My employer is asking employees to live in camp for four weeks

AKBill

AKBill

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AKBill
My employer is asking its employees to go on a 4 week on 4 week off schedule. We would live in camp and not be allowed to travel home until shift change.

Over 1/2 of the employees travel from the lower 48 to work. Those employees stay in camp when working and they work either a 2 week on 2 week off or a 2 week on 1 week off schedule.

I live in town and commute to work daily via a boat and bus. The commute is about 1 1/2 hours. They would stop the daily commute.

At 62 I sure don't want to live in camp for 4 weeks. My work is physically demanding and I really don't want to work 4 weeks in a row.

edit: I think I'll go flying while I can

Not sure how this is going to play out. I hope I don't loose my job by not supporting a 4 on/4 off schedule.

edit: I'm flying tomorrow and Wednesday morning before heading out for 4 weeks..:)
 
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AKBill said:
My employer is asking its employees to go on a 4 week on 4 week off schedule. We would live in camp and not be allowed to travel home until shift change.

Over 1/2 of the employees travel from the lower 48 to work. Those employees stay in camp when working and they work either a 2 week on 2 week off or a 2 week on 1 week off schedule.

I live in town and commute to work daily via a boat and bus. The commute is about 1 1/2 hours. They would stop the daily commute.

At 62 I sure don't want to live in camp for 4 weeks. My work is physically demanding and I really don't want to work 4 weeks in a row.

Not sure how this is going to play out. I hope I don't loose my job by not supporting a 4 on/4 off schedule.
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I think the idea is to isolate the crew from others and reduce the risk of infection by limiting the number of crew turns, so that there's no chance of introduction of the virus after the crew is assembled. I can't speak to the labor related issues with not agreeing to go along with the plan.
 
It could be either the safest or the least safe way to be at work.

Are they testing everyone incoming on every shift change?
There's now plenty enough evidence out globally that the most effective way to deal with this virus at this time (e.g. no antidote or vaccine yet) is to stop the airborne spread. In other words "social distancing" and isolation.

A camp could be quite safe provided they are stopping any vector from introducing the virus. Otherwise it has the potential to become a landlocked version of a cruise ship.
 
GRG55 said:
Are they testing everyone incoming on every shift change?
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Currently they are taking everyone's temperature before getting on the boat to work. They ordered enough thermometers for all employees so we can self monitor our condition.
 
AKBill said:
Currently they are taking everyone's temperature before getting on the boat to work. They ordered enough thermometers for all employees so we can self monitor our condition.
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There is an incubation period.
There are asymptotic carriers.
Taking temps won’t do jack.

Consider your economic well being and your health. I have no idea what the right answer is here. Make a conservative choice or an aggressive one.
 
Have they given a time frame they expect these commute restrictions to last? Maybe they can agree to a voluntary unpaid leave of absence until they re-authorize commuting if you can tolerate the paycut. You could also then pursue part-time work in a shop with more compatible traveling allowances.

If indeed you're in the minority in terms of age and commute arrangement, you may need to get prepared for the fact your employer is moving on without you if there's qualified people willing to accept the new traveling reality. You can always ask for an exception to policy. Hail Mary's are free if you're getting laid off otherwise anyways.
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
Consider your economic well being and your health. I have no idea what the right answer is here. Make a conservative choice or an aggressive one.
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Agreed, I'll be talking to management Monday.

hindsight2020 said:
Have they given a time frame they expect these commute restrictions to last?
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No time frame has been set as of today. My guess is until June or July. Hopefully I'll have a better idea Monday.
 
Be glad you have work. I was told Friday to not come back Monday.
You may just find you don't mind the extended time off between working periods.
 
FORANE said:
Be glad you have work. I was told Friday to not come back Monday.
You may just find you don't mind the extended time off between working periods.
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True, I just hate to think about how 4 weeks on is going effect my body. I'm not getting any younger..:rolleyes:

Hope you can get back to work soon without any problems caused by the layoff.
 
I’m sorry the hysteria is causing you so much grief. The tourniquet tightens.
 
Buddy that works at one of the states main power plants was told the same thing. Truthfully the safest place right now is either in Antartica or on the ISS.

I’m working from home but I still have to deal with the public due to checkrides I have to give. If it wasn’t for that I’d hunker down and not leave my property for the next two months. LOL
 
AKBill said:
My employer is asking its employees to go on a 4 week on 4 week off schedule. We would live in camp and not be allowed to travel home until shift change.

Over 1/2 of the employees travel from the lower 48 to work. Those employees stay in camp when working and they work either a 2 week on 2 week off or a 2 week on 1 week off schedule.

I live in town and commute to work daily via a boat and bus. The commute is about 1 1/2 hours. They would stop the daily commute.

At 62 I sure don't want to live in camp for 4 weeks. My work is physically demanding and I really don't want to work 4 weeks in a row.

edit: I think I'll go flying while I can

Not sure how this is going to play out. I hope I don't loose my job by not supporting a 4 on/4 off schedule.
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I've already been told to stay home. No tourist trade, no pilots needed.

Are you at the mine in Hawk Inlet? Or by Point Sherman?
 
Htaylor said:
I've already been told to stay home. No tourist trade, no pilots needed.

Are you at the mine in Hawk Inlet? Or by Point Sherman?
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Hawk Inlet. Hope this ends soon so you can go back to work. My wife sells books to the lodges and stores in SE AK. She works on commission, no tourist, no paycheck for her.
 
We’re on a two day on, two day off schedule... getting paid for the two off! Now if it would quit friggin raining!
 
FlySince9 said:
We’re on a two day on, two day off schedule... getting paid for the two off! Now if it would quit friggin raining!
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I would gladly take your schedule over mine, good luck on the weather..:rolleyes:

Well they did it today. I'm home for 2 days not paid then headed to the mine for 4 weeks. Not happy, on the brighter side I still have a job.

The one catch is after my 4 weeks on I get 2 weeks off and then am required to go to a hotel for 2 weeks and quarantine. Then head back out for another 4 week stretch.

I'm not going to a motel for a 2 week quarantine in my home town. Oh the company says no smoking or drinking of alcohol during the 2 week quarantine.
 
There was no revolt over this? Sounds freaking asinine to me, but I understand just trying to make a livin'. Good luck.
 
AKBill said:
I would gladly take your schedule over mine, good luck on the weather..:rolleyes:

Well they did it today. I'm home for 2 days not paid then headed to the mine for 4 weeks. Not happy, on the brighter side I still have a job.

The one catch is after my 4 weeks on I get 2 weeks off and then am required to go to a hotel for 2 weeks and quarantine. Then head back out for another 4 week stretch.

I'm not going to a motel for a 2 week quarantine in my home town. Oh the company says no smoking or drinking of alcohol during the 2 week quarantine.
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Wow, just wow.
 
Morgan3820 said:
Wow, just wow.
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Agreed, I will most likely do the 4 weeks on and bow out after that.

I'm not going a hotel to quarantine

edit: the wife thinks I should stay home. I can't do that I need to make a living for the family and pay bills
 
I think your employer, and many others like them, are in a difficult position right now.

It's fine for employers in the "transaction economy" such as a Law or Accounting office to send their employees home with a laptop and have them work from there. But anybody working in the "production economy", actually making something, can't easily do that.

At the same time employers are legally responsible for the health and safety of their employees when they are at the worksite. This sounds like a somewhat remote mine location? If just one case of the virus is reported/confirmed having entered the site it probably means the place shuts down putting everyone out of work. Many companies are already doing that, because they are not willing to take the liability risk of continued operation (or the State has ordered them closed). Unemployment claims are going to skyrocket in the weeks ahead. :(
 
Strange times. If you resign you likely won't qualify to financial aid tied to the epidemic. If you're laid off or get sick you likely will. Your work situation sounds like the slope. No idea what they're doing up there.

My company is still operating with restrictions. No customers inside. Phone sales, curbside will call, deliveries from the tailgate only. Gotta adapt.
 
While it sucks for you personally, it does sound like a reasonable approach to conserve the company from the perspective of the employer.

It seems that your situation as a 'local commuter' represents the minority in the company. You may be able to argue (jointly with the other commuters) that in absence of community spread in Juneau, you do not represent any kind of unusual risk of introducing the virus to the camp.

Maybe you can negotiate to get some sort of employee health screening set up only a few days before you have to return to camp. 7 weeks from now, when this becomes relevant, getting a SARS-Cov2 test done by a commercial lab will be a same day turn-around (by then, I anticipate the virus to just be part of the 'respiratory virus panel' that many hospital labs can run).
 
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AKBill said:
The one catch is after my 4 weeks on I get 2 weeks off and then am required to go to a hotel for 2 weeks and quarantine. Then head back out for another 4 week stretch.
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Will you be paid for those two weeks in quarantine?

I'm not going to a motel for a 2 week quarantine in my home town. Oh the company says no smoking or drinking of alcohol during the 2 week quarantine.
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What's their rationale behind the no smoking or drinking for those 2 weeks? That not only seems difficult to enforce, but I know some people that would likely quit a job for the "no smoking" reason alone.
 
RussR said:
Will you be paid for those two weeks in quarantine? no pay but the room is paid for as well as meals




What's their rationale behind the no smoking or drinking for those 2 weeks? That not only seems difficult to enforce, but I know some people that would likely quit a job for the "no smoking" reason alone.
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They pay for the room and meals

The only thing I can think of is being politely correct and reducing the risk of employees getting out of hand. In my eyes it's Bullsh*t
 
One way to get people to get out of hand is to take away their cigarettes ;-)
 
Smokers are at higher risk of dying from the virus according to early death statistics. Another good reason to stop.
 
I suspect the employer would like to do all possible to not have anyone die on camp. His call.

It seems to me a lot of folks have it worse. Like the food service folks with no job and no options. Or the companies that've been ordered to close.
 
Stewartb said:
I suspect the employer would like to do all possible to not have anyone die on camp. His call.

It seems to me a lot of folks have it worse. Like the food service folks with no job and no options. Or the companies that've been ordered to close.
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Correct when it comes to the fact the company is working at keeping things running and save our jobs. Smoking, personally I don't give a dam. I draw the line at being locked up in a motel room for 2 weeks and not being able to drink a beer

Zeldman said:
Do you get to pick the hotel and the meals.??

I don't blame you, I didn't like any of the hotels in the Juneau area myself...
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Best Western motel, meals are provided. I think you can get whatever you like.

Motels in Juneau are to say the least basic.
 
How would they know if you had a couple beers? Are they going to have a babysitter there?

In 6 weeks, this thing is going to look totally different. Or maybe not. Maybe worth buying the time, though.

Personally I'd have a REAL hard time being away from home for four weeks. I don't sleep well without my emotional support woman.
 
Jim K said:
How would they know if you had a couple beers? Are they going to have a babysitter there?

In 6 weeks, this thing is going to look totally different. Or maybe not. Maybe worth buying the time, though.

Personally I'd have a REAL hard time being away from home for four weeks. I don't sleep well without my emotional support woman.
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Here's the solution for ya if ya have to go to camp in these virus infested times: :D

IMG_0621.JPG
 
AKBill said:
Best Western motel, meals are provided. I think you can get whatever you like.

Motels in Juneau are to say the least basic.
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Yes, they are rather basic in JNU. I have stayed in resorts in the bush that are better with really great food.

Is that Best Western on the Glacier highway? I got stuck there for a week once. I would really go stark raving mad having to stay in a hotel room for 14 days, especially in JNU. If I had a choice I would go to the Crest Hotel in Prince Rupert.
 
Zeldman said:
Yes, they are rather basic in JNU. I have stayed in resorts in the bush that are better with really great food.

Is that Best Western on the Glacier highway? I got stuck there for a week once. I would really go stark raving mad having to stay in a hotel room for 14 days, especially in JNU. If I had a choice I would go to the Crest Hotel in Prince Rupert.
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I figured anything more than a cabin without power/running water would be nice for you Alaskan types. Seems like you all want deluxe hotels and luxury living for some reason. LOL Gettin' old? :D
 
Bill, if it's any consolation I will sneak you booze to your hotel room.
 
DavidWhite said:
Bill, if it's any consolation I will sneak you booze to your hotel room.
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Thanks for the offer David. You won't need to do that because I'm not going to let the company dictate that to me.

Now if you want to have a beer in the hangar I'm good with that..:rolleyes:
 
Such valor. It sucks to have rules for a job, I guess. You think these days are easy for the company? I bet not.
 
Will there be s’mores and sing alongs?
 
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