching the rain pouring onto the glass of your windows, making a thud sound and yet so calming? Ive been through multiple safety courses (as in, semester long professional courses, not one-day training) and I still froze with a phone in my hand the one time I had to do it for real. This LW has done THIS TYPE of drill so has met her obligation and should have no guilt or issue dropping out of this particular drill. In fact, many units have had to cancel their Drill Weekends due to budget cuts and other constraints. Or worse, maybe they know its going to happen sometime between those seven hours, but not when. One time my office decided to do an escape room as a team bonding exercise. Can confirm, this works well. Please take a sick day, or do whatever else you need to do to take care of yourself. Ive seen it enough years that I opted to just skip past the video in this years training module. I think Alisons advice is really good. This training is insufficient for that goal but its not worthless. So better use that if its the 20th or later of the month. 4. Id been through a training so I found the safest (not safe, safest) spot in the room and went to it. Yeah, hes insensitive and unempathetic. Nope. The babysitter just called and told me she c. nt make it today Thats all you need to say to them. Heck, I would probably nope out of any training that long, regardless of topic. * I am at a loss as to how any sort of effective drill could possibly take that long. That makes OP the expert here, and Im sorry OPs boss doesnt respect that. I am not sure I would have managed to remain calm if I hadnt already considered what would likely be going on, if there was a robbery. Hide in your house or go to goat yoga or whatever helps you. **Several other events over a long time including the loss of a police officer in the line of duty at a traffic stop at the organization, a murder at the organization, a supervisor I knew dealing with a suicidal worker (despite all of his training, I had to order him to inform the police) and many false alarms. Asking the host for a favor right before they are, holding a party is going to result in your favor. How are you doing? She looked at me and said I went to Columbine High School. I can still feel the bottom dropping out of my stomach. You are attending a religious event 4. The only practical thing you can do is prepare for the world you live in. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Failure to call before you miss your drill weekend or immediately thereafter is considered an unexcused absence by the military. Id call in sick the day before as well better cover story. Yes. Hi there! I work in emergency management and these drills are NOT helpful nor necessary for the public. Oddly enough I think my boss would have been receptive to the OPs situation and absolutely understood if an active shooter drill was too much for some people but she would have never understood my objection to the mandatory fun (which she was super excited about). There is not a single f***king thing funny about suggesting you would direct the shooter to kill someone else. Id either lean into something genuine and chronic (back pain? To enhance the dramatic effect, you can fill up your voice with tears and can have a catharsis you were longing for. Im so sorry for what you went through, Doc of the Town. And if that fool makes another joke, look him in the face and say Did you just try to joke about me being murdered to save yourself? There is no generational excuse. I bet some dudebro with delusions of heroism thinks it is a cool idea. 1) Get enough sleep the night before. Seven hours with comfortable clothing can only mean a drill that could be appropriate for law enforcement to have the muscle memory of what to do and where to go. I didnt want to go to the active shooter training (not a drill, a presentation) but went anyway to be a team player. The peak factor was approaching 4.5 or I couldnt find a single driver in my area will work. Seven hour long training/drill? And I am of the generation that didnt have mass events constantly, Im 51. I was lucky enough not to have to go through them, although they do make us watch online training videos at my job now once per year. From my vantage point at the organ console, there are no close exits; so should I hide behind the console, trapped in a corner?? The idea that active shooter training is effective at reducing deaths and injuries in the event of a real active shooter is not. To use this excuse, you need to make a story of how awful that. This letter-writer already knows the most common-sense run-fight-hide advice. The day she got back to the office, there was news of multiple mass shootings in the States and she was so unaffected. *sounds like a mass-shooter drill from the jokes the boss is making. As it is a work emergency,no one is going to know that you are bluffing. Know both your annual drill schedule and your college course schedule. I think its 100% okay to stonewall/lie/be vague about your symptoms to protect your privacy if your boss pushes back. Every person is different, and in the LW case I would agree she has done active shooter drills, so her choice to do something to avoid and additional drill of this type (talk to mgmt or call sick, I have my opinion but irrelevant to her choice). The storeroom was in the basement, where the ceiling was low enough for me to reach without standing on tiptoe. But as long as we expect children to go through this, we adults need to also, dont we? Im not sure I agree with Hes a nice person.. A few days after the drill, I heard from a coworker that several faculty were sitting together in a conference room with the door open. OP, feel free to call out sick. I definitely think Id go the call in sick route. My father came close to being blown up in the Marks and Sparks Paris bombing. It just so happened that these frequencies were what the Coast Guard were using. If its that sort of training day, it would be way more involved the typical quick drill or watch Run/Hide/Fight theyd be going over all the logistics, what processes to set up to prevent it, etc. A few years back someone actually did bring a gun into our building, attempting to commit suicide by cop. We were located in an area where street violence was a significant risk. That is egregious and worth taking seriously imo. Id like to nominate this man for worst boss of the year for this sentence ALONE. Follow Alisons advice to talk to someone above her. Weekends are usually the time when we schedule important family gatherings like weddings, christenings, birthday parties, and anniversary get-togethers. CLICK HERE to get your copy of Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come from Book Depository. But looking back, that was not normal. Jenna Guillaume, 9 Foolproof Excuses To Get Out Of Your Weekend Plans, All The Funniest Reactions To Facebook And Instagram Shutting Down For Six Hours, Dominic Perrottet Is Officially NSWs New Premier So Heres Everything You Need To Know, All The Hidden Clues In Squid Game That Pointed To That Twist Ending, All The Best Squid Game Memes For Those Still Reeling After That Twist Ending, Everyones Crying Over Adams Poem From Season 3 Of Sex Education, Heres The Correct Way To Binge The Marvel Cinematic Universe In Chronological Order. A good excuse to tell your boss not to work on the weekends is an excuse that is socially acceptable and relatable. Uggggghhhh. Even seasoned writers need a helping hand at times, thats why we trust Grammarly Premium. Updated: Monday, March 20, 2017. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 34% of people work on the weekend. Before starting this site, A.C. has 10+ years of experience as management professional in a Fortune 500 Company. They are known to induce anxiety in participants, and theres no evidence that they really help much if you find yourself in an actual active shooter situation. What action should OP expect to be taken, as a result of this call? Shortly after this, one of the fire stairwells smelled like dead rat. How are those guys SO obvious, and yet everyone still keeps believing them when they say theyre not Nazis? As someone whos been in pretty much that exact situation, your 2-for-1 euthanasia comment made me CACKLE. Im sorry you have personal experience with this. Our local high did one that lasted several hours. also, to clarify, it needs to be an employment lawyer. The first time the drill happened, even knowing in advance, I had a breakdown and had to ask my Dean to leave for the day in tears (she knows my history with this topic). This place does not sound like. Because when you get out of working on the weekends, someone else will take your place. I literally had a panic attack and left. So,I am going out on dinner with him. Its probably an insurance thing. If theres a way you can make a suggestion for future years, our district moved to virtual trainings that we now have the ability to complete over the summer on our own time. Rush inside? I hope theyve fixed things since Katrina: that was four years after New York had similar problems during 9/11 with the police and fire departments not being able to communicate because they were using different frequencies. The active shooter training was a short part of the overall agenda. Ive been doing lockdown drills since kindergarten, which changed to explicit active shooter drills when I was 11. Now, were reminded at church that in the event of an active shooter, there are three options, in order of preference: 1) RUN! 3) Find a friend to talk to during drill. Last time, it was 7 AM and only about 10% of the tenants evacuated. (That said, I worked at Planned Parenthood and we had bomb scares, which I know isnt the same but was pretty creepy until we realized it was the same wingnut calling in the threats from hundreds of miles away.). Im so sorry. But I like a little theatre. Also if this bunghole tries to make you feel weak for not being up for it, remember that standing up to him is a strong choice in itself. Your sporting team is playing in the finals. That said, there is a little bit of the risk involved because either y, ou will end up making them feel bad or you. Literally every soldier here has multiple stories they can tell similar to this. Understanding how to tell your boss you are not working on weekends professionally can help you to say no, with confidence and courtesy. they understand that all you need to do is stay in bed (and watch a movie you just bought). Add to the fact that you shouldn't be U'ed if the SM provided a valid excuse. Thats a totally reasonable length for something so complicated and so intertwined with our everyday work, especially where we may be needed to provide specialized assistance to professional EMS/Fire personnel who have less experience with the particular hazards involved. Ugh I feel for this OP. Well I thought a good excuse would be to call in sick which I did. He remembers Columbine and Virginia Tech and Aurora and Sandyhook and Parkland and Pulse . Im sure your guests wouldnt want me coming and spreading the germs anyway! I appreciate that my kiddos school practices emergency in a general sensehere are our hiding spots, could be something weather related or physical security related. Finally we learned they had just been required to offer an active shooter training by their insurance. Id call in sick, but if I felt thered be any room or worry about grief Id schedule a doctors appointment for that day in advance to get some kind of note related to headaches, gastric distress, bad allergies or any other kind of generic ailment that could be having a flair-up. Plus,no one wants to hear the details. You need to see that your fear is that a single instance will make you one of the people he isnt nice to, and that is terrifying. Call in sick and dont ever apologize for it. Teachers arent allowed to opt out. I like Alisons phrasing for what to say to your boss, it doesnt necessarily imply mental health issues, just that you have a past experience that makes this too close to home. Unless a midterm or final is involved, college is not an excuse or missing drill. We highly recommend these tried-and-tested tools: The Elegant Themes membership gives you complete access to 87 amazing themes and 3 awesome plugins, including Divi, the ultimate WordPress Theme and Visual Page builder. See, thats what I wonder about. And, even calling 911 can be difficult in a real emergency. It turned out nobody really cared that I wasnt able to make it to the training and nobody mentioned it ever again so hopefully your absence will be a non-issue. I hope you are able to easily opt out, OP. Thats such a heartbreaking thing to hear and yet, I understand why shes thinking about it. But there are ways to make it better. When you miss nine drill weekends in 12 months without contacting your commander or the Navy Operational Support Center to which you report, your commanding officer can declare your . Take care of yourself! But I watched the required active shooter training video so I guess thats all I need <- sarcasm/ Oof. But since I am pretty much exhausted, I dont need anything more than my bed and a day, sleep. Its much, much better. You have a family emergency. I have to do the Run, Hide, Fight video at work. Except the trainings are ongoing so new employees can take them and so we keep getting emails. Weve had some real fires, but unless the sprinkler system fails, the building will just flood instead of burning down. We have not been told the training is mandatory, but when I asked my boss and expressed some preliminary discomfort, he said we all need to participate. Most of the employees on campus did not directly participate, but many of us had to complete a very very long online training. Yes, I reject the idea that the boss is a nice person. I understand that gallows humor is a thing. As everything that could go wrong did go wrong, they ended up doing a whole a lot more than IT as it basically became an all hands on deck situation. When my grandkid was 5 their school was involved with an active shooter, luckily, it was resolved fairly quickly, but thinking about how it could have happened still makes me shake. Active shooter drills and lockdown drills are one of the few that my kids take seriously. Do they also do a seven hour fire prevention and response class? While I was there no one was ever hurt, and no one brought a weapon onto the property (one person was once apprehended with a weapon in the parking lot by police while trying to come in), but the callousness of upper-management was galling. CLICK HERE to get your copy from Book Depository. I think Im about same age as you. Heck see if you can schedule an appointment JUST FOR THAT DAY. To effectively use these excuses, avoid any unnecessary long details. A study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that in 2015, approximately 25% of adults regularly played sports. Tell them how you were all dressed up for this party,butat the last moment,youfoundoutthat your car tireispunctured. Are you prepared to weave this story into conversations for the next few months to cement its accuracy? Im so sorry to hear about the stomach bug you got the day of this drill. I ended up going through orientation like four times, and in later ones I just stepped out of the room for that part. The only way to conquer your fear is to face it. This goes on your permanent military record and can affect your career negatively. My parent had been at FEMA for a minute & half before being sent to Katrina to provide IT support.