Sick Note Railway

[DSY011]

First Great Western's Seven Beach Line had 27 train cancellations in one week so called due to staff shortages (out sick). On Saturday 22nd December there were 11 trains cancelled, the busiest shopping day before Christmas.
FGW runs 30 services a day between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach during the week and 32 on Saturdays (no Sunday service). It is also belived that the staff shortages also hides the lack of availability of trains due to mechanical failure. So where is the 'Great' in First Great Western?

[locojoe]

Putting the blame for cancellations on to staff shortages (out sick). What a load of twaddle. They find it easier to blame the staff rather than to own up to their own bad management.

[Foghut]

There is a great myth perpetuated by the media that 'pulling sickies' is rife across the railway - in fact the oppposite is true. Staff regularly come in when they're sick because they are threatened with the sack

Most companies including the First Group operate a harsh and unpopular system called "Managing For Attendance". A computer monitors absence and automatically starts the sacking process by calling you up for stage 1 as soon as you trip the pre-arranged criteria.

Once on Stage 1 you are monitored more closely, with the possibilty of being of being placed on Stage 2. If you are on Stage 2 and do not improve, you will arrive at Stage 3.

Stage 3 is where they simply hand you your P60.

Since this is written into your T&Cs, there is nothing that a union or a solicitor can do to stop it. The purpose of MFA is to deal with your inability to generate revenue, and not to question your sickness.

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Please note, I am not criticising the above system....I simply intended to provide information to those unfamiliar with the system. Indeed if MFA were carried out properly by strong & wise managers, it would be an excellent system - sadly this rarely occurs, with good staff being intimdated and naughty people playing the system for all they can get.