Archive through July 18, 2002
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The ClubHouse: General Discussion Archives: Archive Three: Eric in trouble at work!: Archive through July 18, 2002

Realtvfan

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 07:38 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Crossfire.

I'm in agreement with you. I support the chief following the rules. If the chief does not follow the rules based on a violation of the union agreement, the chief loses credibility in the future.

I have no idea what the outcome will be, but the chief has to play by the written rules of the union contract.

I also agree that Eric is responsible for Eric.

Jkm

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 07:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I vaugely remember dad saying -- they had to have emergency numbers at all times. If a major fire broke out and they had to call relief replacemnents - you'd have so much time to report from the phone call.

To be smart, he should have cleared it with the department (in writing) aka leave of absence if he wanted to be sure he had a job to come back to.

Sounds like they discouraged it so he took another route and took his chances. Still think they should wait to disipline him when he's out of the show. Maybe they want to look at hiring a replacement for him -- but have to hold his job until he is terminated. Better to get paperwork started now than wait three more months to hire someone else? who know.

Chiparock

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 07:52 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Maris, my hat is off to you! According to your profile, you are in MD, yet you were able to locate that article in the Groton, CT newspaper. Good job!

Maris

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 07:54 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Google is great, actually I dont live in MD anymore, I relocated a few months ago. But I dont live in Ct.

Creampuff

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 08:04 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hey.......rules are rules. We can look at this and give our opinion as to what 'should' happen but what really matters (to the powers that be) is that they follow the proper guidelines in addressing such a situation. After that, perhaps some thought may be given to making an exception, etc., but I am sure anyone would not want to make a slapstick judgment and jeopardize their position. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Soonergal

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 08:13 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Crossfire, you are right on. Eric chose to leave his life, his job, his responsibilities for months, and in doing so he chose to deal with the consequences. I doubt anyone at BB will tell him of the hearing. That's part of the game, remember? No contact with the outside world. No sabbaticals for hearings or births or wedding showers or piano recitals. So he may lose his job. Well, I'm sure this fact crossed his mind before he signed up for all the weightlifing fun and peanut butter bikinis.

Costacat

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 08:28 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Eric can't possibly have five years on the force; he's a ROOKIE. I agree with whomever said it's probably like five months. (Volunteer fire dept doesn't count in this case.)

I also feel that Eric broke the rules and thus should face the consequences. Yeah, yeah, the Chief is probably blowing things out of proportion. But Groton is not that big (I live in San Diego, but I've visited friends in the Groton/New London area several times -- VERY pretty area, btw), and rules is rules. Firefighters are required to be on call, and that means that you need to provide contact information. In addition, how the heck did Eric think he'd get three months off by switching shifts, and not telling his bosses? Hello?

It will be interesting to see if BB tells him what's happening, and then to see his choice. At that time, we'll find out just how serious he is about his career as a firefighter. Or if he thinks he stands a better chance of making it in LA. (Which, if he stops to think about it, is a slim chance. Have any previous BB HGs become rich 'n famous; not counting the winners, natch)?

Eric should have been honest with his Chief and the dept.

Bastable

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 08:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I think this whole thing smells funny. It seems like the chief wants to get rid of Eric for other reasons, and he's "going by the book" to get it done. Any normal person would be happy for Eric and this unique opportunity.

Think about it. This is his own chief--the man he works with very closely, risking life and limb, night and day. And he won't go to bat for him! That would indicate that there are MUCH deeper issues here. Eric must have been earning the chief's animosity for a long time for this to happen.

There's even a hint of this in the newspaper article when the cheif says there are "personnel" issues he won't reveal because of "privacy" issues. Read between the lines!

I'm convinced Eric was gonna get fired anyway. The chief is just taking his opportunity.

Aloha1961

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 08:37 am EditMoveDeleteIP
i'm sure bb won't tell eric... i bet somewhere in that contract he signed says his outside job is his responsibility to take care of before he goes in the house otherwise bb is not responsible.. cbs isn't that dumb not to put some blurb in thier contracts...

Faerygdds

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 09:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
OK.... I have a point- counterpoint with this one...

I used to work for a hospital in the Case Management department. What that means is that it was my job to facilitate communications between our department, the other disciplines (nursing, physicians, therapists, etc) and the insurance companies of our patients. My job was all about the patients well-being and care. And I was JUST the glorified secretary of the department. When I went on vacation for 5 day I prepared very well for leaving and was called via cell phone no less than 8 times. My father and I were keeping count (he was the CEO of the hospital). He only got 4 calls.. I got 8...

My point is that when you are dealing with peoples lives and safety, there are certain things that you give up... one of them is the perfect vacation or having peaceful time off.

Eric is in such a position. When you becaome a firfighter you dedicate your life to saving others. This is NOT a job you just "walk away from" for 3 months. Realistically is JUST isn't possible. I knew that when I went on vacation. I am SURE he knew what he was doing, therefore, he IS ultimately responsible for the decision.

I have to back up the Chief on this one. Eric has a responsibility to his community, his department, and his Fire Chief... he has ignored that... and now Eric will find out that in the real world there are repercussions of those actions.

Now... having said all that... BB should let him know what is happening with his job...

Nope.. don't feel sorry for him for getting disciplined, but I do feel sorry for him that he has NO idea it is happening in absentia!

Iceprincess

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 09:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I have been doing some searching on firefighter salaries. The lowest of the low seems to be $24,000 a year with it topping out around $72,000 a year. So whatever Eric says doesn't make any sense. Unless of course he is part time then the $12,000 would make sense for an entry level.

Bastable

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 09:01 am EditMoveDeleteIP
If he only had to trade 20 shifts for 3 months as the article says, that sounds like part-time to me.

Mystery

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 09:04 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I can understand the chief being worried about accidents happening with too many firefighters working too many double shifts. But the article said that he "tried to discourage" Eric from applying. If the chief didn't make it clear to Eric back then that applying would be against the rules and cause for dismissal, I'm not sure it's fair to do it now.

Realtvfan

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 09:12 am EditMoveDeleteIP
A great way for BB to tell Eric about Eric's job situation would be the newspaper treat they gave to the HG in BB2.

Imagine the look on Eric's face if he "wins" the 3 minutes in the Diary Room with all the newspapers and sees the article that he has lost his job. The expression on Eric's face would tell the whole story, no matter what expression turns out to be on his face.

Or imagine that the newspaper article is displayed prominently, so that no matter who wins 3 minutes with the newspapers, they see the article and get to tell Eric about it.

Crazydog

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 09:33 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Wasn't there also a rumor that Eric is, well, an exotic dancer in his spare time? Wouldn't that be how he supplements his income? Firefighters have a lot of down time, when he's not on shift maybe he does something else. Or maybe that's how he can afford to be part-time and only make $12,000 a year? I hope whatever choices he's made he's happy with them. Overall, I kind of like the guy, he doesn't seem to pick any arguments or talk behind others' backs.

Aria

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 09:34 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi all, I just check the tapes of the first show and to clarify, Eric said that he was hired 9 months ago. So it seems he wouldn't have any seniority or holiday time coming to him.

Bastable, maybe they work 4x4 12 hour shifts.

IMO he probably knew the risks and chose to accept them so now he'll have to live with the consequenses. BTW he said he went to the Univeristy of Conneticut, does anyone know what he studyied?

Ryanc2002

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 09:51 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Don't know if this has been mentioned but I'll say it anyway. Is it possible that he lied about why he was leaving?

Maris

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 09:54 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It would be pretty dumb to lie when you know you are going to be on tv three times a week. Then again, this group is not a group of Einsteins.

Halfunit

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 10:02 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Aria, I heard Lisa ask Eric on the feeds how long he's been a firefighter, and he said 8 months, so our numbers match pretty closely.

My hubby is a police officer with a department size of around 20. I know, not the same, but similar. It all depends on the wording in the union contract. I know that with hubby's job, the guys can trade shifts with any other guy and the chief is not notified. They don't care who's working, as long as there is a body. The guys get paid according to the schedule, and it's up to the cops to compensate each other (straight swap, compensatory time trading, etc.) I can also say that hubby's department does not require them to leave numbers where they may be if not at home, but he's not a firefighter.

As far as Eric's chief saying that being one man down can hurt the department, I have a difficult time swallowing that one. First of all, most towns with departments of this size have "mutual aid", where one city helps out another city. Second, if they do call out more manpower, they aren't going to call just one person - they will more than likely do an "all call", which means everyone they can contact. If Eric made arrangements with other firefighters, they just act in his place (at least that's how it is here).

Finally, if this does proceed into a disciplinary hearing, it will probably move to arbitration, which takes months. (Two guys here are going through it and it's been 7 months.)

If I had to *guess*, Eric's bosses took a ribbing, as was mentioned above, and the brass was pressured into taking action to set an example. I doubt Eric loses his job, but I've been known to be wrong too!!!

(Ed - one more thing - when going up against a union, a myriad of charges are usually brought forth (some with merit, some without) in hopes that at least one of them sticks.)

Floresmama

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 10:10 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I think BB will tell him about the situation. To see what he wants to do. There have been health issues regarding loved ones and other situations that were handled differently than 9/11.

I think they handled 9/11 the way they did because the HGs could not go any where. The whole country was grounded airplane wise so Monica wouldn't have been able to leave anyway. I think they delayed because they were waiting to see if her cousin should up amongst the survivors.

As far as this situation goes it would also depend on if BB/AS have been told about the situation officially. The one article said that a letter had been sent to his address to inform him about the hearing scheduled so I would think his parents are going to be instrumental in making the decision of calling BB or not.

Kalekona

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 10:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
as mentioned before Groton is home of the navy trident sub-base. Navy personel are trained in different forms of fire fighting in an extreme emergancy the navy would jump in help the fire department if needed.

Right or wrong depends on the contract signed with the department but one thing that is wrong is to send a letter to a guy you know will not get it and inform him if he's not at a hearing there will be more charges when you know he will not be there!

Floresmama

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 10:27 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Well unfortunately there in lies the rub. He didn't officially tell them where he was going/how he could be contacted so they have no recourse except to inform him in writing. I am sure the letter will be registered and unless his parents are total idiots they will open it and make their decision from there.

Costacat

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 10:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Ryan, you bring up a good point. If Eric lied, or intentionally ommitted information, about where he was going to be for the three months he wanted to take off... well, that could be grounds for dismissal, too. And if he DID lie, he's even dumber than I thought!

(Hellooooo??? Anyone home? Do you THINK anyone in Groton just MIGHT see you on TV and just MIGHT say something? D'ya THINK? <grin>)

Floresmama

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 10:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I don't think Eric lied. He would have to have told all the people he was switching shifts with where he was going.

Twiggyish

Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 10:33 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Kale, it sounds like he could sue in that case. I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know for sure.