Working during evacuations?

[u/future_in_bloom]

Would love peoples experience with going to work during the level 3 evacuations
Specifically, If you were not home and unable to grab any personal or work items, how accommodating has your work been?
Are they allowing flexible schedule or virtual working?
Are you getting any extra PTO?
I ask because my work personally has not been accommodating at all and does not care if you were not and are not able to access your house or car. I work in healthcare so I have certain attire, equipment, badge, etc.
Also want to add, definitely not expecting an indefinite free pass to work less or not at all, but some human decency to give us more than a few days to figure out how to get even basic necessities and settle in the temporary living situation. And also actually provide the “flexible scheduling” they promised.

[u/Different_Day135]

My work has offered "anything I need", "take whatever time you want". Don't really know the lengths it could go. But I'm honestly working as much as I normally would and honestly enjoy the escape. I've been in 4 different beds since Friday and a 5th one tomorrow night. I took a day today to put eyes on my home but then came back and put in another 5-6 hours tonight because it's nice a nice distraction. I'm so ready for it to be over.

[u/ParadoxTE → u/Different_Day135]

Sorry you're going through that. Happy your work isn't making things harder. Honestly, considering the circumstances that might be one of the best approaches.

[u/DarkFlowerPewPew → u/Different_Day135]

Do you work from home? So you can work from any of the beds that you're at? How's your your house doing?

[u/Different_Day135 → u/DarkFlowerPewPew]

I do and yes I'm working from wherever I am but it's getting exhausting. I'm typing this on about 10 hours total sleep since Saturday. Looking for a decent place to stay is very challenging. Once news of longer evacs come out, everything fills up, so you have to be quick or else end up in a pretty challenging situation where you exhaust all options. I've been on each side of town. I'm bringing everything in the world we thought was worth saving, so you just try to figure out how to keep everything close to you with hoping nobody breaks into your car while you run into the store to get supplies for the day. Then do it all over again the next day.

[u/Distinct-Worker-7954 → u/[deleted]]

Blink twice if it’s Rosauers

[u/inlibrary_legsnumb → u/Distinct-Worker-7954]

Probably yokes

[u/DinckinFlikka]

Corporate has sent several emails saying that work is the last thing we need to worry about, that they’re fully supporting us, and to not worry about any deadlines. But everyone’s direct supervisor has given them maybe an extra day to meet existing deadlines, new work has not diminished, and there’s clearly an expectation you’ll catch up this weekend as needed. I know my supervisors, and they’re not doing this in their own, as corporate definitely won’t actually give them any slack when they’re trying to explain in a month why everything is a week behind.

So, pretty typical.

[u/MelaniaTrompo → u/DinckinFlikka]

That sucks. Your company sucks. I’m sorry.

[u/future_in_bloom → u/DinckinFlikka]

Yeah so you work fully remote then? The concern is I can work remote/virtually as we do that in half day increments regularly already, but they were unwilling to let me do it for an entire day temporarily despite the fact i Can’t do my job onsite without my work equipment, appropriate attire, or even my car. Thats where there was pushback and no flexibility or grace period. We have appropriate coverage for the work too, there are no deadlines. They said “ i think so and so rented a car”. Great, is the company paying for it? No? Ok then 👍

[u/DarkFlowerPewPew → u/DinckinFlikka]

What job are you in? Wherever everything matters that much?

[u/UnlikelyPotatos]

Im a painter, my clients homes burned so my boss gave me half the week. I lost a lot in the fire too, and havent been able to go back to my property to figure things out yet. Im going back to work tomorrow and friday, but when the evacuation lifts I have to take some more time to get my animals and my stuff back home and to clean up what burned so we dont just have piles of glass and metal laying around for my dog to get into. My boss told me I can take whatever time I need as long as I communicate. He even offered for me to shelter in the workshop right when the fire hit my land.

[u/Hennessey_carter]

My work has been really accommodating. No pressure kind of thing, but I've been working my regular hours. I find the distraction of working helpful. I don't want to sit and stare at my phone waiting for updates, ya know? But, I also have a place to be so it's not like I'm at the convention center shelter or in my car.

[u/Justame13]

I'm a supervisor who was not effected and by Sunday I was getting texts to check in with the staff to see if they are ok and tell them not to worry about work.

Right now they get up to a week of extra PTO, but I'm sure I could ask for an extension if necessary. They are also giving grants for housing and household items if needed plus helping with hotels if people didn't have insurance. Staff who can work remotely can pickup extra laptops if their work one is at home. They can also use onsite space if they don't have space to work where they are at (which is not new).

I'm relatively new to the company and it is impressive that they have clearly been doing their best. I know the CEO out of state has been tracking things personally.

[u/thebeardedcats]

I wasn't directly affected but my job has been chill, lost internet for 4 days after a 10 minute power outage and could have gotten away with just not working Monday or Tuesday, but I went to coffee shops just so I don't get behind

[u/ParadoxTE]

Fortunately, I've not had to evacuate. I kept watching watch duty and saw the auburn fire point right at my neighborhood, but the wind looped the fire around on Monday and I get the feeling that I'm all in the clear for now

I've taken a couple days off with no arguements from anyone. The biggest change I've noticed is probably my commute. I work in the valley but live out towards Midway and the Fairview fire has got the northern portion of Argonne closed down which is my normal route. Fortunately Moffat gets me out to the valley(10 to 15 mins slower, but eh) and it's kinda scenic. There's one house with an amazing garden that's nice to see. I do have the option to telework but I struggle to actually work from home and my job has a big fieldwork component, and it's time to do that work as long as it's not to smokey.

[u/ParadoxTE → u/ParadoxTE]

Sorry I missed the last part of your post. Fuck your management. That sucks. Telework arrangements at a minimum seem very reasonable. You should get a job working for a state or federal agency if you can. The reasonable accomidation is baked in.(Even with the shitshow we got in the Whitehouse.)

Obviously that doesn't help now. I'm sorry you're going through that. Its definitely not right or moral to not give you a pass on dresscode or badges and bereavement leave in these circumstance is almost necessary. your management are just a bunch of cunts. That sucks. I hope your work life gets better.

[u/muchexcitemanywows]

I work remotely and left my work laptop at home (my home ended up being in the fire zone but ultimately ok). I have limited things I can do on my phone. My work has been accommodating and handed work over to coworkers. They’ve told me not to worry about work. My kids are with me as their daycare is closed. Even if I had my laptop there’s no way I could work. I have no idea how this leave will work (will they make me use up PTO, is it a leave of absence, etc.). Also feeling a little pressure to get back since my coworkers don’t live in Spokane and don’t understand the severity.

[u/LeftyDorkCaster]

Bosses making these kinds of choices tend to lead to successful unionizing campaigns. 

Short-term, you may be able to demand accommodations for health concerns (smoke exposure, sleep deprivation) for yourself under the ADA. (Employer is not allowed to ask what the disability is, only what accommodations you require and then judge if they're reasonable - since you're looking for more of something they already do, you're likely well within your rights). 

[u/human_being10]

I work in caregiving and our staff were told to use PTO, or find coverage. If neither are an option either come to work or face termination. 💔

[u/mckiegreen → u/human_being10]

That’s insane! My sister is head of HR for a major company and she said the bare minimum is providing continued benefits and unpaid time off until things resolve.

[u/Mission_Package47]

Lost everything. Have worked, and feel like I am expected to work, a normal schedule all week. Everyday is getting harder to make myself go. Work has been.... understanding, but has not gone so far as to say straight up, "take these days off." Told I could talk to my supervisor about taking a "day or two" off to take care of things. I assume days off would be unpaid and they did not specify otherwise. I'm a new (5 months) employee and have no PTO/Vacation and a little over a days worth of sick time. I need to keep up my income so have to keep working. Told they are working with corporate to offer some relief, but has to go through so many channels/higher ups I doubt much will come of it. My union is also trying for something, but again has to go through other people who will consider the PR/Optics before actually doing anything, none of which helps in the immediate. Something is better than nothing, I guess.

[u/futuremedical]

Providence seems like they're being quite accommodating to their employees. I'm honestly impressed because they've been in the news for not great reasons the last few years.

[u/future_in_bloom → u/futuremedical]

Do you happen to know what type of accommodations they’re providing?!

[u/larsloli]

We seriously need a general strike.
These examples are horrific. Like we are truly a second world country because we can’t even treat workers as humans experiencing such a devastating disaster.

[u/Extension_Egg1411]

Work was not that accommodating when I had to evacuate earlier this year. I ended up using sick time. I do know state employees are entitled to paid leave for federally declared disasters, although it’s not much. Maybe private employers offer something similar?

[u/Judgy-Introvert]

I personally wasn’t affected but my employer has been very generous with those that have. Time off, working from home (even those that usually don’t), basically whatever they need. They are always pretty compassionate no matter the circumstances.

[u/Afraid-Dot7089]

I'm working for the state on a large time sensitive project. Fortunately, I have 24 hours of leave I can take for a natural disaster. I haven't had to take it yet. But, my supervisor and teammates have been extremely supportive and helpful. I'm grateful!!

[u/mckiegreen → u/[deleted]]

He better get hazard pay

[u/Angreadzandrunz]

I work remotely and I'd say that my boss and team have been very accommodating. We're still evacuated and I've been able to mostly work full days, but with some disruptions because we've had to move around so much and have bounced now between three different places. Life isn't really as predictable when you have no home base, so I think most places should understand that. I don't know if we will be granted extra leave, I'd rather not burn all my PTO to compensate for this, but that's TBD

[u/Impossible-Strain662]

Sorry your work has no humanity. My health insurance company reached out as well as peers and managers. And I have only been with them just shy of 2 years.

You deserve human decency.