My wife’s 72-year-old brother was “written up” at work recently

[KansDem]

Last Monday, my wife and I went to her family’s annual holiday get-together. While we were exchanging gifts and partaking of holiday treats, I learned that my wife’s 72-year-old brother was “written up” for falling asleep on the job.

Now, a little history—He spent his younger and middle years as a famer helping his dad on the family farm. At one point during the mid-1970s, the farm was sold due to his dad’s growing back problems and to pay off debt accrued over the decades. The brother then went to work in a series of odd jobs like bartending. He managed to land a decent job as a security officer for a local company and worked there for many years. His main responsibility required him to work out of a small, windowed office at the company’s entrance gate where he checked drivers in and out of the plant as well as monitor the plant’s security cameras. So he spent the bulk of his time chatting with truck drivers and other customers while watching a few TV screens.

Well, that business folded so he moved on. I don’t know how many jobs he had but he now works as a security officer for a company that, in his own words, doesn't treat its employees very well—at least not a well as his previous job at the plant.

He works "9 to 5"—that is 9pm to 5am. He doesn't have the camaraderie that his job at the plant had—there is no one to really visit with. He sits at a desk and monitors several security cameras. I don’t know if he makes rounds but it sounded like he mostly sits and watches TV screens.

Recently during his shift, he fell asleep and was discovered. This resulted in his being “written up.” Two more “write ups” and he’s fired. But really, how many of us half his age could watch security monitors all night long, night after night, without doing the same? Hell, our visit with my wife’s family lasted only about 3 hours and I saw him nod off a couple of times.

He spent the first half of his life as a farmer, and as such, he has no retirement and only a small Social Security stipend to live on. Hence, his need to keep working at age 72.

There should be a stronger safety net for our senior citizens so they won't have to work jobs that tax their physical and mental health during their "golden years."

[Douglas Carpenter]

1. this is a very sad story - the idea that a 72 year-old man who has worked hard all is life is forced

to put up with insulting, berating and degradation in order to make ends meet.

[KansDem]

2. I don't know for certain...

...but I wonder if the "write up" was done by someone half his age! C'mon! Give the guy a break!

[liberalmike27]

31. I think

There should be a minimum you get, even if you didn't work enough, or make enough money. It sort of defeats the idea if you still have people not earning enough to live.

[happyslug]

52. $710 in 2013, $721 in 2014

The Federal Government in 1974 set up the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to set up the minimum one can get if you are disabled (you are presumed to be disabled if over 65, through that date is set to go up to 67). The Federal Government will pay $721 in 2014. Your state may supplement that amount, most states do, but by less the $20 a month (Some states supplement is much higher).

A person is entitled to SSI if provided you do not have any assets worth over $2000 dollars plus the house you are living in, household furniture for that house and one car if needed for medical appointments (Most people need a car for that purpose). If you own you home, household goods and car, $721 is enough to live on, but if you have to pay rent, or a car payment (or both), it is no where near enough to survive on.


http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/ssi.htm

Please note, SSI will be reduced by any other income you may get. SSI is designed as a minimum, thus if you have any other source of income, that income is used to reduce the amount of SSI you can get. If your other income exceeds $721, you get no SSI. Unearned income is used to reduce SSI dollar for dollar.

Now, earned income (income from working) is subject to the $30 and a 1/3 rule. You Gross income is reduced by $30. Then 1/3 of the remainder is subtracted from the total. The Remaining money is then used to reduce the amount of SSI you get dollar for dollar.

This is how SSI works with someone working a Minimum Wage Jobs:

If you work $715 a hour for 40 hours per week that is $286 per week, $1172.60 per month.

Less $30, comes to $1142.60.

1/3 of $1142.60 equals $380.87.

$1142.60 less $380.87 leaves $761.73, which is $40.73 more then a person gets on SSI. Thus a person working full time at minimum wage will not get any SSI.

[darkangel218]

53. He should have gotten only a verbal warning IMO.

The problem is though, some of those "control rooms" have their own control cctv which records and even transmits live to the main control room.
We used to have that system. For the safety of our guards but also to make sure they do their job.

[baseballguy2001]

77. How much?

Hey Mike --

What should the minimum be, and who sets that?

[Jazzgirl]

79. Why don't you tell us what you think it should be.

Also tell us who should set it.

[PatSeg]

71. I'm quite sure that security guards

of all ages fall asleep during a graveyard shift now and then. Eight hours, during the night, staring at TV screens, with no one to talk to would put most people to sleep.

[demosincebirth]

47. It's a crying shame that a 72 year old, in this country, has to work to make ends meet.

[santroy79]

73. I agree

"It's a crying shame that a 72 year old, in this country, has to work to make ends meet."




There is no reason someone 72 should have to work. I realize some of it is personal responsibility but there needs to be a better safety net.

[yeoman6987]

63. Insulting, Berating, and Degradation???

I did not see any of that in the story. He is a security guard hired to ensure that safety of the company. I would say that staying up and being alert is a requirement. Hopefully that was a one-time only mistake.

[Douglas Carpenter]

65. if you cannot feel any empathy for a 72-year-old man who has no choice but to work at a low wage

job and recognize the humiliation of what he experienced ;- you are not human,

[yeoman6987]

67. Oh brother

I said I hope the guy learned his lesson and does not fall asleep on the job again.

[Douglas Carpenter]

68. I realize that some of you had bad parents who did not raise you to have values so looking at an old

old man who nods off for a few minutes as just someone who just needs a kick in the ass is just part of your heatless ways

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. it's sad that he has to keep working at that age

[Enthusiast]

30. It sure is.

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. There should be a stronger safety net for everyone. n/t

[Enthusiast]

32. That's fer danged sure.

[AuntPatsy]

5. That's incredibly sad

[LanternWaste]

6. I was told during a meeting that three write-ups = getting fired = no unemployment compensation.

I was told during a meeting that three write-ups = getting fired = no unemployment compensation.

Of course, we weren't *told* to write up anyone for the smallest infraction that would otherwise be overlooked with a chuckle, but the implication was there in no uncertain terms. Three write-ups in an employee's file greatly reduces the company's risk to pay the unemployment insurance should the company let someone go.

I've let everyone in my department know this.

[KansDem]

10. Thanks for the insight...

...three write-ups = getting fired = no unemployment compensation.

I'll relay this information to my wife. She can check with him to see if he's in the same situation. If he's fired, it'd be extremely difficult for him to get by.

[taught_me_patience]

39. In California, you can still get unemployment even if fired for cause

unless it is something egregious like stealing.

[Live and Learn]

60. +1 nt

[FBaggins]

72. One correction to that.

It only works if you actually consistently fire people after the third write-up. So it can't insulate you "should the company let someone go" - since all they have to do is point to all the other employees with three write-ups that haven't been fired and say "clearly, that's not the actual policy regardless of what they put in writing"

[Scuba]

7. Young, healthy GI's struggle to stay awake on guard duty in combat areas.

I hope your brother-in-law catches a break.

[KansDem]

22. Thanks...

I hope your brother-in-law catches a break.

I've noticed over the years (my wife and I have been married for 25 years) he's moving and talking a little slower and is prone to cat naps. I wish he had the job he had with the plant: daylight hours and people to visit with.

He really is a gregarious person: prone to telling humorous stories about growing up on the farm and the local characters he's encounter over the years. But recently, like last Monday, he was much more reserved, much more detached. I attributed it to his advanced years and present situation. It doesn't give one much hope.

[Nay]

69. Have you considered buying your BIL one of those earpieces that sounds an

alarm if your head tips forward or back? It's terrible that he would have to use this, but it would wake him instantly if he fell asleep. He might feel more in control of the situation.

God knows I couldn't stay awake at 3 a.m. and I'm not 72.

[raging moderate]

8. The word "debts" should be in quotation marks, as it was probably rigged.

Clever financial speculators have never been called to account for the monstrous scams that have been perpetrated on these hardworking small farm families. Your wife's brother is a hero who helped to feed the nation for most of his life and continually turned in an honest day's work contributing to the economy.

It is disgraceful that he should be placed in this position at his age, and it shows massive contempt for the honest, practical, hardworking people who built up the civilization which the upper-income people so mindlessly assume was created only for their own greedy little selves. And if they get their way and Social Security is dismantled/privatized/streamlined, then the true purpose behind all their doubletalk will come to pass, and this fine man's tragedy will become the norm.

Tell your wife's brother that he has NOTHING to be ashamed of. He has EARNED every dime he has received, and a great deal more besides. As somebody who has TRIED to grow food so I KNOW how hard it really is, and as somebody who enjoys eating, I am grateful to him and everybody like him.

[KansDem]

16. The golden lining is he has four successful children

Two sons and two daughters.

Both of his sons joined the military after high school and made careers of it. They are now retired and working in the private sector using the skills and education gleaned from their military careers.

His daughters are doing well, opting to marry and raise families.

He has been divorced for many years, and now rents the room he grew up in. That's right! When the farmhouse was sold, the buyer, a family acquaintance, offered to rent his room to him! So other than a broken-down pickup truck, that's all he has.

But his four children are doing fine and for that he's grateful.

[SheilaT]

37. Couldn't the children help him out

a little?

[KansDem]

70. Good question...

They might doing a little to help him.

He gave me, my wife, and our two children $25 checks for Christmas. That's $100!

I told my wife on the way home that considering his situation, he shouldn't be handing out such checks. She seemed to think he wouldn't if he really didn't want to. I thought a simple card would be enough, at least for the adults.

I would imagine his children do offer some kind of help: I just don't know how much or to what extent.

[roody]

54. His children should support him.

He should retire. He probably doesn't want that.

[riderinthestorm]

88. I hope they're helping him! My husband and I helped his dad monthly for years

$200/month. He had 7 children and during a family meeting it was decided we'd all chip in whatever we could afford monthly. No idea how much anyone else chipped in but I know everybody contributed something every month.

4 successful children chipping in even $100/month would probably help enormously...

[KansDem]

91. That's an excellent plan!

I asked my wife if his children were helping him and she wasn't sure. But I would think they are, especially from time to time when a little extra is necessary.

He lives an extremely austere lifestyle (rents a room, drives an old pickup truck, no frivolities or going out except on special occasions), so just a little would do a lot.

[Warpy]

9. I've worked with nurses that vintage

who had tried to retire at 65 and found that the nursing pension plus Social Security weren't enough to pay the bills. They were often back at work in as little as three years, working part time as nurses because the pension was ridiculously low and at a fixed dollar amount that just didn't reflect the inflation we're not supposed to notice.

Nursing is a backbreaking job when you're in your 20s. I managed until my late 50s when my body fell apart. I can't imagine trying to cope with a 70+ year old body.

The system combines the utmost cruelty with the worst short sightedness. And now workers won't have even the security of a pension, just 401K plans that were long ago eaten up by broker and manager fees.

[Ilsa]

11. Can you imagine SS being pushed off until 67 or 70?

I would ask the politicians voting for that to consider if they want a 70 year old nurse doing chest compressions on their loved one.

Hospital staff nursing is grueling. Most other nursing jobs will also run a nurse ragged.

[Warpy]

14. The problem is that Congress is so coddled

They think that because they can still make phone calls and cast a few votes at 70, the rest of us can do physically demanding jobs, as well.

I hope the next revolution hauls every single one of them out and makes him dig ditches for 6 months so he'll know how bodies feel when they have to do actual work.

The retirement age needs to be lowered, not raised.

[klook]

12. He's living the nightmare we all have.

I'm really sorry to hear about this.

I confess, my first response was to suggest he join DU so he can read & post on the job -- he'll be too pissed off to sleep!

But this is no laughing matter. It's so awful for somebody who should be able to retire to have to keep working these crappy hours and putting up with abusive management.

[B Calm]

13. That is hard hours to work. Sometime during the night

it hits you like a brick wall and no matter what, you need to close your eyes for a little while (10 to 15 minutes). I use to call them power naps back when I was driving an 18 wheeler.

Pretty shitty of the company to treat him that way!

[KansDem]

19. "...you need to close your eyes for a little while"

I turn 61 next month and I find myself now nodding off while sitting on the couch in the evenings.

I can't imagine how a 72 year-old copes. Probably will, though, in 11 years.

[firsttimer]

15. Unless you are born wealthy or work for the Federal or State government retirement is a

MYTH talked about but it will never be achieved by the blue collar working class .


not anymore , we will work till we die

[Common Sense Party]

33. Retirement is not a myth.

It's a goal for some people. Some will attain it, some will not. Some who don't attain it will not be able to due to circumstances beyond their control. Some other people make choices that make it difficult to attain.

But thousands are reaching that goal every day. Some of them find that retirement is everything they dreamed of. Some hate it.

Saying categorically that "retirement is a myth" is the same as saying that "a healthy weight and lifestyle is a myth."

[firsttimer]

46. That's bullshit

Tell me how many people you know that have been able to retire making 25,000 to 40,000 a year


If you don't have a federal or state pension you work until you die as a blue collar worker
in the richest country in the world.

[Common Sense Party]

51. How many? At least four dozen.

It's not BS. It's not as common as it should be, but your idea that it is impossible is just that...your idea.

[yeoman6987]

66. Retirement is not a myth

As long as you save and invest and not blow your money, you will be able to retire. From day one, they told everyone to save 10 percent of your earnings. It is really not that much to save. Hopefully people are even saving more than that.

[bvar22]

75. Your post sounds like more conservative "Blame the Victim" Reagan BS.

It also takes a Whole Lotta Luck for a member of the Working Class to achieve that American Dream.

*Nobody in your family has a catastrophic accident or illness that will wipe out your "savings", even with insurance.

*Your employer doesn't steal your retirement funds.

*Wall Street doesn't steal your retirement funds.

*The US Government doesn't steal your Social Security.

*An "Act of God" doesn't wipe out your planned retirement home, with or without insurance.

*A "freak accident" doesn't happen on your property,
and a court finds you liable for the damages.

*You aren't wrongfully accused of a felony, and jailed.
(Est. 10,000 Americans per year)
http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/ronhuff.htm

*Inflation over the 40 years of your working life don't make your retirement plans a joke.

*Your profession doesn't get shipped overseas at mid-life,
forcing you to live off "savings" until you can land that job at McDonalds or WalMart.

There are dozens of other scenarios where you can do everything RIGHT,
and still get fucked over in the US today.

If you want to hear God laugh,
tell Him what YOUR plans are.

[yeoman6987]

86. So only conservatives save money?

That is basically what your post says. Who woulda thunk it. I am very liberal but saved beginning at 18. My parents instilled that in me not any political party.

[bvar22]

89. BS.

Fortunately, I am currently retired and my Wife & I are doing OK,
but instead of patting ourselves on the back and congratulating ourselves on how smart we are,
we fully recognize that we are GAWD DAMMED LUCKY to have survived the gauntlet.
Not a day goes by that we don;t thank our lucky stars.

Retirement should NOT be a matter of LUCK.
In the richest country in The WORLD,
a comfortable retirement should be GUARANTEED.

There was a time when the Democratic Party agreed,
and worked to that end.
(SEE: FDR's 2nd Bill of Rights)
Sadly, the Party has moved so far to the conservative RIGHT,
that they now agree with you.

How do you know that the 72 year old didn't do Everything Exactly Right,
and have his retirement stolen from hiom by a crooked corporation or Wall Street crooks?

Any ONE of the above scenarios may happen to YOU, or any one of us.
(Unless YOU are a member of the privileged 1%.. then your losses are covered by the Public Treasury)

How will YOU like it when some smug conservative tells you
that You should have planned for that.
Too bad YOU are still working at 72 years old,
but like I said... You shoulda planned for that tornado and Wall Street/Political corruption.

Not everyone has been born with the blessings you take for granted.
Now take your Randian bootstraps and Reaganesque "personal responsibility" and put them where the sun don't shine.

[yeoman6987]

90. Another outlook

We do have a guaranteed retirement. Social Security is a beginning and then various other avenues are there. Yes of course something bad can happen. You could also be dead by the time retirement begins. Life happens, but you prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

[Douglas Carpenter]

92. not just a conservative - but a rightwing extremist - take a look at his comments at the top of the

page - then google his user name at the top of the page and see what else he has been peddling

[Bradical79]

82. "As long as you save and invest and not blow your money, you will be able to retire."

[MyOwnPeace]

17. Let the barbs begin..............

I, too, have feelings for the guy, but, due consideration must be given for the responsibilities he has in that current position. He's responsible for security - keeping things from being stolen, or keeping "bad guys" out of the place. It IS a position of importance and should not be taken lightly (not that I'm saying he was doing so - it just is something that comes with the job description).

Perhaps it would be better if the company could place him in a position that was not so critical to the "security" of the place.

Again, I feel for the guy, but.................should we ignore 9/11 because Bush & Co. were asleep on their watch (I know, it's really a S T R E T C H, but I think you get the idea!).

I wish the gentleman well - a long and comfortable life without financial concerns!

[KansDem]

25. You have a valid point

The company needs to maintain security. It's just that he needs to be in a position that accommodates his age and physical health.

But, as a DUer pointed out above, if he gets fired, it could be he won't be able to pull unemployment insurance. That will make it very tough for him to get by.

He's between the proverbial rock and hard place. It doesn't have to be this way...

[Demo_Chris]

50. The issue is that there are only so many jobs...

So it might be this job or nothing. Note as well that this company could have been aware that he might have issues with the hours, but decided to give him a shot anyway and despite his age.

I feel for the guy, and think it is ludicrous that this wealthy country cannot provide for our children and elderly -- for EVERYONE who needs help, screw age -- but I also hold this company blameless. If he cannot do the job he is being paid to do then it's hardly fair to criticize the company for coming down on him.

[AtheistCrusader]

35. If the position was so vital, to guard whatever, they could staff the job properly.

Meaning appropriate breaks, stimulation, etc. Also redundancy. Night shift work has this sort of effect on some people regardless.

I'm immune to circadian rhythm type stuff, but few of my co-workers are. Maybe one or two other people in the company like me. I've caught everyone else zoning/dozing from time to time.

People immune to that, jet lag, and other interruptions in your internal clock are not common, and fuck it, I don't even know, it's probably some sort of disorder that I can do it.


Proper labor protections would mean, in this case, lighting designed to dissuade the body from interpreting it as night time. Frequent breaks. Side stimulation. Buddy System. Etc.

[Rabrrrrrr]

43. and I imagine he got the job because he would work cheap - and a company that wants cheap security

is a company that doesn't particularly care about security.

Owner: "We've got a million bucks worth of equipment and capital and secrets in here!"

Onlooker dude: "Jesus, you must have some serious high paid security!"

Owner: "Fuck that. That's money out of my pocket. I got a sleepy old guy watching cameras in a dark room all night who even if there were a break in couldn't do a damn thing about it except call 911 and explain to the cops, once they arrive after all the shit is gone, what the robbers might have looked like. Then I'll fire the old guy, and let insurance pay me back. Maybe even sue the old guy."

Onlooker: "That's a seriously fucking dumb security plan."

Owner: "I'm Republican."

[AtheistCrusader]

45. That's pretty much it.

'Wow, our employee was negligent. Cut me a fat check from the insurance, and let insurance go after that guy."

[GeorgeGist]

18. This is why we can't have nice things.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

42. Yet another 70+ guy who used to nod off on duty.

[valerief]

61. Badda bing! nt

[MADem]

20. I have a relative who was FIRED for the same reason; same hours, too.

He was diabetic and they set the heat to close to eighty degrees with no way for him to open a window or turn it down.

I managed to get him unemployment compensation by attending the hearings where the corporation where he worked were trying to claim that he was somehow "negligent" and brought it on himself and acting as his advocate. I brought witness statements, threatened to take them to the court of public opinion, and called them every name in the book. I really think the tool they sent had never heard the phrase "usurious bastards" before.

The judge hearing the case called them everything short of assholes, too, and ruled in his favor. Not a pretty time, though--much stress, so unnecessary.

He went on a quest for another job but without a good reference from the place he'd just left (where he'd maxed out on their pay chart--but a replacement would start on the bottom of their shitty little pay scale), and despite glowing ones from previous employers, and because he was quite experienced in what he did and would merit a larger paycheck than a twenty year old, AND because the job market sucked, AND because he was of a certain age, he had no luck.

He had a stroke a year later--a big one. Damn near died. Oh, never smoked or drank, so it wasn't lifestyle. Now he's on disability.

Thanks to the free MA health care that Commonwealth citizens enjoy, he got the best medical support to include aftercare that 'socialized medicine' could buy.

[mountain grammy]

21. Outrageous that people who want to retire are forced to keep working

just to live. That is the absolutely craziest thing, because just the other day on CBS Sunday Morning there was an interesting story. Bill Koch loves wine, so he spends $4.5 million on rare wine that turns out to be fake, so he spends another $25 million chasing down the defrauders. Plus he owns around 40,000 bottles of expensive wine in his various homes.

Are we in the same fucking country? Does anyone see that this is completely unsustainable?

I'm sorry, this story just made me think of the other one. Don't know why..

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/counterfeit-wine-a-vintage-crime/

[The Wizard]

23. Seniors forced into demaning work

for pennies just to stay alive is the Republican elite plan to kill off the baby boom generation. In a word, attrition.

[Kali]

24. god what a sad situation

I have angry tears leaking from my eyes.

and not just for him, but all who are trapped by these situations while obscene wealth and power are flaunted constantly by others.

I did have one potentially useful thought - only because I am so familiar, can he be checked for sleep apnea? It can certainly affect your supposed "awake" time if you aren't actually sleeping during your "sleep" time. I know night work is hard anyway and it sounds like he is just not getting any stimulus to stay awake but I thought I would throw it out there, just in case.

[KansDem]

26. I never thought of that...

"...can he be checked for sleep apnea?"

I run this by my wife. Maybe that will help.

[loudsue]

64. My SiL has sleep apnea really bad, and he's only 33....falls asleep in the middle of dinner

falls asleep at work, driving---all in all, it can be a real problem.

Also....This man needs to find a different job.

[bvar22]

76. This man needs to find a different job ???!!!

He is 72 years old!
He shouldn't have to work at all.

[loudsue]

80. So true. n/t

[bvar22]

84. I think I owe you an apology.

I read your post as blaming the Old Guy for not finding a better job.
After re-reading, it looks like you were commenting on the WorkPlace, and NOT the Old Guy who fell asleep.
My Bad.
Mea Culpa.

Have a Happy New Year.

[loudsue]

85. You were right in your reply about he needs not to have to work, though.

If he DOES have to work, I sure as hell wish he had a work place that was more suitable. Actually, bvar22, with all the stories I hear every day about people's jobs, I'm not sure there IS a more suitable work place for anybody. Seems like companies have decided that workers are just slaves with a small paycheck, and they treat people like they are disposable, and not human. It's bad even for kids my daughter's age (32) . People are really being treated terribly in the work place.

No culpa.... you're good.

A very happy New Year to you, as well.

[awoke_in_2003]

27. Night shift is a young persons game...

and it isn't totally easy when you are young, either. I finally got off midnights six years ago. Second shift is tolerable, as has the bennies of 10% differential and minimal management to breathe down my neck. Thirds get 15%, but it ain't worth it.

[sulphurdunn]

28. Jesus said we will

always have the poor with us, but we could significantly reduce their numbers by disemboweling (Ooops! I meant to say disempowering) the assholes.

[Thinkingabout]

29. I have also retired and am currently working as a security guard. Falling asleep is not

Reserved for the older employees but we find younger ones doing the same. There have been young and old terminated for sleeping on the job. It could be dangerous to let this happen since most of the time you are on a lone wolf site. There is a liability if an incident occurs so it results a lots of responsibility placed on security officers and low pay. What should be important to realize our senior citizens have a difficult time making ends meet with Social Security on average of $1200 a month. Congress is wanting to cut the entitlements but want to continue subsidies to their corporate friends. We waste big bucks voting over and over on repealing Obamacare with the same results.

[littlewolf]

78. we had the same problem the cure we came up with is this.

we work 12 hrs, 7 p.m. to 7 am. half way thru we switch to different posts.
we have some folks that are mobile, truck or ATV's. and some are on
static posts, after 6 hours the mobile posts switch with the static posts.
it really helps.

[grilled onions]

34. If I Was A Fly

Imagine how many CEO's,how many below him who spend their day writing up people with real or imaginary infractions! Imagine how many of them come in late,take a longer than normal lunch...yet they are the ones who look for anyone who they feel is breaking rules/not doing his duty. If it was a market where they could not find enough workers this crap would stop. Right now they can sadly get away with it and yes it is very sad that we have so many that age who still have to work. Isn't it funny(in a sad way) that they feel you useless at 50 but still feel you should be working past 70!!!

[PatrynXX]

36. there is alot of anger of late

forced to do more with less. uncle was recently fired because he's getting older and he found out a much younger guy with little knowledge was hired instead

and then there's the fedex guy throwing packages. I don't exactly blame him for doing so. People being forced to hit a timeline or deadline by a certain hour are going to be in a rush. If the package is damaged thats FedEx's companies fault. Not any one employee. So basically they fired an employee who had a rough day. Makes me less likely to use FedEx.

[SheilaT]

38. The very specific problem here is his hours,

working a graveyard shift. If he'd started doing this forty or more years ago, he'd be just fine with those hours. But at his age, his body wants to go to sleep at 9pm and wake up at 5am. It's a very, very difficult adjustment.

One piece of advice to pass to him is to tell him that he needs to maintain those overnight hours on his days off and NOT revert to staying up during the day. He ought to be able to adjust to this overnight shift, but it will be difficult.

I just hope he can (since he, alas, needs to work) find a job that's a daytime job.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

40. k and r...this is sickening. America the heartless.

I've said that before. Here I'm saying it again.

Too cruel ... it's just so wrong. So wrong.

[smokey nj]

41. Working overnight is incredibly difficult. I worked (and my husband still works) midnight to 8 am,

on slow nights it was almost impossible to stay awake and lots of people dozed off. Most of the people on the shift were more than half your brother-in-law's age.

[japple]

44. This really makes me sad. He should not *have* to be working unless it's something

he chooses to do. There should be a social safety net that encompasses all citizens.

Until we can make more positive changes in our society, your BIL should invest in one of those devices that alerts you whenever your head starts to drop. Edit to link to one of those devices: http://www.superjiggler.com/snooze-alert-driving-sleep-alarm.htm

[pengillian101]

48. That looks like a great idea! n/t

[bluestate10]

49. There is no reason why a 72 year old person should have to work unless that person WANTS

to work. I agree, we need a stronger safety net for senior citizens.

[man4allcats]

55. Our society doesn't care what happens to you.

In fact, if they deem you are a weight they hope you will die soon. I am 65 years old, and though I am educated I find that my own options in this economy are limited. I wish this man well.

[47of74]

59. Sometimes I think life in this country is an endless nightmare.

[niyad]

56. does anybody remember the exact story of chimpy, during one of his public appearances, upon

being introduced to a person well past retirement age, working three jobs, and saying something like "isn't america great?"

[Cleita]

57. I agree he shouldn't be working at his age and be expected to perform

like he is twenty. I am nearly seventy four and looking for a part time job because my pension, SS included, has become insufficient to meet my needs and my needs are modest. Yet, I am in good health for my age as your BIL is probably as well. We just aren't that able to be as bouncy as a younger person. I haven't found a job because the job market sucks. I try to pick up jobs pet sitting and such, but it's sporadic. I hope your BIL doesn't get into too much trouble at work. I feel for him as I was in a similar situation and got into trouble at my last job because I made some mistakes in misfiling. I think it was my eyesight was diminishing. A younger lady came in and yelled at me because according to her the alphabet was obvious.

I really was thinking about it and wonder if the states might pick up a supplemental pension to Social Security according to making up for cost of living depending on the state you are living in. I think it would help. I know. I dream.

[Ka hrnt]

58. Indeed a sad story...sorry to hear.

It's also (yet another) reminder that accountability is only for the little guy...

[FlaGranny]

62. When I was younger

I couldn't imagine being able to work for another 30 years or another 20 years or even another 10 years until I was 65. It seemed like torture. Now that I'm 73 years old I can't imagine not working until I either die or cannot do the job any more. I do part time office work. My husband is 74 and works for himself. He has a small janitor service - no employees. He works 6 to 7 days a week. He has slowed down over the years to about 6-8 hours a day instead of 10 or more. We see no pathway to "retirement," even though we are both "tired." We made a living all our lives, never had to rely on any kind of help, and managed to put two boys through college. It was always financially tight, but at least now we have no mortgage to worry about - we downsized from our nice, average home to an older mobile home. Never saved any money because every time we tried there was some emergency that took it all.

At this point I've finally accepted that we'll always be working until we are dead or mentally unfit. I don't feel sorry for us because we are way, way better off than millions of others and there other millions just like us. I guess I just feel fortunate to be independent. In 2014 we turn 75 and 74. The bones are getting weary.

[Schema Thing]

74. Inspiring. So uniquely American!

[BigDemVoter]

81. REALLY terrible for the poor guy. . . .

But one thing is that the security company is paying for somebody to WORK, not sleep. . . .

A better safety net would solve this problem which would mean that people his age wouldn't find themselves in a position where they have to work. . . .

[bvar22]

83. The Democratic Party of FDR & LBJ fought to make sure this didn't happen to our elderly.

Last edited Wed Jan 1, 2014, 01:38 AM - Edit history (1)

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be [font size=3]established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.[/font]

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

---FDR, SOTU, 1944

Please note that FDR specified the above as Fundamental Human Rights,
and NOT as COMMODITIES to be SOLD to Americans by For Profit Corporations.

There was a time in my living memory when voting FOR The Democrat
was voting FOR the above Fundamental Human Rights.
Sadly, this is no longer true.

How FAR we have fallen.


[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center] [center] [/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]


You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[Unrepentant Fenian]

87. He may be able to get a note from a doctor...

He may be able to get a note from a doctor explaining it as a medical condition. This might save his job. I hope this helps.