I know they were scared to lose their livelihoods but there’s no way my job could have that level of control over me. ” Sorry fuckfaces but biblical stuff is happening outside, I’m out”
I’m wondering how many missed the chance to stand up for themselves, saw it coming, saw it pass, and knew it.
Something similar happened to me in the 2019 Australian bushfires.
All official advice when I left that morning was that we were safe to continue operating. I worked at a food bank so I considered my job essential. That afternoon, The wind changed, the humidity dropped, the official advice was updated, and my managers immediately shut the centre down. The immediate evacuationoffered me to order came in, it was now or never.
People started leaving. I had 3 underage interns with me, who’s parents were on their way to come pick them up.
I kept looking outside thinking to myself “how the fuck am I going to getting home? And then what? My house is at risk too, it’s too late for a real evacuation, I’m probably safer here with some water and wool blankets”.
I had to an evacuation plan. I even had an evacuation plan assuming I was at work when the time to leave hit. Those plans hinged on me leaving as soon as the order can in, or preferably before.
What I never had was a plan to leave if I had someone stuck in my duty of care and couldn’t take them with me. My conscience was not prepared to leave teenagers alone in a warehouse on fire, and in that moment I acknowledged I might die from this choice.
When the final parent came up pick them up, I was lucky, they had an empty seat in their car so I explained my situation and got in.
They offered to drop me at home, but again, what would I do differently at home other than burn in my own house instead of a warehouse. So we just kept driving.
My manager was pissed when she heard I’d stayed back so late, she told me I should have started jogging as soon as everyone else got in their cars. Ah, hindsight. She asked if I was seriously willing to die for my job… Not my job, but the people I have a duty of care for, sure. my first job was a picu candystriper, we were taught how to fill our pockets with babies in case of a fire, you don’t leave the burning hospital alone. That’s hard to unwire to develop an every man for himself attitude.
Edit: I think my screen reader and text to speech software is inserting random words in the sentences, I’ve been trying to edit them out but as I edit more keep appearing but I’m not sure if it’s visible in the text or if it’s an audio glitch, sorry.
I would rather risk homelessness and starvation rather than drowning. If the water around the place I am is rising I am going to get to safety. Full stop. No job is worth risking my life for.
I understand what you’re saying, but at the end of the day if you are dead, nothing else matters.
I know they were scared to lose their livelihoods but there’s no way my job could have that level of control over me. ” Sorry fuckfaces but biblical stuff is happening outside, I’m out”
I’m wondering how many missed the chance to stand up for themselves, saw it coming, saw it pass, and knew it.
Something similar happened to me in the 2019 Australian bushfires.
All official advice when I left that morning was that we were safe to continue operating. I worked at a food bank so I considered my job essential. That afternoon, The wind changed, the humidity dropped, the official advice was updated, and my managers immediately shut the centre down. The immediate evacuationoffered me to order came in, it was now or never.
People started leaving. I had 3 underage interns with me, who’s parents were on their way to come pick them up.
I kept looking outside thinking to myself “how the fuck am I going to getting home? And then what? My house is at risk too, it’s too late for a real evacuation, I’m probably safer here with some water and wool blankets”.
I had to an evacuation plan. I even had an evacuation plan assuming I was at work when the time to leave hit. Those plans hinged on me leaving as soon as the order can in, or preferably before.
What I never had was a plan to leave if I had someone stuck in my duty of care and couldn’t take them with me. My conscience was not prepared to leave teenagers alone in a warehouse on fire, and in that moment I acknowledged I might die from this choice.
When the final parent came up pick them up, I was lucky, they had an empty seat in their car so I explained my situation and got in.
They offered to drop me at home, but again, what would I do differently at home other than burn in my own house instead of a warehouse. So we just kept driving.
My manager was pissed when she heard I’d stayed back so late, she told me I should have started jogging as soon as everyone else got in their cars. Ah, hindsight. She asked if I was seriously willing to die for my job… Not my job, but the people I have a duty of care for, sure. my first job was a picu candystriper, we were taught how to fill our pockets with babies in case of a fire, you don’t leave the burning hospital alone. That’s hard to unwire to develop an every man for himself attitude.
Edit: I think my screen reader and text to speech software is inserting random words in the sentences, I’ve been trying to edit them out but as I edit more keep appearing but I’m not sure if it’s visible in the text or if it’s an audio glitch, sorry.
How many times in your life have you been without a meal for an entire day because you couldn’t afford one? Ever been without a place to live?
More times than I can die that’s for sure.
If you don’t leave the building you will not be having any more meals ever again.
Good news! You also don’t need to worry about rent!
I would rather risk homelessness and starvation rather than drowning. If the water around the place I am is rising I am going to get to safety. Full stop. No job is worth risking my life for.
I understand what you’re saying, but at the end of the day if you are dead, nothing else matters.
You’d be without many meals if you died in a flood.
Good thing preventing employees from leaving the building is illegal.
Good luck fighting my unemployment when I tell them I got fired for keeping myself safe in a natural disaster.
Most of them were probably more worried about missing the day of pay.
Yes and yes. And now I don’t rely on untrustworthy businesses for my paycheque. It’s not worth the risk.
Have you ever been dead? Your argument sounds exactly like my question.
I could go without for a day… but if I had dependents, I’d be worried for not just the day, but every day after that too
Yeah, and you might get fired and miss rent, daycare, car payment.
None of those worries now though.
Hindsight is something something.