I dont think this automatically makes them unfeeling people. Thats insane. Call or text the host andtellthemthat your pet isnot very well,andyouhave to take them to thevet. This isnt going to be the first time someone tries to tell him that people have traumas and mental health needs. Want more Junkee in your life? SEVEN hours??? If you call in sick and they run this drill again in a year or two, youll be in the same position, and making yourself sick with worry. The military is their own worse enemy when it comes to this area. Read More How to Write a Professional Email At Work (with Examples)Continue. There is no value in a seven hour training for something that would last from 5-30 minutes, realistically. He sounds gross. Good Reasons to Call Out of Work (Physical Jobs) 1. You just dont know what people can and cannot tolerate with this kind of thing, and its best to let them decide for themselves if its appropriate. Im so sorry. Copyright 2007 - 2023 Ask A Manager. However, keep in mind that your commander has the final say and may not approve your request. Anything for a buck is pretty disgusting sometimes. I also dislike the concept of being locked in a room. I am a complete chicken- I once got dragged to a haunted house and I had a panic attack and they had to turn the lights on and call EMS. Even if it doesnt, she would still have to face a conversation about it the next time she shows up to work, so it doesnt help the problem any. because they all sound so real, dont they? I started a new job recently, one where I wanted to impress and have significant imposter syndrome. Someone (I think it was Maya Angelou) said that when somebody shows you who they are, you should believe them. 1. Tell the host a detailed story of how hectic your last week was with all the office meetings, official tours, and prepping up for the big seminar that went great today. BUPERS Instruction 1001.39F. What interests me is this is a mass shooting drill, not an active shooter drill. The timeline itself would be enough for me to push back. I had to sit through one video active shooter training at work several years ago, and that was bad enough. Essentially, it is suppose to identify potential issues ahead of time; example, local, state & federal departments all using different radio frequencies and needing to figure out what they would use together in an emergency (this was an issue during Katrina). This pretty much forces your boss to explain his awful thinking. Ugh you mentioning the scary videos just reminded me that my old jobs (fairly long) active shooter training involved straight up showing us footage from Columbine. The site ate my previous post, so Ill do a shorter version. Nope , its not. Theyre about 1/4 mile away, so they usually make it while the guard is on the phone to the alarm company explaining that nothings wrong at the sensor that triggered. I got volunteer hours and free pizza, and I was 12 so I was very excited to mess around with fake blood and brains. Somebody is implementing this program, and is either intending it to be voluntary (and your boss is going rogue) or intending it to be mandatory and *really* not thinking it through, and either way I would think the CEO/Owner would want to know about it if you cant get anyone else to listen to you. Id almost respect that he said the quiet part out loud, except that the quiet part is so thoroughly and totally repellent. How do you say no to working on a weekend?. It involved bringing in all the relevant gov/emergency departments that would get called if the situation was real (so chemical spill scenario was complete with fire trucks) and we didnt have the agenda ahead of time because it was being externally coordinated. 4. My only other thought is, that if this simulation might happen more than once, it could be useful to go the formal accommodations route so you have a standing reason to not attend any sessions. This article may contain affiliate links. Excuse 2 | You Punctured Your Tire. Anyone else attending Berklee College of Music? I didnt have notice of this one, and I think the most disturbing thing was that my kids have been conditioned to just accept that someone trying to kill you is a situation they should prepare for. Everyones Crying Over Adams Poem From Season 3 Of Sex Education Everytown has some great resources and statistics you could show your school about these trainings. Call out sick LW. Id like to nominate this man for worst boss of the year for this sentence ALONE. Privacy Policy. Ive worked at a college for two years, administrative assistant to a Dean. Basically a small org thought they were getting a powerpoint presentation and instead someone showed up with a real gun shooting blanks. Just flat out no. Anyone attending Drill Sergeant school in June of next year? This letter-writer already knows the most common-sense run-fight-hide advice. Why the hell did you make so many freakin plans? This goes on your permanent military record and can affect your career negatively. Between the GUN SHOTS outside the classroom, and the unbelievably unqualified instructor who gleefully talked about all the times his hyper-vigilance protected his girlfriend on the mean streets of our farm state, it was too much. Get the paperwork in place for legal accommodations. Also: Now after 30 years, trying to get out of teaching. Add to the fact that you shouldn't be U'ed if the SM provided a valid excuse. Unfortunately I really doubt the boss is going to be at all receptive to having his eyes open, just based on the description of him. The closest thing we have is the second-most senior employee, who has an easier time taking up issues with him because of their long-standing relationship. Some people either dont want any gun laws modified as they think that is the start of taking away all gun rights and also now there is such hatred for the political partyso their representatives vote against it. You asked about the information parts of the training, and I can say that I have learned some first aid in these sessions that provides a little peace of mind (wound packing, improvising a tourniquet, etc.) And its so much worse now than it was then. Since OPs boss says the training is mandatory, any pre-submitted PTO requests would probably be denied. But ours was completely voluntary and staff were told multiple times prior to the session that they could opt out if they werent comfortable attending. I work in a hospital system. Her lashes arent jet black! Oddly enough I think my boss would have been receptive to the OPs situation and absolutely understood if an active shooter drill was too much for some people but she would have never understood my objection to the mandatory fun (which she was super excited about). Its similar to gallows humor. Endless sympathy to you, OP. Im very pale, so my under eye half moons have a purplish tone. They just notified me on July 24 of this change. And if it is, there is a huge possibility that the other people wont show up either. There are still plenty of ways to stay sharp and keep your skills sharp. Literally every soldier here has multiple stories they can tell similar to this. They used to kind of joke about the fire alarm being pulled and then a school shooting happened where a fire alarm was pulled and kids were shot leaving their classrooms/building. My cousins little kids all speak so matter-of-factly about the drills. College is a priority. Just in case. So why not plan this up again someday?. But since I am pretty much exhausted, I dont need anything more than my bed and a days sleep. Each time, it has been a targeted shooting. But in my opinion, your older colleagues have ZERO excuse for not empathizing with your concerns. What do you do for seven hours? Children. I know your boss is a big influence in your life/career now but he wont be there forever. I wish people understood that our country has to do this because literally people (and lots of children!) Because Labor Day is around the corner and we're all thinking about that coveted three-day weekend, we thought we'd come up with a list of the Top 10 Excuses to Get Out of Work, brought to you by Bloodsucking Bastards, a comedy/horror film featuring the one office you'd like to work in even less than your own. Bullets fired by a mass shooter will actually curve away from people who know that the only way to conquer your fear is to face it. Hey [Name], I think the snows probably going to ruin any chances of me being able to make tonight. 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. This could potentially be another out for the OP. Even though we always we given advance notice of a drill. Understanding how to tell your boss you are not working on weekends professionally can help you to say no, with confidence and courtesy. 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. I totally relate to the letter writer. Hey [Name] I think Ive got to stay in tonight and take care of [Insert Roomates Name]. Im so sorry. The waiver was problematic in many ways and I declined to sign it (and to participate). I like the idea of getting a doc note and or calling out sick but if OP does wind up going to work that day I would simply leave if/when an active shooter simulation starts. this situation is hard enough without your boss being insensitive. Thanks, Tell the host a detailed story of how hectic your last week was with all the office meetings, official tours, and prepping up for the big seminar that went great today. Categories + 18moretakeoutthe remedy diner, tupelo honey, and more; I suspect he died chomping on a fire alarm wire. I dont think I could do a drill again. You can consider this option as well. My boss, who is also the only person to whom I report (no grand-boss applicable), is much older, which I mention because I think hes just coming at this training from a totally different perspective. Best practice is to allow people to opt out, for any reason. For context, I work at a facility that stores large quantities of hazardous materials. Each year the US Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its data on volunteering in the United States. My heart goes out to you, OP. This LW has done THIS TYPE of drill so has met her obligation and should have no guilt or issue dropping out of this particular drill. I imagine the people who put these together were just as out of touch as this boss. Im so grateful to live in a country where this isnt a thing. A headache isntsevere enough to render you useless for a long period of time but its bad enough that itll get you out of a social engagement. Which is even stupider than forcing everyone to do active shooter training in the first place. Im a little bit too old to really be a member of the school-shooting-generation (in that I was in undergrad by the time Sandy Hook happened), and my impression when I hear my younger peers talking about it (and from some commenters in threads below) is that the pervasiveness (of both the drills and the threat) is what makes them so traumatizing for many people. When I voiced my concerns, he made a few jokes about how he would simply redirect the shooter to a younger person, then asked if I was saying I wouldnt be able to take it. Absolutely nothing about this is funny to me, and this made me feel even more alienated. From my recollection, they never talk about peoples legit reactions in the moment. there were no office doors to close and we had no escape roots beside the main hall, so we would be trapped. They told the older members what to do. Weve talked about where to run to and how to get the heck away from our building as fast as possible more than once. If you have the sick time I would call in sick the day before the training as well. I have two high schoolers, my spouse is a professor, and I work at a university too. If he doubles down, especicially on the threatening to goad a potential shooter to shoot you instead (seriously wtf?!?!?) Im sort of lucky, in a way, because the school I work at is a non-public school serving children with Autism and Intellectual Disability. Ive never done a training myself, but my children have since preschool (note: they are intentionally vague at that age, calling it bad guy training). Im a boomer and if I can understand I dont know what your bosss problem is. 4 is not just a valid option but a truthful one. In cases like your school its more important that the adults know what to do than showing kids what to do/where to go. It happens so much and theres nothing we can really do about it (other than vote and organize), so \_()_/. You have a family emergency. 1sg I disagree with college as a priority, it is an enhancement, your co/xo have been in the world long enough and know how to balance drill and school, that comes with maturity, what we are dealing with are the new generation, no concept of time management, putting things off until the last minute, I managed to get my diploma, attend drills and raise a family, it takes sacrifice, but that's me. #1 "I Have A Headache" A headache isn't severe enough to render you useless for a long period of time but it's bad enough that it'll get you out of a social engagement. While I was there no one was ever hurt, and no one brought a weapon onto the property (one person was once apprehended with a weapon in the parking lot by police while trying to come in), but the callousness of upper-management was galling. I have mild to moderate claustrophobia, and theres absolutely no way Id ever participate in an escape room. And because he isnt reasonable you cant reason with him. I was home sick that day and watching messages pour in over our communication app on my phone; cant even imagine being there, but Ive heard similar things from coworkers. My employer has Active Shooter Training videos, but the intro states that if the viewer doesnt want to watch for any reason, you dont have to and heres a transcript. I mean, it had a helicopter so that the cops could bill the school board or the city for helicopter deployment. For the other literally right over my head on the roof. If you are sick, you must report to your unit and be evaluated by a medical professional. A colleague is American and was home over the Christmas holidays. Where the repetition is frequent, not annually at best. It is not worth the cost to your mental health to try to justify your position any more to your insensitive boss or even, frankly, other people. CLICK HERE to get your copy. One of our providers is a speaker in an education day for LGBTQ+ providers and there was a threat called in to the event this year. Its not necessarily as private or discrete as you may prefer, and youll still see whats going on in the simulation. A year or so before COVID, our state decided to mandate active-shooter drills for schools. 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. Especially for people with a history of trauma. The key to success is planning and communication. Soldiers who are problems are not put out the correct way because the paperwork takes to long. Fast forward to this current moment in your life, (whereveryou may be) and youve found that youve hit a certain point where things have taken a massive swing. Except the trainings are ongoing so new employees can take them and so we keep getting emails. Yeah, the duck and cover drills for nuclear war were equally not reassuring when I was a child, Im not clear on how those were helpful. Here are some valid excuses for missing drill: 1. It was a no-brainer to help them with the very small procedural hurdle to opt out. Having your dog eat chocolate means youre stressed, youre worried, you gotta take it to the vet, you gotta figure out if its OK. Theres so much going on! I work in a school and I think our staff training maxed out at like an hour, and half of that was about identifying and preventing threats. Your friend doesnt know who that guy is but man, do they hate em. Again her choice is individual and different, but I am glad her workplace is partnering with them so that others who many never have had such drills (me included, 7 workplaces over 30+ years and I have at most had video training) have that opportunity. And WTF is a pencil going to do against someone with an AK47. They are not going to find out; unless they know your father very well. I also doesn't hurt that our founder has a little store on there Donating to Never the Right Word willhelp us produce more free content. As a result of that experience and the PTSD that it caused, my elder kid takes a sick day any time there is an event or training or other triggering occurrence at work. Also if this bunghole tries to make you feel weak for not being up for it, remember that standing up to him is a strong choice in itself. ] (which is, essentially, the adult version of the fire drill) and an active shooter drill (which, in my understanding, usually implies some level of re-enactment beyond what Ellis Bell (the teacher above) was describing as lockdown drills at school). The kids at that school KNEW A SHOOTING COULD HAPPEN. The Drill Army Reserves is not active duty, so you wont be deployed overseas or see combat. See, thats what I wonder about. No one ever said anything to me. Im older woman, early 50s, white, living in Texas where no permit is needed to carry a gun. I work in a clinic that serves LGBTQ+ patients and I live in a state that is very second amendment and extremely not LGBTQ+ friendly. Hey [Name] Im really sorry to leave you hanging, but my dad just got into to town and Ive got to be on good daughter/son duty. These are done periodically at the large state university I work at. Weve at least got an HR. by I have a perfect non-attendance record for the last 10 years of active shooter training at my firm. Just send me the information I need to know and dont make me go through it all again. Even ignoring personal history, seven hours is enough to upset anyone! Ive been tasked with figure out an active shooter training for my work and fitting it in with our regular drill schedule, but I justI get upset every time I go through the materials. A few months later, my school staged this surprise mock car accident to discourage people from drinking and driving. Last time, it was 7 AM and only about 10% of the tenants evacuated. Everytown urges schools not to hold them (or, to reconsider them): https://www.everytown.org/solutions/active-shooter-drills/, My middle-schooler had one this week. There isnt a traditional HR department here, and this is an office where were really subject to the dictates of our boss. Yelling about justice on the Internet and casting anemic votes isnt going to work. Your boss isnt a nice person who is cruel to young people, people with disabilities, and anyone he considers liberal. Yes, maybe some people had left for work already. You Were in a Car Accident 8. Exactly. I have ptsd. training is going to be useful, sensible, or anything besides a nightmare. Even so, the vast majority of cops who do carry spend their whole career without firing a shot except on the range. Hey Im really sorry I cant make his evening. * I am at a loss as to how any sort of effective drill could possibly take that long. If youre interested in further reading, weve also included links to our trusted resources and related posts below. That means if you click and buy a product, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Hell yeah, why not. How horrible. Its very ableist to assume that all people can crouch/somehow hide for hours at a time without feeling pain. I am well into Gen X and we did an active shooter training and I hated every moment of it. One of the victims was paralyzed instead of dying and there was a lot of stuff about how tragic this was, implications that it was worse than death Not much fun when youre a physically disabled teenager being forced to attend this event. Parents regularly talk about sending their kids with headphones so they can plug them in and divert the alarms to something much less likely to be overheard in the event of an active shooter situation. 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. I actually now feel I did not stress enough that this is an exceptionally dysfunctional and terrible approach, and should only be used if a) LWs knowledge of their boss says it will work and b) theyre out of other options. I cant imagine how traumatizing a full day of that stuff, in person, would be. That kind of multi-hour practical drill strikes me as very useful. (This shooting range has since gone on to have neo-Nazi ties and host fundraising events with certain family members of certain politicians. As someone who has frequently been the only woman on the team, I certainly understand the concern of being additionally seen as different if you opt out. Im likely close to the same age as the LW, and at the risk of making everyone feel ancient, I was born the year Columbine happened. When I voiced my concerns, he made a few jokes about how he would simply redirect the shooter to a younger person My parent had been at FEMA for a minute & half before being sent to Katrina to provide IT support. 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. But does it require the full drill, or can you do a security discussion instead? There is not a single f***king thing funny about suggesting you would direct the shooter to kill someone else. Seven hours?! Im also just really curious about why the boss wants to have an active shooter drill given how cavalier he seems to be about it. No. I know many of them are probably fine, but many are also horror themed. 7 hour training is Crisis Porn. Some say that it is helpful to have even a few seconds of warning, and that the sound should be loud and trigger serious caution. There wont be chaotic running through the halls. Wishing you all the best with this difficult situation. They were upfront about wanting to meet everyones needs, and they made it very easy to select different options, such as being provided material to review on their own time or in private, write-ups vs videos, or just the option to opt out completely. And then, afterwards, we got the WORST LECTURE EVER from a crying teacher telling us that if this was real wed all be dead because of our collective inability to JUST BEHAVE OURSELVES and BE QUIET for half an hour.