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OFFICE OF THE UMPIRE No. C-348 May 10, 1945
Discipline For Absenteeism
GRIEVANCE: Chevrolet-St. Louis—Case C-59 "Protest being laid off when I had a reasonable excuse, asked foreman to be off Oct. 25 or 26, request I be paid for time lost."
Umpire’s Decision: The two-week disciplinary layoff imposed on Employee B. shall be reduced to one week and he shall receive pay for the remaining time lost. Back pay shall be computed in accordance with Paragraph 50 of the National Agreement. (Entire Decision should be read)
In the Matter of: United Automobile Workers of America—C.I.O.—Local 25 and General Motors Corporation—Chevrolet—St. Louis—Case C-59
This grievance concerns the justice of a two-week disciplinary layoff imposed on Employee B., for being absent from work on October 28th without permission and without a reasonable excuse. B. desired to be absent on that day in order to cover an overdraft at his bank, located in a town some 125 miles from St. Louis. From his account of the circumstances, the Umpire concludes that he was reasonable in wishing to be personally present at the bank and that his excuse, had it been properly presented, should have been honored by his Foreman. The Umpire finds from the evidence, however, that in asking his Foreman for permission to be off, B. merely stated that he had to take care of "personal business" without explaining its nature. B.’s prior record of absenteeism was extremely bad, and the Foreman’s disregard of such a vague and general excuse from an habitual absentee was natural. The Umpire can understand B.’s hesitancy to publicize the condition of his bank account. Yet no employee can expect a Foreman to honor an excuse which is not stated, or to understand the urgency of private affairs whose existence and nature are not revealed. As B. absented himself without permission he deserved a penalty. As he did in fact have reasonable grounds for his absence, however, the Umpire believes that the two-week penalty was too severe. He will accordingly direct that B.’s layoff shall be reduced to one week and that B. shall receive pay for the remainder of the time lost.
Decision The two-week disciplinary layoff imposed on Employee B. shall be reduced to one week and he shall receive pay for the remaining time lost. Back pay shall be computed in accordance with Paragraph 50 of the National Agreement. Signed, Ralph T. Seward UMPIRE May 10, 1945. |