I HATED that we had to do these trainings it felt like being given a band-aid for a hemorrhage. If you also skip the second cup of coffee your ability to be perky and focused will fade through the day (confirming that the dreaded no makeup flu is getting worse!) Im worried that would get her fired. So is drill. By the same token, a person who cant deal with guns being fired in their vicinity is unlikely to be able to work as a law enforcement officer, particularly in the US. They are not going to find out; unless they know your father very well. As I'm boarding the plane I thought for sure I was going to die or wanted to. This boss is not ok, and you deserve better. When he said the whole team was going and I needed to go to, I told him, I hoped they had a great time, but I would be at my desk that day and not participating. (I mean, safety is great, but this person is hilariously the most accident-prone person we all know, and always has a story about falling down the stairs or getting a ticket for speeding on the way to work. Everyones Crying Over Adams Poem From Season 3 Of Sex Education There's something wrong with your stomach, something pukey. I grew up in the era of mass shootings. My kingdom for sensible, trauma-informed, non-security-theater workplace safety training. Now that I think about it, my workplace gives building-specific info for other types of emergency preparation i.e., I know where were supposed to evacuate and gather in the case of a fire, I know where in the building we should shelter in the case of a tornado/severe weather, but the active shooter training module was only a generic video with a generic office building showing fear and the run/hide/fight scenarios. Updated: Monday, March 20, 2017. We hope that these excuses will help you get some much needed you time. You've only watched 16 videos of veterans coming home to their dogs and you promised yourself you'd break 30 tonight. Just call in sick that day. With my tire being flat I've got no way of getting there unfortunately! For additional context, I am the only woman in my very small department at a larger organization, which overwhelmingly skews much older. But theres no reason why you cannot ask in advance for a weekend where youre not rostered on. Have a good gaming night! You want to spend the time with your family and friends, It has a positive impact on your physical and mental health, You have the opportunity to develop networking opportunities, Yor provide a service or goods to the community. 3. Some of them can be a lot of fun if the team already works well together, but I dont think any of them are useful if the team dynamics are bad. I have been battling car issues for over a week now. My workplace recently made kind of a big deal about a mandatory training (DEI, not active shooter). Were going to have people sit in a conference room and a deputy will speak. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "adc1af5dd80e55ae1e3f646224ebba55" );document.getElementById("a603c4a483").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Subscribe to all comments on this post by RSS, Email (Optional will display your Gravatar). Scripts & Templates for Lifes Uncomfortable Conversations. Again, its like, well yes, I want them to have survival skills in this reality we live in. Does this count as an excuse if its likely true? Im so sorry for what you went through, Doc of the Town. Now, were reminded at church that in the event of an active shooter, there are three options, in order of preference: 1) RUN! College is not a good excuse for not attending drill. We had a workplace training at OldJob that was a full day. These are typically held one weekend per month, and they can last anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. Or maybe if no one from your department is going to be there. Both my former Commander and XO attended both drill AND law school. -Get together with some friends and head to the range. When my former workplace held an active shooter training, they said it was mandatory and no one could opt out. Im in Finland, and the situation isnt nearly as bad as in the US, but we have had school shootings here, too. In the United States, the First Amendment of the Constitution (namely, the Bill of Rights) proclaims that all citizens have the freedom to practice their religion and that there will be no laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion. If people ask questions, you may just have to answer them. I grew up in an era when everything American was super cool and aspirational. Do that after lunch the day before and you can go home very believably. My dad was a teacher for 15 years (+7 as a sub) and never had to deal with an active shooter, fortunately. Send her home before she kills us all with her germs!. this isnt an Im calling my lawyer so I can sue knee-jerk thing, its consultation on employment law and options when the obvious ones are made inaccessible for one reason or another. They need the weekend so that they can complete their volunteering obligations. Sure, have trainings on the specific places at your workplace that you should go for various disasters (and which types of scenarios you should evacuate the building and which you should shelter in place), but the training should encompass various disasters, and there is absolutely NO need to have live-action drills to simulate such a traumatic experience. Take care of yourself! Not-really-jokes aside, call in sick. Well have to reschedule another time Im afraid! A teacher friend told me shes never been so proud and so sad as when one of her students went to the supply closet and distributed scissors and protractors to his classmates during a suspected active shooter event. Lets Deal With Quiet Firing In The Workplace, 8 Signs of Quiet Firing You Should Know Now, 10 Good Excuses for Not Working on Weekends, 1. Want to write a professional email at work? Our wallet holdsall ofour important things, including cash, id, and credit cards. This scenario sounds like the boss just wants to live out some of his first-person shooter video games and wants to drag everyone along with him, regardless as to their comfort level with shooting games. Maybe you can convince them to reconsider? I full stop do not trust any training that requires multiple hours and comfortable clothes. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your experience in the Drill Army Reserves: excuses to get out of drill weekend - rootedgames.com The social aspects of man-caused tragedy (shooters/bombings) aside (which I agree with others that acceptance this is the new reality is wrong, will require better funding for mental health/social support/etc that I can vote for), it has been demonstrated time and again that reading about what to do is NOT the same level of preparedness as drills. This article was originally published on https://www.nevertherightword.com. Im mildly/moderately allergic to a common food that nobody else is allergic to. As Alison suggested in bullet point #2, if there is a second-in-command at your job, even if you dont directly report to that person, consider talking to them. You are studying 7. MP00 PEB Forum Regular Member PEB Forum Veteran May 21, 2012 #9 Thanks for the info You must log in or register to reply here. Really, have no qualms about it. This is one of the saddest things that Ive ever read online. There are contingency plans in our family if we were on a plane during a hijacking. Those types of drills like you did are really for the outside agencies to practice their plans, plus the company has a specific issue like chemical spill that they need to practice. What interests me is this is a mass shooting drill, not an active shooter drill. If its that sort of training day, it would be way more involved the typical quick drill or watch Run/Hide/Fight theyd be going over all the logistics, what processes to set up to prevent it, etc. We have to let the videos play and take multiple quizzes to get a certificate, but Ive now done them enough that I can let the video play while not really paying attention, and my anxiety has disappeared over the trainings. I got good feedback later about the power of the word, so maybe try it. This is almost enough to make me start using makeup on a regular basis! On my stomach lining, which makes me puke, nearly immediately. Any time this has come up at a job, Ive just had stomach flu the day of. Absolutely. Maybe they dont want to relive their experiences either? Now that my eldest is in school, I am grateful every day that I married a British man and moved to his hometown. This site does not constitute as legal, mental, or medical health advice, please consult a competent licensed professional. One does begin to wonder how much change could have been wrought if instead of drills and training we had opted to spend that time protesting or in political action. My apartment building has so many drills (false alarms) that maybe 12 people out of 102 units (some with 2 people, so more than 102 tenants) bother to evacuate when the alarms go off in the apartment AND hallway. According to the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, approximately 44% of people in postsecondary education are adults over the age of 24. Even though we always we given advance notice of a drill. Im so thankful I dont go to that mall anyway; now I have yet another reason to avoid it. According to the United States Census Bureau, around 13 million workers in the United States have more than one job. training like that. We all live busy lives and we know that there will be times when we are called on to help out to babysit for a week, a weekend, or even half a day. Seven hours with comfortable clothing can only mean a drill that could be appropriate for law enforcement to have the muscle memory of what to do and where to go. If youre interested in further reading, weve also included links to our trusted resources and related posts below. Generally youre not asked to disclose why youre opting out. How do you say no to working on a weekend?. Im sorry that anyone has to deal with this. You mean before that 9am brunch? I also grew up in the earlier era of school shootings, before they did things like training for kids. What could possibly take seven hours to cover for one topic?? I doubt random company is coordinating with outside agencies. But its hard, if not impossible to learn anything when in the throes of a panic attack or PTSD symptoms. A seven hour training would be insane for any work place that isnt on a military installation or the Capitol/Pentagon/etc and EVEN THEN it would be bananapants crazy. Your sporting team is playing in the finals. That was about it. Sorry, I got a bit over-emotional here, but anyways you got what wemeant. Ive heard a couple of guys who have played too many FPS games talk about how theyd save the day. The familyproblem makes upthe best excuses. My direct boss fought it and tried to get me excused, but her boss was firm that it was required. Never give a straightforward "yes" when someone tries to make plans. Otherwise, there is no harm in considering. I was irate several years ago when I found out an unqualified emergency management person made his own active shooter drill video and sent it to all staff at my agency. Im so grateful to live in a country where this isnt a thing. SEVEN hours??? The fact that we landed on lets continually traumatize victims as a preventative measure enrages me. Oh its very simple, were supposed to die. You can easily use this one if the host lives far away. I asked for active shooter training at my current workplace because our current safety training is very spotty think staff not knowing the nearest exits or how to lock doors. This was not that, its just callous. You have to wake up early, do a bunch of pointless things, and then youre exhausted for the rest of the day. Thats insane. OP Thank you for writing in. We have a lot of jerks in my city who flout the fireworks bans (wildfire risk) and he said the clouds of smoke glowing with fireworks and sunset accompanying intermittent booms and crackles had an uncanny resemblance to firefights where he had been stationed. Dear god. Jesus. How horrible. otherwise you are going to end up in a more awkward situation. This goes on your permanent military record and can affect your career negatively. 7 hours is ridiculous Id definitely call in sick. It gets so much worse! My high school got around a mandatory monthly fire drill by claiming it was too cold, and just ringing the alarm for a few months until enough parents complained that the rule was recinded. Weve had enough fires in our building (five during 2020-2021) that everyone knows the fire sprinklers go off and the big problem is flooding. Somake a call and tell them how your place is flooded with water and you need to fix itas soon as possible. I work in a large hospital. The introvert/extrovert divide is the most fundamental dimension of personality. Pretty sure it wasnt the entire day but it wasnt a full day of school anyways (minimum day). Because they want to LARP like something out of a movie. I had a stalker threatening to kill my family / loved ones for (years? Do you own a pet? The LW said this drill was being run by law enforcement. He does not understand the psychic toll that shootings have taken on many people in my generation and does not understand that anxiety means something more than just sort of worried about something.. Definitely take the day off. And you know theyll treat it all as a big game because its all fake anyway. First responders and EM do exercises to improve our side of it. I left the room and the trainer told me if I didnt participate I wouldnt pass the course. Id call in sick, but if I felt thered be any room or worry about grief Id schedule a doctors appointment for that day in advance to get some kind of note related to headaches, gastric distress, bad allergies or any other kind of generic ailment that could be having a flair-up. Speedy Search & Discovery. So our poor security guard is stuck with trying to clear the error before the fire department responds. I dont even have anxiety on this topic and I would still nope out of a 7-hour training. (ex. Shorter, optional training for those who have not had experience could be useful for those who might need to think through where they would go and how to react. None of this is a joke, and Im so mad at this LWs boss because the drills are meant to protect people and theyre done out of fear but we cant have TOO MUCH FEAR, mind you, because thats negative somehow. In the military, missing 4 hours of a required training equals one unexcused absence. How to Decline an Invitation Gracefully - MyDomaine They pointed out there is no way to think of and train for every scenario, and doing so could create a false sense of safety, not to mention costing a lot of money and raising anxiety among staff. If Rainy Day was stressed by the drill, think of how they would have felt. There is a solution that has worked just about everywhere else in the world, and its not this. Yeah, at the last staff meeting, there was some talk of replacing our annual watch this decades-old video active shooter training (whichI hate that video so much. I appreciate that my kiddos school practices emergency in a general sensehere are our hiding spots, could be something weather related or physical security related. Know what youre signing up for. Regardless of that, though, opting out should be a reasonable accommodation for anyone with cause to believe the training will have mental health ramifications for them. It is also a less confrontational and frightening way to approach those issues, putting the onus to explain on him rather than on you. theres nothing we can really do about it, We can, but we wont, because US Americans generally refuse to take responsibility. BUT I also think theres a major difference between walking through lets all identify the doors wed need to lock and the spaces wed want to hide in [our offices / work spaces we frequent / etc. who have been through it. Were in the same school district as the Tree of Life shooting, which happened on a Saturday, and the following week was Halloweensomeone called in a threat to my kids elementary school that day, and my oldest was in swimming at the time. Privacy Policy. SEVEN HOURS? Categories + 18moretakeoutthe remedy diner, tupelo honey, and more; Ive been involved in a workplace shooting and its not something that needs reenacting. If you miss a drill weekend, there are a few things that could happen. Im a designer-by-day whos fascinated by human psychology; youll find me learning about what makes others tick through all types of media and good old-fashioned conversation. I spent a little time thinking about what I would do if we were robbed. I had to sit through one video active shooter training at work several years ago, and that was bad enough. Instead of a drill, why not just some quick tips on what to do and not do? But its a good skill to have that will serve you well in your career. Read More 10 Effective Ways to Deal with Gossip at WorkContinue. 100% agree with Alisons statement that active-shooter drills are counterproductive. Commander's and NCO are told to have everyone present but service will not allow them to give true problem Soldiers discipline for attendance issues. Run around with fake guns pretend shooting you. And a quality training, I cannot stress this enough, does not last seven hours. Also, youre making some broad assumptions here about the quality of training delivered in all workplaces. To use this excuse, you need to make a story of how awful that. I have a hard time figuring out how a small company with no HR jumped to the conclusion they need to train for a mass shooter. No. My middle-schooler was completely ho-hum while describing how their orchestra room is actually the best place to hide because it doesnt have any windows (to deaden sound.). Weve at least got an HR. You Had a Flat Tire 10. I definitely think Id go the call in sick route. According to the National Guard, these circumstances include but are not limited to: SiteGround boasts a whole list of fantastic features at amazingly affordable prices. Im so sorry and I hope that things can change, because this is so cruel and unfair to OP, to the kids, to you, to everyone. Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook so you always know where to find us. Read More 10 Reasons Why You Should Work From Home Today!Continue. You should probably go ahead and [Insert Activity] without me. This is awful, and overboard, and I want to have some firm words with your boss. He has to fly armed. Where the repetition is frequent, not annually at best. Again, be sure to notify your commanding officer as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made. then you can divert questions with details also to the oh no, im afraid its a private matter, they asked me to not divulge all the details, hey mom, would you like to have an emergency where you slip and fall and twist your ankle next tuesday. If they can do it, so can anyone else. Your email address is only used to send you NTRW updates. I think midterms and finals are possible reasons for an early dismissal the last day of drill if nothing important is going on. I always see college as a priority for soldiers, they are taking the time to progress themselves. I would call in sick. Plus employers (not mine, fortunately) discourage/forbid their employees from reporting assaults on their person and tell them thats part of the job. Id call in sick. The Drill Army Reserves are a great way to get training and experience in the Army, but there are some things to keep in mind before you join. I personally would quickly follow it up with oh no, hold on *RETCH* I really have to go *RETCH* and hang up. See if you can ask around about who started this training idea. Wanted to add that I agree the real problem is in the proliferation of guns and the lawlessness favored bycertain politicians. the vast majority of these trainings rely on terrorizing people and teaching absolutely nothing of practical value other than you sure might get shot at work! Each year the US Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its data on volunteering in the United States. You're going to an important family event, 9. The premise is that if all these relevant gov/emergency services drill together that theyll be better prepared to work together even if the true emergency isnt an exact match to the drill. You were asked to attenda raging, booze-filled pub crawlon Friday? So a UTA 4 would be four drill periods. Separately, my cousins kid came home from kindergarten sobbing because she thought a drill was an actual shooter event. The messaging was very much this is the best way to keep you from getting killed, take your own life into your hands and fight back! And its like, well, given the current gun laws, yes, this is my best option but it felt insulting to be told this. Tell them how you were all dressed up for this party, and you are afraid that the mechanic workshop m, Even if it isnt, its going to take a while. Woke up this morning for drill and my car would not start. A few days after the drill, I heard from a coworker that several faculty were sitting together in a conference room with the door open. I planned out my escape routes the first time I walked into the office and figured out which things on my desk would make the best projectiles by week one. Combine that with the militarization of police, and these trainings are an abusive nightmare. I would not be able to control my instinctual reaction to a fake shooter. What poor timing! Edit: please understand I am NOT a highly motivated soldier. Take the next day off too. In my city, people would probably worry (justifiably) that the helicopter was there to shoot and/or deport them. And make sure to tell them that its coming out of both ends. For more information, please see our Earnings Disclosure. I am happy to review written materials, but I will not be participating in a simulation., Other language you could have on-hand to use if necessary: This isnt about mild discomfort. Youre under the weather, the end. Standing up for yourself now gets my vote. Unfortunately, many of our politicians (and the people who elect them) would rather our children live in danger than lose lobbying and stockholders money. And if that fool makes another joke, look him in the face and say Did you just try to joke about me being murdered to save yourself? There is no generational excuse. My sons had fire drills, but no active shooter drills. No pressure if you cant! It wasnt really an active shooter simulation, but for some reason, the approach at the time was Its really important to stay silent, so try to imagine that its real as you cower in this corner. (Spoiler alert 20ish seven- and eight-year-olds are REALLY bad at playing silent sardines, even when the imaginary stakes are high.). Maybe Congress should have active shooter drills, too. Weve talked about where to run to and how to get the heck away from our building as fast as possible more than once. Ask for Forgiveness, Not Permission: The best way to be convincing when calling or emailing for a sick day is to TELL them you're ill and cannot come in, rather than asking if it's okay. . Can you handle yourself under the pressure? But the elderly retired people didnt evacuate, even the ones who can do stairs. Here are some reasons why employees quiet quit at work? She realized after they should not have made those jokes where I could hear them (though I understand you sometimes need dark humor to deflect your own discomfort). EVERYTHING this guy says. and rejoicing that you get to go home for the day is messed up too. We had a minor fire in our building when it was new, and management discovered the hard way that the alarms didnt sound on most of the 6 floors. You have a side hustle 6. One last thought- I know theres no grandboss per se, but is there a CEO or owner? In public places, in crowds, out and aboutits not a risk thats on my mind at all. It was traumatizing enough doing that and it only lasted about 5 10 min. Is it a valid excuse to miss national guard drill if I go to - Quora Theres a difference between practicing things so you can do them in an emergency, such as CPR, and traumatizing people so theyre more likely to panic when confronted by real danger. I worked in a call center. I dont want to do it either. All-day training puts it in a very different category. (Funny how this rarely happens when the rental office is open; some hapless security guard has to try to decode the alarm system fault codes and tell the fire department what happened.). I work in an academic library. But really, call in sick. he is not a nice guy. I remember going to a 4th of July party thrown by a combat veteran friend-of-a-friend. These drills are not helpful! Lastly, if you found this content helpful or want to share your own examples, let us know in the comments. My friends kids were FLOORED to learn about the debacle in the House & Senate chambers on January 6. Are they tenants in a building that is having this training for all businesses? I am going out on dinner with him. She cant even bear to see guns on tv. I just told my boss I wasnt going. We then had a staff meeting to discuss their concerns and a number of my staff expressed anxiety about mass shootings, workplace shootings, and what their kids went through with drills at school. Hey Im really sorry I cant make his evening. This is a great excuse becauseit instills a sense of panic within the person youre cancelling on. My administrations seem to recognize that they dont actually work. Lavender Baj, Culture I think about my plan a lot bc the patients we serve make us a target. Yet this person always wants the group to come up with brilliant ideas to keep people from having normal human accidents, such as twisting their ankle or getting a door slammed on their hand by some other careless person. In last couple of days coming home from work, I see what appears to be potential road rage & it scares me. And where the training is done by people who are professionals *in the topic they are training*. I used to live in a country that had earthquake drills. If you do work full time or have family obligations and work part-time, you can only study in the evening and on weekends.