The prospect of layoffs at my job is looming ever closer, and while I’m trying to take a ‘hope for the best, prepare for the worst’ attitude, its hard not to be bitter sometimes. See, I’m getting boned pretty hard by my low seniority:
For many years, my company has promoted a ‘wellness’ program, that offered resources for stress management and physical fitness. Our facilities are actually much like that of a firefighter’s- a kitchen where you could cook meals, ‘quiet rooms’ where you can rest/take a nap, and even gymnasiums in some cases where you can work out. Ironically enough, most of my coworkers do not make use of these facilities. Even less surprisingly, the majority of my coworkers are overweight or obese.
Recently the CHP has apparently modified their rules for maintaining the medical certification requirements for commercial drivers. They say that if you have a BMI of 33+ you MUST get tested for sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, its likely they will not renew your medical certificate, which means in my line of work you cannot legally do your job. Most of the bus drivers are over 40 and obese to varying degrees- this news has them in a tizzy but what angers me about it is they are whining about how it ‘isn’t fair’ the CHP is doing this to them :smack:
:mad: You know what ‘isn’t fair’ ?! That there will be lay offs, and the people that are getting laid off are mostly the youngest, most physically fit employees. The ones that make the fewest medical claims, get in the least amount of trouble and have the best and most consistent attendence. It gets on my nerves because our company had wellness and preventative programs for YEARS and these folks never acted on it, let their bodies go and now they’re paying the price. But its supposedly ‘not fair’. :rolleyes:
I’m wondering what kind of shithole situation they are going to put themselves in after laying off 20% of the drivers, only to have another 20% not even qualified to do their job leave them even more shorthanded than they already are. While I WISH they would hold off on layoffs until they see what their personell situation in (which would make sense) I have a strong feeling that will not be happening.
Its a shame all of these slobs will have to wait 30 years to see you slim, trim, and physically fit. Then they can realize fully how they’ve squandered their opportunity.
Isn’t this good news for you? The obese people will get cut since they are no longer to able to do their jobs, and you get to Jazzercise your way to success. No?
Well, yeah, in the long run (since I’ll get rehired and these folks will mostly retire off for medical reasons, catapulting my seniority). It just ticks me off now because it won’t save me from getting laid off- had they waited a year there would easily be 30-50 folks who would be retiring or forced to find other jobs because of their medical status which theoretically could save me from getting laid off.
Why are they still going to lay off healthy employees if they are now required to get rid of unhealthy employees? Doesn’t that obviate the need for layoffs?
Ha! That’s not irony. Irony is the workers at my fiancee’s employer, (a human resources outsourcing firm) getting pissed off because their jobs are being outsourced.
**RNATB **- now that is irony you could set to music! Reminds me of a company I know of that outsourced its HR, then went into the HR outsourcing business. Maybe that could be the second stanza.
Incubus, I agree you should look on the bright side. And it not only increases your value to this employer, but to anyone hiring commercial drivers while you are laid off. Plus, fewer drowsy bus drivers is good for us all.
Sure, it would be nice if the timing could work out perfectly, but whover in your HR has to figure out compliance with that new policy plus the layoffs/ budget cuts has their hands full. Just thinking about doing it all in compliance with the various applicable laws and union contracts gives me a headache. And there’s got to be a lot of uncertainty around how many drivers have that BMI, how many of those will test positive for sleep apnea after a fairly expensive, time consuming test, and whether some of them will be able to remediate their sleep apnea.
I have sleep apnea, and it is 100% treatable with a CPAP. I would raise a gigantic stink if I was told I was going to lose my job over it. Is that even legal? If they can do the job they were hired for, this should be completely irrelevant.
Incubus, I hope you don’t get laid off. Really. I’ve been there, and it truly sucks. I feel your pain. However, I do think your anger, at people who are – justifiably, IMO – upset over the prospect of losing their job due to a medical condition, is misplaced. Shouldn’t matter if they’re not as fitness-minded as you are.
I don’t get this at all. Isn’t sleep apnea dangerous only when you’re asleep? Are they worried you’ll stop breathing if you fall asleep at the wheel? What is the rationale here?
(Untreated) sleep apnea sufferers don’t get enough REM sleep even while sleeping (as it were) so they’re something like 8-10 times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel.
If not treated, apnea robs you of a good night’s sleep and you’re tired all day long. (Like RNATB said. :)) Admittedly, not a good thing for someone who drives for a living.
But a simple device can give you that good night’s sleep back. I’m not exaggerating when I say my life changed when I got my CPAP. I get quality rest at night and feel fine all day.
I don’t disagree that the drivers should be tested. But those that do have sleep apnea should be treated, not canned.