Working OT and safety issues

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I work 2nd shift (3pm-11pm). I’ve worked late 95% of the time my boss asks me. I’ve always been a little uncomfortable about this because working late means I’m coming home 1 or 2 in the morning. At this time of the night, I wind up parking 4 or 5 blocks from my house. Walking my neighborhood at this time of night has always been creepy because there is no one around. At least when I come home around 11:30pm, there are a slew of people out walking their dogs.

Well, yesterday a shopkeeper was murdered just around the block from me. It happened at 9:45 in THE MORNING. Muggings and robberies have always been a part of living in Jersey City, but the fact that some scumbag killed someone in BROAD DAYLIGHT across the street from a SCHOOL has made me draw a line in the sand about overtime.

Ever since the bottom dropped out of Wall Street we’ve been told we have to “do less with more” and to “sacrifice.” Well, I’m not sacrificing my safety.

Please keep in mind that I rearrange my weekends so I can work a Saturday or Sunday.

Is this a legitimate argument to make the next time I’m asked to do OT?

[Farmer Dave]

Hell yes its legitimate and hopefully you have an understanding boss. On the other hand I'm sure there are people who just need a job that wont mind taking yours.

Can you carry mace or a nice personal tazer, or better yet a gun?

[Thebazile78]

Hell yes its legitimate and hopefully you have an understanding boss. On the other hand I'm sure there are people who just need a job that wont mind taking yours.

Can you carry mace or a nice personal tazer, or better yet a gun?

NO GUNS!

Mace is a decent idea, but only if the wind's not blowing.

I don't know what the laws are in NJ regarding stuff like tasers ... and there are a couple of types - the one where you have to get up-close-and-personal and the one that shoots little wires out - both have obvious flaws and different legal issues attached to them.

[drusilla]

Is this a legitimate argument to make the next time I’m asked to do OT?


absolutely. personal safety should be your number one concern, especially when it comes to traveling to & from work. i hope that your boss is understanding & it may suck to work weekends for a while, but it's for the better.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

I know this usually isn't an option, but could you consider doing some of your OT work from home if your work requires use of a computer anyway... ? Or do you have to use a company computer only?

Oh and personal safety is always a priority concern. but when it comes to muggings/robberies/murders, that really is a lightning bolt scenario (though lightning strikes alot in bad neighborhoods I'll give ya that) and while you shouldn't be lying under trees during rainstorms, try not to get too paranoid about that happening. It's never good living in fear of something... not that I'm saying you're doing that, naturally.

[Furtherman]

Is this a legitimate argument to make the next time I’m asked to do OT?

Absolutely.

Muggings are up in my neighborhood too, neighbor. One friend of mine was pistol whipped on 1st Ave, which I have stumbled around for 10 years, even when the neighborhood was shady, without any problems.

Last night I heard from our friend here Earlshog, who lives on the next block, about a guy getting jumped on his street at 8pm walking his dog.

The 2nd Ave Light Rail has had multiple muggings over the past couple months.

I've never heard of it so bad... so yea, be careful and take all necessary precautions.

[west milly Tom]

Be careful tootse. I frequently work in Jersey City at night, in the industrial section, and always worry about my safety. I carry a large knife all the time. Perhaps you should consider something similar, we wouldn't want anything happening to that great fack of yours.
(what street did the homicide occur on, was this the bodega owner botched robbery thing?)

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I frequently work in Jersey City at night, in the industrial section, and always worry about my safety. I carry a large knife all the time. Perhaps you should consider something similar, we wouldn't want anything happening to that great fack of yours.
(what street did the homicide occur on, was this the bodega owner botched robbery thing?)

I work in the Industrial park in Liberty State Park.

The murder happened in a little bodega on Coles St, b/w 6th and 7th.

Yeah, there's been a lot more crime lately. One woman in the Van Vorst Park section of JC was checking her mail in her vestibule at 6PM and was attacked by a bunch of thugs with a metal pipe.

[Contra]

Are they even going to be asking you to put in OT? I would interpret "do more with less" as doing more while working less hours. I know at my job and my girl's job they are cutting hours.

[grlNIN]

Tell them you can do one of two things.

Work OT for them that same day except pack up and leave at 11:30pm and do it from home or you cant do it at all.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

My question is: How dumb are these fucking crooks? Don't they know everything is getting taped nowadays?

Or at least, you know, David Caruso is gonna find 'em?

In seriousness, I'd be really fucking careful about this shit too. It goes without saying (but I'm saying) that the economic times are influencing the crime rates... the poorer the neighborhood (or your proximity to one) the worse off it's going to get. Again, don't live your life in fear, but don't be stupid either... definitely have some means to protect yourself and be careful wherever you walk. Do you have any fast-alarm device that can alert authorities quick?

Not that you really can open up your contact list and hit the correct number sequence while being attacked. But better than nothing.

Is there any bodyguard service we could hire for Ms.Fuzzy?

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Are they even going to be asking you to put in OT? I would interpret "do more with less" as doing more while working less hours. I know at my job and my girl's job they are cutting hours.

Actually, their interpretation of "do more with less" is WE all have to do MORE WORK with LESS PEOPLE. And the new word they throw around is "sacrifice"; as in, "we ALL have to sacrifice." Well, I'm not sacrificing my safety.

EDIT: And it's actually cheaper for them in the long run to pay one person reg hrs and OT plus benefits than to have two people work regular hours plus benefits.

[Contra]

Ah I got ya

[boosterp]

Please keep in mind that I rearrange my weekends so I can work a Saturday or Sunday.

Is this a legitimate argument to make the next time I’m asked to do OT?

Petrina,

As your friend I fully support you going to your boss and making the offer of putting in some weekend hours. Use the safety concern as the logic behind your asking for permission. I wish I could fly up there and be your body guard and knowing some of the "issues" we both share this worry is not good for your health.

Call later if you get the chance.

[Tenbatsuzen]

NO GUNS!



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2953629352_c9069fb9d2.jpg?v=0

[TheGameHHH]

do you think your odds of geting murdered increase that much from 11:30pm to 1am? i want you to be safe as well but i think your chances of getting mugged/robbed/shot/stabbed/killed are the same no matter what time of night your getting home.

[ecobag2]

Hell yes its legitimate and hopefully you have an understanding boss. On the other hand I'm sure there are people who just need a job that wont mind taking yours.

Can you carry mace or a nice personal tazer, or better yet a gun?

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Jersey.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

do you think your odds of geting murdered increase that much from 11:30pm to 1am? i want you to be safe as well but i think your chances of getting mugged/robbed/shot/stabbed/killed are the same no matter what time of night your getting home.

I understand what you're saying-- it could happen no matter what time of day. The guy who got shot was killed at 9:45am. A woman was attacked checking her mail in her vestibule at 6PM. I understand this.

But let's take the other night for example. I parked my car around 11:20pm, a few blocks from my house. On my walk home, I ran into two neighbors that I know who were walking their dogs (as a matter of fact I usually see at least 5 or 6 people walking their dogs at this time). Within a block of my bldg I ran into my downstairs neighbor and we walked the rest of the way together.

At 1:30am, I usually have to park further from my house and it's mostly desolate. At least there are people out and about around 11:30pm.

I've ALWAYS hated doing OT during the week. I did worry about getting mugged or robbed, but the fact that someone in my neighborhood was shot and killed (in broad daylight) is my line in the sand.

I ALWAYS work weekends (unless the happen to cancel it). I want to be a "team player" and all but I REALLY don't feel safe, especially since the thug hasn't been caught.

OH-- and I can't work from home. I literally read things "hot off the presses." (I've even gotten to say, "Stop the presses!" a few times! Cheezy, but fun!)

[Coach]

Is there anyway to have someone make sure you get home safe? Ie Neighborhood watch, local beat cop, or a friend? I would go talk to your boss about your personal concerns about safety after working late.

[conman823]

I would definatley talk it over with your boss. If he wants to be a jerk about it then there has to be some sort of HR action too take.

Jersey City is rapidly declining this last year. A man was stabbed and killed at the LSP Light Rail Station in the morning last September at like 8:30 AM. Sure the guy was "mentally disturbed" but still.

Also while I was at work 2 Fridays ago and Biggies movie came to the Newport Mall the "kids" started shooting at the Light Rail Platform in plain view of 15 Transit Cops!! The kids got away. Oh and I was in my company car 20 feet away thinking I was "safe" because 15 cops were there!