Sub-Zero Tolerance

I live within walking distance of my job. It is a few blocks and across a very busy highway. I’m usually able to make it to work despite the weather, but this time I just had to call out. My boss was not pleased.

Boss: “You can’t be serious! You’re basically across the street. Surely, you can walk.”

Me: “No chance, sorry. Normally I would, and you know that, but I’m fully snowed in.”

Boss: “You have to. No one else can make it.”

Me: “Uh, maybe close the store, then? It can’t be safe, especially with the roads iced over. Someone’s going to drive into the store again. A state of emergency was declared thanks to this blizzard; surely we can close.”

Boss: “Can’t, corporate said to stay open. Look, I know it’ll suck, but you have to come in tonight. You are able to walk; you’ve done it before. You HAVE to come in.”

Me: “I opened my front door, and the snow was up to my rib cage. That is a lot of snow. I would have to cross my apartment complex’s parking lot, walk six blocks, cross the highway, and clear the store’s parking lot, all of which is not shoveled and comes either to my waist or my chest, depending on the area. It is negative fifteen degrees outside, still snowing, and with a windchill of negative thirty. I can’t make it in and will be staying home for my own safety.”

Boss: “You might not have a job when this is over if you don’t come in tonight! We’ll sleep in the office if we have to; it’ll be fine.”

Me: *Pauses.* “That sucks and all, but I’m not willing to risk hypothermia for this job. I’m hanging up now. I hope you get home safely.”

I did still have a job, but I was written up. My boss did indeed wind up staying the night in her office, and fired a handful of people who refused to come in. I managed to get my write-up tossed, the firings were overturned, my boss was promoted to District Manager, and I began looking for a new job.