Sorry boss. I don’t die for nobody. Oh you want to fire me? I’m sure the Department of Labor and OSHA would love to hear about how you forced us to stay in a dangerous environment under threat of termination. I’m sure that’ll end super swell for you.
Not arguing, but how? How would this not be a slam dunk for a labor law lawyer? The law is pretty clear on prohibiting threats of termination in the face of danger.
You are correct but you have to survive not being paid long enough to win the court case. Sometimes even when people know their rights they are living paycheck to paycheck and cannot risk being fired.
For some families, that’s the reality, not being paid means no housing, no food, no medications. For people who have dangerous debt, not having available money could be a threat to their life.
Obviously your life is priceless, but we’ve developed a system where you simply can’t live without money, and put people in circumstances where the money in their hand now is worthy more to their survival today than twice as much money in their hand tomorrow.
Right, but if you die, your family might only see the life insurance settlement from your workplace group insurance. They won’t see any further benefits and they lose a family member. There is nothing to gain and everything to lose by putting yourself in harm’s way to appease your employer who is acting unlawfully.
That’s a windfall payment and one less mouth to feed in the long run. Morbid, Yes, it’s not the best long term solution but anything you can do to survive true poverty never is.
What’s to say losing your job doesn’t have 3 of you dying from exposure in your car a week after you’re evicted?
If you haven’t lived the trauma of life and death poverty, I’m glad, but I don’t think it’s something that can be fully explained.
Trauma changes the way your brain processes risk, people living in chronic poverty don’t have the same risk assessment framework as you.
The part of your workday that you’re most likely to die during is your commute, especially if you drive, which is not covered by DoL or OSHA.
ETA: Okay, if you’re a crab fisherman or salvage diver maybe your job is more dangerous. But for almost every job I can think of driving to work is more dangerous than everything you do.
The part of your workday that you’re most likely to die during is your commute, especially if you drive, which is not covered by DoL or OSHA.
FWIW this is because of DoL and OSHA making sure that once you get to work they have to keep you reasonably safe. This was not always the case in the past.
Your comment doesn’t really address my point. I’m talking about people who died at work who were threatened with termination if they attempted to leave a dangerous work environment.
Sorry boss. I don’t die for nobody. Oh you want to fire me? I’m sure the Department of Labor and OSHA would love to hear about how you forced us to stay in a dangerous environment under threat of termination. I’m sure that’ll end super swell for you.
Sadly, it might end just fine for the boss. The employee would be better off going to the press first.
Song along with me!
🎵 It always will end up fine… When you’re rich! When it’s capitalism controlling the ship! 🎵
Not arguing, but how? How would this not be a slam dunk for a labor law lawyer? The law is pretty clear on prohibiting threats of termination in the face of danger.
You are correct but you have to survive not being paid long enough to win the court case. Sometimes even when people know their rights they are living paycheck to paycheck and cannot risk being fired.
Did you just say you would rather die than not get paid?
For some families, that’s the reality, not being paid means no housing, no food, no medications. For people who have dangerous debt, not having available money could be a threat to their life.
Obviously your life is priceless, but we’ve developed a system where you simply can’t live without money, and put people in circumstances where the money in their hand now is worthy more to their survival today than twice as much money in their hand tomorrow.
I’m just grateful that’s not my situation.
Right, but if you die, your family might only see the life insurance settlement from your workplace group insurance. They won’t see any further benefits and they lose a family member. There is nothing to gain and everything to lose by putting yourself in harm’s way to appease your employer who is acting unlawfully.
That’s a windfall payment and one less mouth to feed in the long run. Morbid, Yes, it’s not the best long term solution but anything you can do to survive true poverty never is.
What’s to say losing your job doesn’t have 3 of you dying from exposure in your car a week after you’re evicted?
If you haven’t lived the trauma of life and death poverty, I’m glad, but I don’t think it’s something that can be fully explained.
Trauma changes the way your brain processes risk, people living in chronic poverty don’t have the same risk assessment framework as you.
The part of your workday that you’re most likely to die during is your commute, especially if you drive, which is not covered by DoL or OSHA.
ETA: Okay, if you’re a crab fisherman or salvage diver maybe your job is more dangerous. But for almost every job I can think of driving to work is more dangerous than everything you do.
I think imminent natural disaster trumps that just a tad bit.
FWIW this is because of DoL and OSHA making sure that once you get to work they have to keep you reasonably safe. This was not always the case in the past.
In my state, as long as you don’t make any stops between home and work, you are covered by workers compensation.
I’m glad to hear that. It’s at least something.
Every time I hear about a fatal crash during rush hour I feel terrible for the person who died going to work.
Your comment doesn’t really address my point. I’m talking about people who died at work who were threatened with termination if they attempted to leave a dangerous work environment.