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Lars(wi) 
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 Topic: How do you guys………..
Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 10:47am |
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and gals handle calls from work, when you are on days off?
A little background, my dear wife who spent the majority of her working career in either a State or University employee, goes absolutely apoplectic when my employer calls me at home on my days off, she will rant & rave for 1/2 an hour afterwards if I answer the call.
She claims when she worked, even when she a supervisor or lead worker, she/they never ever would call somebody at home, no matter the circumstances, even if the ‘place was on fire’, she says employees should never be called when on days off/vacation etc.
How do you guys, and gals handle this situation?
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I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
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Trawler II
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 11:24am |
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Different strokes for different folks. In other words, different workplaces don't share the same culture and expectations. Also, depends on what your position is at your company. You know what yours is, that should guide your decision, not the experience of someone else at theirs.
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"Most people find it easier to believe a simple lie, than the complex truth"
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DMiller
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 11:38am |
Under a Union, my previous employer could call to Canvass a OT Opportunity, to call for information had to be paid a Minimum 2 hour clock time. The challenges were made during my time at the power station and not once did they ever NOT pay the 2 hour minimum if called any on my crew.
If on Vacation, the employer IN NO WAY could call a employee except management persons, they could be called in regardless where or how much money would lose to come back to site. Union could NOT be contacted until returned to normal hours first day after off Vacation.
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Thad in AR.
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 11:52am |
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My wife gets upset if I get calls from work sometimes.
Not only does my boss call but other subs and clients call.
I don’t charge time for them unless it’s a client I don’t care for and I find bothersome.
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Pat the Plumber CIL
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 12:56pm |
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What are these "days off" which you speak of ?
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You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails
1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF.
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JC-WI
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 1:06pm |
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The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that."
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Tbone95
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 1:26pm |
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I don't get called too often, but it happens. When someone calls, I help that friend, wife could care less, and we go on with our day. Ke sara sara
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klinemar
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 2:03pm |
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I agree with Pat! What's a day off? Even when I worked at MDOT when my Supervisor called he wasn't asking me to go to the Movies!
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jaybmiller
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 3:56pm |
It's truly amazes me how some are soooooo dedicated to the 'company' that they forgo any quality time with family and friends.... Frankly, if you answer the phone ,you're either the 'key man' and getting paid a million a month OR you're a fool. Life is way too short to not enjoy as much time as you can with friends and family.
Now if you're self employed, that's different but only IF whatever the call's about IS and emergency, like 'furnace broke, no water or too much........'
it was expected that I put in 10-12 hours overtime every month and wear a pager ( late 70s). when I asked what I'd be PAID to wear the pager.... ZERO came up. Hmm, I mumbled about doing beer proof related pager dumpings at the local bar...... so I never wore a pager...
been retired 1/2 my life( turn 70 in May), disconnected phone in garage, NO cellphone either AND landline now has call display,after 3rd ring 'please leave a message' comes on...1 out of 100 actually leave a message.
heck, my truck's in the shop. I will NOT call to ask 'is it done ?' cause I know the mechanic has to answer the phone and I'd rather him WORK on problems than take my silly call. He's tried hiring 2 class A mechanics for 4 years....none want to work...so he's super busy.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 4:06pm |
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Maintenance problems occur 24/7.... problem is many factories only have 8 or 16 hours coverage.... When some equip is down and costing the company $1000.s per hour, you need help... Some people are the "GO TO GUYS" that answer the phone and setup the plan.. Some are the "GO TO GUYS" to actually do the physical work... It takes a crew to get the job DONE on time and keep things running.. I use to get a couple calls a week, for 20 years .... its part of the job. You dont always have to "go in and work".. sometimes they just need advice or guidance.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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DMiller
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 5:14pm |
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Funny should Note That Steve. Were Eight of us that pretty well knew the mechanisms at the nuke as to support systems, knew how, why and when to Trick a system to run and either direct to a drain to flush or adjust flows to break up media beds, so on and so on. Many of us could tell by noise where a problem was starting. Newbies, DID NOT Want to learn that, Evaded all such as was NOT polished Proceduralized processes where if Caught doing something COULD LIKELY end up in hot water, should it fail. So laid it at 'The Old Guys' feet wandering away. Within a YEAR of my own and department Stewards retirements all but two 'Old Guys' retired, two additional WE Trained and accepted said trick factoring were still on where that has dropped to JUST those two. Are six crews, plant is in the crapper nearly all of the time now and the last two have given up as they CANNOT save it all. Plant ended up on INPO's bad list, with many of the remaining US Nukes suffering Similar fates. Old Technology, hit it with a hammer once in a while Technology, and the High Tech Newbies CANNOT deal with it so leave it fail. Will not be long and most plants will be up for sale at bargain basement prices or shuttered and closed.
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Ed (Ont)
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 5:31pm |
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I agree with Steve. I worked at an IH truck dealership and answered phone many times on weekends. Usually managed to help in some way and often averted a disaster on Monday morn. Sometimes was as simple explaining that I was not at work and give out the correct number to call.
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Lars(wi)
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 5:40pm |
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Thanks for the replies everyone, mainly my challenge is the wife, she goes bonkers when work calls. I know this is not The Dr Phil show(lol), but just curious how others would handle this.
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I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
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DanWi
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 9:30pm |
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Wifes previous job had to call her on a day off because they changed the product on the machine she normally ran and nobody else knew the setting that needed to be changed to get that product to run good. Mechanics at the truck shop when I used to drive semi usually didn't mind call ins, like to change a flat tire, they said they got 2 hours pay at time and a half.
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Coke-in-MN
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 9:47pm |
I got a 3 hour pay for calls if I went in to plant , so if i was not busy the 15 minute trip to hit the time clock reset some alarm and fill out time card punch out was worth the OT pay. A couple times when I was just on shop crew and got called the manager told me it was time and a half - not double time . So I would set for a hour or so until I got double time or start my day when i punched in and then leave after 8 hours and be gone the next day . After doing that a few times then just paid the 3 hours and never said more . When I was on Haz Mat Emergency Coordinator - it was 24 / 7 on call and many times it was a 8 hour Double time call when you showed up .
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Life lesson: If you’re being chased by a lion, you’re on a horse, to the left of you is a giraffe and on the right is a unicorn, what do you do? You stop drinking and get off the carousel.
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Steve in NJ
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 11:42pm |
I don't get any calls from the company anymore. I retired. It's great!.................  The second week I was home after I retired I said to Jo Jo, "awful quiet round' here ain't it"? Phone ain't ringin' anymore........  
Steve@B&B
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KJCHRIS
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Posted: 08 Feb 2023 at 11:50pm |
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For me @ last 3 jobs it was part of job description before being hired, you must be available if needed 24-7, holidays. Even had new hires sign a form that they understood that along with mandatory Over Time the 24-7 call-ins are part of job.
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darrel in ND
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Posted: 09 Feb 2023 at 5:15am |
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Has all depended upon the boss for me. When I worked for the farm equipment dealership, I was good friends with the boss and his family. They went above and beyond for me many times, so I returned the favor. I answered the phone from boss, co workers, and even customers at any hour. I've worked for a few that could kiss my a$$ before I would answer on my day off. Where I work now, I would answer gladly if they called, but their policy is that they won't. And when it comes to my farming operation, I am just kind of here whenever I'm not at the day job.
Darrel
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AC7060IL
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Posted: 09 Feb 2023 at 6:55am |
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Lars(WI), sounds like the calls are not a issue for you. But your wife has issue(s) with the calls. Somehow, talk to your wife to open her up about WHY. Try to get to the root of it. That’s the ONLY way anyone can Know & UNDERSTAND. It could be she had a bad experience at an earlier job? Maybe an embarrassment at some point? Maybe a disappointment at some point? Be open yourself, too. Any given reason might be pivotal on your accord(known/unknown)?
Once an understanding is achieved, a whole myriad of solutions may evolve - for the both of you. Good luck.
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Tbone95
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Posted: 09 Feb 2023 at 8:12am |
 jaybmiller wrote:
It's truly amazes me how some are soooooo dedicated to the 'company' that they forgo any quality time with family and friends.... Frankly, if you answer the phone ,you're either the 'key man' and getting paid a million a month OR you're a fool. Life is way too short to not enjoy as much time as you can with friends and family.
Now if you're self employed, that's different but only IF whatever the call's about IS and emergency, like 'furnace broke, no water or too much........'
it was expected that I put in 10-12 hours overtime every month and wear a pager ( late 70s). when I asked what I'd be PAID to wear the pager.... ZERO came up. Hmm, I mumbled about doing beer proof related pager dumpings at the local bar...... so I never wore a pager...
been retired 1/2 my life( turn 70 in May), disconnected phone in garage, NO cellphone either AND landline now has call display,after 3rd ring 'please leave a message' comes on...1 out of 100 actually leave a message.
heck, my truck's in the shop. I will NOT call to ask 'is it done ?' cause I know the mechanic has to answer the phone and I'd rather him WORK on problems than take my silly call. He's tried hiring 2 class A mechanics for 4 years....none want to work...so he's super busy.
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Pretty funny to read this, then Steve's just below. "Dedication", well, it's called part of the job. I'm not "The Guy", I don't quite make a $million a month, but I am "A Guy" that knows some imortant things others don't.
Every policy, every statement of job duty, pretty much every communication of any significance in our company ends with the same sentence. "Nothing in this policy changes the at will nature of your employment." In other words, if you don't like it, there's the door, and if we don't want you working here anymore, we'll show ya out.
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DanWi
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Posted: 09 Feb 2023 at 8:46am |
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Even have this in farming last summer neighbor calls late afternoon, their big square baler broke and they had had hay and oatlage to bale and it was going to rain the next day. My nephew was going to pull his truck at the county fair that night and we were going to go as soon as wife got home from work. I went and got our big baler out of the shed and headed to the job, thought I could get it done quick and still make it to the fair. Turns out job is bigger then he made it sound on the phone and it took twice as long. But being the good neighbor I got it done because it was suppose to rain the next day. Thing is any other week the guy we baled for is gone with a trailer load of cows going to shows. Wife was mad we didn't get to the fair that night.
Edited by DanWi - 09 Feb 2023 at 8:48am
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dr p
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Posted: 09 Feb 2023 at 5:03pm |
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Don't really think it matters if you are self employed or not. Most people have generosity as their default setting. If someone is in a bind and they are fair to you, I think we are all willing to help. What pisses me off are the select few who missed their last appointment, haven't paid their bill and call me friday night at 6:01 set complaining that their kid has had a screaming toothache all day and now they are pissed off that I want cash if I have to drive back into the office.
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jaybmiller
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Posted: 09 Feb 2023 at 6:07pm |
After 11 years at STELCO, I found out the 'kid' 6 years junior to me was making $5,000 more than me ( think 1985 dollars) and even though I was tossed into the 'stockboy' position ( 500K inventory...no organization though) I was still expected to be on call,24/7 to FIX the online spectrometers,especially on weekends when the 5 others were no where to be found. Seems my knowledge of 'stock' and having a $10K Xray tube in stock, didn't equate to being as important as a 3yr degree( 1 had 2 +6 years 'training in the trenches'. So I'm a little 'sour' when it comes to 'big business' expecting overtime and answering the phone. BTW , if I solved the problem over the phone, ZERO into my pocket. One night, foreman calls, I decide to go in (4hrs pay ) as it was a nice warm summer night. Stopped at the gate, security didn't want to let me in(driving my spiffy CJ-5,no top,doors, windshield down. He was concerned if a 10 ton ingot fell on me, I'd be dead. I said 'Really, you THINK a cloth top will protect me ?' Still he didn't want me to pass so I said fine, YOU call the BOF superintendent (THE boss), call number xxxx and tell him why HE is NOT going to make HIS bonus tonight (special MIL grade steel ( high Boron).... I was in and out in less than 15 minutes. I did not appreciate the twofaces of management. I fully understand about 'farming' being a 24/7 career especially with animals..that's totally different that what I had to put up with.
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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)
Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water
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dr p
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Posted: 09 Feb 2023 at 7:20pm |
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Yeah, that is just getting boned, no lube
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 09 Feb 2023 at 9:28pm |
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yes, i have seen some difference in pay for "Degree" and "No degree"...... I know there were "Draftsman" in the ALLIS Design Dept in Springfield IL who made less than the "Engineers"... it was setup that way for years... This was about 1980 and the Company changed the rules to recognize "Draftsman" closer to the "Engineer" pay , so it depended more on the Years of Service and Qualifications.. So an OLD DRAFTSMAN could make more money than a YOUNG Engineers ........... I thought that was a good thing for the 50- 60 year old guys who had put in 30 years of service.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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HudCo
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Posted: 09 Feb 2023 at 10:17pm |
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we are open 8am to 6pm monday to friday closed saterday sunday and holidays please leave a message . if a customer calls and has a problem getting to the shop i will work with them , i have alot of customers that do shift work or rotating shifts and their are legit emergancys that need attention other than that the phone can ring all weekend , really only try to call poeple during bissness hour
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Thad in AR.
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Posted: 10 Feb 2023 at 5:29am |
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I worry a lot more about the calls not coming in than I worry about getting them.
With the direction we’re headed I’m grateful for every call.
My wife works nights and sleeps days. She gets calls from her work quite often and they know she should be sleeping.
Those do make me mad.
I can see both sides to this
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Tbone95
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Posted: 10 Feb 2023 at 6:58am |
jaybmiller wrote:
After 11 years at STELCO, I found out the 'kid' 6 years junior to me was making $5,000 more than me ( think 1985 dollars) and even though I was tossed into the 'stockboy' position ( 500K inventory...no organization though) I was still expected to be on call,24/7 to FIX the online spectrometers,especially on weekends when the 5 others were no where to be found. Seems my knowledge of 'stock' and having a $10K Xray tube in stock, didn't equate to being as important as a 3yr degree( 1 had 2 +6 years 'training in the trenches'. So I'm a little 'sour' when it comes to 'big business' expecting overtime and answering the phone. BTW , if I solved the problem over the phone, ZERO into my pocket. One night, foreman calls, I decide to go in (4hrs pay ) as it was a nice warm summer night. Stopped at the gate, security didn't want to let me in(driving my spiffy CJ-5,no top,doors, windshield down. He was concerned if a 10 ton ingot fell on me, I'd be dead. I said 'Really, you THINK a cloth top will protect me ?' Still he didn't want me to pass so I said fine, YOU call the BOF superintendent (THE boss), call number xxxx and tell him why HE is NOT going to make HIS bonus tonight (special MIL grade steel ( high Boron).... I was in and out in less than 15 minutes. I did not appreciate the twofaces of management. I fully understand about 'farming' being a 24/7 career especially with animals..that's totally different that what I had to put up with.
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And so, you quit. At age 35 or whatever. As any of us are free to do, but most of us don't.
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HudCo
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Posted: 10 Feb 2023 at 8:52pm |
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i try not to turn anyone down ether because that cant turn into a long time customer but they still should respect our bissness hours , i missed tractor shows and parades last year because i did not think it was fair to be goofing off when they are waiting on me to get their stuff done , when their isnot enought help the only time you get the labor done is after hours.
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shameless dude
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Posted: 11 Feb 2023 at 2:30am |
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I was on call 24/7 when I worked, if I answered the phone, and it was work...I had to go in, but....if I didn't answer the call, they would call someone else that would answer their phone! they got smart onto that and if I wouldn't answer the phone when they called, they would have our local Sheriff send a cruiser out to get me at home! after a few times of that...it might cost me a 12 pack for the Deputy to tell my work that I wasn;t home when they checked! funny how we think of ways to get around things!
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