Should certain employees have to use PTO on days the business is closed? (work, company)

[kitgal421]

Just curious what everyone's opinions are on this situation. I've had a bad cold lately and I called in sick on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday morning there was a major ice storm and they sent out a mass email/text at 5 AM saying that the business would be closed that day. Employees who were scheduled to work on days they unexpectedly close are still be paid how many hours they were scheduled to work. However, I was informed today by payroll/HR that essentially because I was sick Monday/Tuesday that I will not be getting paid for Wednesday and I will have to use more of my sick time to make up those hours.

Their reasoning is that because I still do not sound fully recovered (even though I'm back at work, those were the only two days I called in sick) that I clearly would have still been sick on Wednesday and most likely would not have come in anyway. Um, what?? The entire reason I didn't come in is because THEY CLOSED! I didn't even get a chance to come in! I told her I certainly would have come in monday or tuesday had I known I was going to be penalized for using paid sick time on those days. I'm lucky that I do have some paid sick time saved up, but barely enough to cover for it. No, I don't want to work while I'm sick (or get other people sick), but I have to survive on barely above minimum wage. I need to save my sick days for when I'm sick. I don't feel that I should have to use them on days where the business is closed, especially not when others are getting paid for it.

I understand not paying those who are not scheduled (i.e. on vacation or just off that day already), but It seems absolutely ridiculous to me that they decide not to compensate certain employees for their closed scheduled days because they "MAY not have shown up."

[Rabrrita]

The presumption is, you are out until you report to work. Can you prove you would have reported to work on Wednesday?

[DonaldJTrump]

That's why I only call out sick the morning of , and not a day or few days beforehand.

It sounds like bull**** from HR, if you did not call out sick we'd, then it is assumed you go to work

[kitgal421]

I did only call in sick that morning of both Monday and Tuesday. I certainly wouldn't call in sick days or a day ahead of time.

No, I can't prove that I would have reported to work on Wednesday besides my word saying "I'm scheduled, I can't afford to take more time off. I'll be there."

I understand it from a business point of view. They want to find anyway they can to pay as few employees for that day as possible.

[prospectheightsresident]

Sounds like a ****ty response from your company, OP.

[annabanana123]

That’s ridiculous unless they made everyone else use their PTO time to be paid for that day. We would have to but ours is a big bucket of sick, vacation, weather and holiday time.

[MrRational]

How about having no PTO at all? Not for anything.
Take time all you like for any purpose (with notice etc) just don't expect to be paid for it.
It works.