Management’s Absenteeism Program

DaimlerChrysler Canada Management in its infinite wisdom has deemed their new “Management’s Absenteeism Program” the solution to the attendance problem.  Their dedication to this solution is illustrated by the assignment of salary manpower to coordinate and over see the program.

Management is now enforcing this program and disciplining accordingly.

The CAW (DaimlerChrysler Division) is opposed to this program.  The in-plant committee will grieve any and all contractual and/or past practice violations. 

Management’s goals associated with this program are:

¨     Eliminate “no show” absences (100% of employees to call-in prior to shift if they will be late or absent).

¨     Reduce absenteeism

The discipline for absenteeism is as follows:

Ø     Incident # 1: Counseling (handled by supervisor)

Ø     Incident # 2: Verbal Warning (handled by supervisor)

Ø     Incident # 3: Letter (handled by supervisor)

Ø     Incident # 4: 2-day suspension (handled by supervisor with Labour Relations)

Ø     Incident # 5: 5-day  suspension (handled by supervisor with Labour Relations)

Ø     Incident # 6: 20-day suspension (handled by supervisor with Labour Relations)

Ø     Incident # 7: Termination

Doctor’s notes will be scrutinized. For the note to be acceptable the following information is required:

ü     Acknowledgement that; the employee is totally disabled or unfit and unable to work:

ü     Dates of treatment

ü     From and to dates of absence

ü     Return to work date

ü     Restrictions (if applicable)

ü     Doctor’s letterhead (name & phone number)

Employees are expected to call the “Absence Hotline” (1-866-515-5541). The employee must personally speak with the “call centre”. The Company deems that notification through the Union Office is not acceptable. Management misrepresented the efficiency of the call centre.  The company’s presentation to the Union claimed 400 Tiger/Tel employees would be available to answer the calls. The honest information is that out of the 400 employees at Tiger/Tel, one employee is midnights and two employees on days are assigned to process DaimlerChrysler calls. This inefficiency results in DaimlerChrysler employees being placed on hold. The person who eventually answers the call will gather information including but not limited to:

·        Employee’s name and Master Number

·        Reason for absence or lateness

·        Contact number during absence

·        Expected length of absence

Tiger/Tel will provide a confirmation number to the caller. They will then distribute applicable information to supervisor, employment, benefits and medical.

The discipline for failing to call-in is as follows:

Ø     Incident # 1: Letter (handled by supervisor)

Ø     Incident # 2: 1-day suspension (handled by supervisor with Labour Relations)

Ø     Incident # 3: 5-day  suspension (handled by supervisor with Labour Relations)

Ø     Incident # 4: 20-day suspension (handled by supervisor with Labour Relations)

Ø     Incident # 5: Termination

The direction is to discipline for every incident:  

Ø     Each unsubstantiated absence or lateness is considered an incident

Ø     Each failure to call in will now be considered an incident

Ø     Each day of an unsubstantiated absence and/or no call in is considered a separate incident

Ø     No freebies! (less supervisory discretion)

As part of their “attendance profiling” initiative, management is compiling a list (quarterly) of the “Top 200 Employees” (most days absent and coded RU or RE). Management’s position is that” discipline affecting one of the Top 200 Employees is non- negotiable”.

Management is now enforcing this program and disciplining accordingly.