Expert: Thomas R. Ballas - 10/26/2009

Question
I am a Dispatcher working in a non unionized company,
reacently I was suspended for 3 days without pay for what my Boss deamed as my lack of failing to report to him that a shipment would arrive at a customer late.
How could I possibly know that a shipment would arrive late if I was
not in the truck with the driver?
Also am I not entitled to a verbal or written warning first.

Answer
Mr. Davie:

Company policy dictates how discipline is accessed.  Usually, employees are given warnings before they are suspended, but progressive discipline is not a matter of state or federal law. Companies may discipline as they see fit, as long as they do not do so on the basis of race, age, gender, religion or ethnic background.

As to how you may know something is going to be late, the only thing I can think of is you could know the driver has a one hour drive to the destination, but the time due at destination is 10 minutes from now, (as example).


Tom Ballas