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Post by Paws on Oct 9, 2011 13:34:29 GMT 12.75
Once a week doesn't kill anybody. Some of the guys I see coming in it is the only time they have to spend with their kids. (Easy to spot.)
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Post by brittonfaith on Oct 11, 2011 10:04:46 GMT 12.75
<sigh> Round 2......Got Mike's work release and clinic summary faxed to HQ this morning. He called his dispatcher and she said as soon as it reached her desk she'd get him on a boat - maybe this evening. Got a phone call back from HR. Now the company doc is saying Mike can't come back until he does something about the blood pressure. (With all the crap that's gone on in the past 3 weeks, is there any wonder why a man with a history of high blood pressure, and who's "normal" reading is high, had an even higher than usual reading? ??) He was seen by a cariologist and is on medication and has been for almost a year. NOW they want to question his ability to work??? Soooooo, I've been on the phone all day trying to explain to company doc what's up, trying to explain to cardiologist's secretary what we need sent to HQ and trying to explain to Mike that if it wasn't for the beer and his girth that he might not have had any of these issues. And people want to know why I am losing my ever loving mind??
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Post by Toby Benoit on Oct 11, 2011 17:26:38 GMT 12.75
Should a had Aflac... Tell 'em he's black and if they won't let him work then give the man a disability so's he can draw an income. If they don't want to do that, then atleast fire him and let him draw unemployment, but somethings gotta give one way or another... Hope you get it all cleared up sooner than later...all the sitting around worrying over HR Bullcrap sure ain't helping him none.
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Post by brittonfaith on Oct 11, 2011 18:14:28 GMT 12.75
Y'know what brother Toby? That's about the most encouragement we've had for the past few weeks. Thanks! You sure you don't want me to get you set up on 40 acres of Ohio back woods where nobody will give a ratsazz what you do?? There's only two kinds of people who survive on it. Either you're gonna have to have a spare $50K laying around to run electric to it. Or you're gonna have to one like yourself who wants entirely off-grid. Heck, it's so back in that you could almost count as being entirely off the planet. BTW- Don't know about canning fish according to what I told ya. Ain't never tried doing fish. I know it can be done though since mom bought a whole cellar full of home canned Alaska salmon at an auction once. Recipe box won't let me reply on it. Maybe you can edit it.
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Post by Paws on Oct 11, 2011 20:34:47 GMT 12.75
OK I'm lost here. Mike is not drawing unemployment? Why not? He is laid off isn't he? Has he filed for it? Is his epididimitis work related? Has he filed for comp? WTFIGOT Faith? You guys filling out the paperwork or sucking on a prune pit? Don't know about canning fish. What are you trying to edit that you can not edit?
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Post by eaglenest on Oct 11, 2011 23:22:49 GMT 12.75
Faith go to Jobs and Family Services....take your utility bills, house payment and auto payment. At least they will give you Food Stamps. Then, to unemployment (make sure to have everything you need...call the Columbus office or where was he considered being employed I am not sure since he worked on the river?)Do it all in the same day. Disability after doing the other two.
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Post by Paws on Oct 12, 2011 3:44:32 GMT 12.75
OK I'm lost here. Mike is not drawing unemployment? Why not? He is laid off isn't he? Has he filed for it? Is his epididimitis work related? Has he filed for comp? WTFIGOT Faith? You guys filling out the paperwork or sucking on a prune pit? Don't know about canning fish. What are you trying to edit that you can not edit? I found the canning instruction that Toby posted for you and pushed it up to the top of the list. Great directions for all forms of meat. I should think that would cover ground hog, squirrel, rabbit or whatever as long as it is properly cleaned before going into the jar. Grandma canned everything too. Frank's wife cans venison and uses a bouillon cube instead of salt. Using the appropriate one, and they have them for fish over at New Market, might be the thing to do. ;D
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Post by brittonfaith on Oct 12, 2011 3:44:50 GMT 12.75
Let's see? Where to start?? First off, I'm new to all these programs the system has. So I seriously don't know what I'm doing or where to go. Anything paperwork/business related, Mike leaves to me. So heaven help us when I get lost.
Toby: Wish we had Aflac. Company offered it but we couldn't stand the premiums.
Phil: No. Not getting unemployment. Was told that he is not working because of a non-work related medical condition and therefore did not qualify. They wouldn't even give him the forms to fill out. And no, not laid off either. Company has him on FMLA time and he has a little over 8 weeks of that left. They need him back. He's one of the few they have who is experienced in double locking the upper Ohio. Dispatch lady has him at the top of the list for boarding for the past week. It's just that the company doc is being an a-hole and holding things up. (Fish refers to Toby's new post in the recipe box. Just need to get rid of fish.)
Sharon: Filled out JFS application almost three weeks ago. I haven't even got so much as an appointment set up yet. I've tried numerous times to get ahold of someone down at Ironton to let them know that this is an urgent zero-income case. All I get is their answering service. I did get one call back from them and the caseworker transferred me to the receptionist to set up an appointment and told me to tell her it was urgent. I got the answering machine that time too. I'm leaving messages. Nobody is calling back though.
Tried getting our electric bill set up on a payment plan. But was told there were certain days in the month they can't do it because the crews are out reading meeters and new bills are printed. I had to wait a couple days and call back in. So I waited two days, called back in and was told they can't do that because the system flipped my account into disconnect status for a 60-day balance. (Grrr! It wasn't 60-days when I first called about it!) I have a few weeks to get the payment in and I think I'll come up with it.
We have had zero income since the 23rd of last month. Even if Mike could get on a boat right this minute, it would be the 21st of this month before he got paid. If they don't let him back on until next week, it will be Nov. 4th. I managed to get the Oct. mortgage paid and some towards the electric. But that's it. After this month who knows unless Mike gets back on, or somebody finally calls me into work. I've called all of our creditors. A couple are working with us. Most simply will not. Phone is ringing non-stop from bill collectors. Most were already 30 days past due when this all started. Now we're rolling into the 60-90 day files.
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Post by Paws on Oct 12, 2011 4:02:00 GMT 12.75
OK then, first of all Mike's unemployment does not have to be due to a work related cause. Simply being unemployed is sufficient to file. Get it filed, of course that means he will have to jump through hoops and file for employment at every tow outfit on the river or in the lake! They will initially deny his claim but he will eventually win it if he doesn't get back to work. It would seem to me that all one needs is written verification that Mike can not return to work from the company doctor to take to the State Employment Office to start the paperwork. Next, file a Workman's Compensation Claim. Tell Mike to Demand the forms from the Personnel Office. If his problem happened on board then by damn it is work related and some smart shyster will point that out. Eventually, this will take time, he will win that also. Write, do not call, every one of your creditors. Ask them to please suspend late and collection fees. Ask them to please reduce the interest and the minimum payment as low as possible. Tell them that you have no income at present but will pay your bills as soon as possible. Ask them politely to not remind you of your debt by phone, or threaten you, etc as you are aware of your debt and do not wish to file bankruptcy at this time. Keep a copy of each letter you write. Put all of your communications on a written basis. If they continue to harrass you after that report them to the State AG and BBB. Continue looking for employment and keep Mike nagging his workplace until something pops loose. If you need food or gas money let us know. I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel myself right now and will soon be feeding at least one attorney but if I have anything to share I will.
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Post by brittonfaith on Oct 12, 2011 13:14:20 GMT 12.75
But he's not technically unemployed. Company still has him as an active employee and first in line for hard to get trip time. They call daily wanting to give him assignments, but as soon as they enter it into the system, it kicks back that he's does not have medical clearance. He's just in limbo...similar to if he had gotten off the boat with the flu and while down developed pneumonia...and is just waiting for the company doc to give clearance. He has clearance for the epididimitis. When we turned in the medical release, company also wanted the clinical summaries. It's his blood pressure that's holding things up now. He's been on medication for it for the past year. But after what all the quackazz nurse practitioner tried to tell Mike about likely having prostate cancer and all that hit the fan here trying to get lined up for a worst case scenario, it drove it up to 179/114 when they took it and that's what got turned in to the company. So for right now, we're trying to get the cardiologist on board with us and get him back to work.
I've been trying to tell him that his gut (weight) is acting like if you'd put pressure around the center of a water balloon. Stuff ain't got no choice other than to squeeze up or down. Enough squeezing and things go pop. In his case, its working on both ends. Don't know how much he's paying attention to me. Maybe some of you guys should start riding his case on the phone or via FB messages and wall posts.
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Post by Paws on Oct 13, 2011 2:48:54 GMT 12.75
Faith let the system and the judge figure out whether or not he is unemployed. Just file it.
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Post by brittonfaith on Oct 17, 2011 11:40:54 GMT 12.75
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Post by Paws on Oct 17, 2011 12:12:16 GMT 12.75
It means kick your shoes off, get pregnant, and bake some cookies! Good on Mikey!
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Post by brittonfaith on Oct 18, 2011 3:47:54 GMT 12.75
An 85-year old gal who has put in a very challenging life once told me the only reason you men have decided to separate work into "men's work" and "women's work" is because if us gals all went around doing the "men's work" as well as our "women's work" we might show you up and make you look bad. Got a call from HQ this morning. Mike is to be in Paducah at 1500 tomorrow to see the company doc. Only obstacle we have now is getting him there and doc's a-ok. So DO NOT walk into his office huffing and puffing for air after climbing the stairway. Dispatch takes Monday's off on payweeks and don't show up until Tuesday @ 0930 our time. Trip usually takes 7-8 hours. Earliest crew van pulls out of South Point at 0830. So if we wait until tomorrow morning for a company crew van, he won't make it in time. Greyhound is 21 hours (Jackson>Columbus(change)>Dayton>Cinci(change)>Louiville>Memphis(change)>Paducah) and it leaves Jackson at 0800. So that's a no go, too. I told him if that money tree in the back yard ever decides to grow and produce that I'll drive him down myself. A change of scenery would be really nice.
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Post by Paws on Oct 18, 2011 4:16:18 GMT 12.75
Faith you need to get him down there early and rest up in a hotel to the next morning and get in the doc's waiting room an hour early. You also need to consider "white coat". You know he is going to be nervous about his reading and that is going to kick up his pressure automatically. So I see two options, reschedule the appointment for Wednesday afternoon and take the crew van tomorrow morning or drive him down there today.
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Post by brittonfaith on Oct 18, 2011 4:31:20 GMT 12.75
Rescheduling is not an option. Doc only has hours on Tuesday. That's when new hirees arrive for training. I think the company will reimburse his gas one way if I decide to drive it. But it usually takes 3 weeks to get the reimbursement. Not sure if they'll cover a hotel room in a case like this. I know they will during training week or if you are changing boats and need a room until a crew van can get to you.
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Post by Paws on Oct 18, 2011 4:33:26 GMT 12.75
Tell that gal to review the scriptures and discover why God created woman.
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Post by Paws on Oct 18, 2011 4:35:59 GMT 12.75
Rescheduling is not an option. Doc only has hours on Tuesday. That's when new hirees arrive for training. I think the company will reimburse his gas one way if I decide to drive it. But it usually takes 3 weeks to get the reimbursement. Not sure if they'll cover a hotel room in a case like this. I know they will during training week or if you are changing boats and need a room until a crew van can get to you. I would not only file for transport, and hotel but wages as well. He is following the orders of his employer. You need to get a crooked lawyer. Anyway that does limit your options so if you need gas stop by here first or meet me over at Krogers.
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Post by Paws on Oct 18, 2011 10:10:50 GMT 12.75
That really is a nice truck. Too bad it is a F.O.R.D! LOL!
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Post by Paws on Oct 18, 2011 22:49:34 GMT 12.75
Status report please Faith.
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