By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The session before it was about what to have in your desk emergency kit in case of an earthquake. If there is valuable information being conveyed, I want to know it, but the toll on my mental health if I do this training is going to be immense, and I cannot imagine what content they will be teaching that I havent already heard and internalized many times before. How are you doing? She looked at me and said I went to Columbine High School. I can still feel the bottom dropping out of my stomach. 4. Save yourself the heartache and the stress. The problem is you have random, unqualified people thinking they can provide effective active shooter information when thats clearly not the case. So our poor security guard is stuck with trying to clear the error before the fire department responds. Like, first drill, then feedback, then second drill, more feedback, etc? I can say that Im unsurprised, and that thats an attitude that explains a whole hell of a lot that people write into this blog about, like flat wages, exploitative culture, and the constant fear of losing a job and not being able to afford food/exorbitant rent/anything else that was once upon a time attainable. And sad no, more angry, I think that you had to go to such lengths to get excused from that training. Maybe they dont want to relive their experiences either? From my vantage point at the organ console, there are no close exits; so should I hide behind the console, trapped in a corner?? Sick of this a-hole you work for! A training session with law enforcement might be okay if it was structured like a q&a or generally sought to give information rather than simply a mocked up experience. It might possibly get him to realize the ridiculousness of what hes saying, but even if it doesnt it gives you a great and specific springboard for explaining to him why his assumptions are way off. CLICK HERE to get your copy from Book Depository. I bet too many people at work would opt if they could (even just for if Im going to be at work I have actual work to do) and make it not useful training. In the United States, the First Amendment of the Constitution (namely, the Bill of Rights) proclaims that all citizens have the freedom to practice their religion and that there will be no laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion. My civilian job has a mandatory work conference from Aug 2-5. I grew up in the era of mass shootings. Ugh, so sorry OP this is a terrible idea on your companys part. This means that a significant proportion of the volunteer labor force comes from people who are already occupied with paid labor elsewhere. Divi Cakes main goal is to help the members of the Divi community find the perfect premium Divi themes, layouts, and plugins created by leading Divi developers and designers. by Im very sorry. https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/employee-relations/pages/workplace-shootings-research-.aspx, https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/436994-active-shooter-training-fails-because-it-relies-on-fear/, https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/05/23/teachers-active-shooter-trainings-ineffective-stressful-column/3754113002/, https://www.insider.com/young-school-shooters-grew-up-doing-active-shooter-drills-experts-2022-6, https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/blog/advocacy/active-shooter-drills-harmful-or-helpful/. Can I skip this seven-hour training? Some of that context may help OP decide how they want to push back. This goes on your permanent military record and can affect your career negatively. Apologize for not making it upto them,but you cant do anything about it? that way it can be perceived far more easily as you being responsible in caring for family, and not you personally flaking out. Build from the frontend or backend. one of her students went to the supply closet and distributed scissors and protractors to his classmates during a suspected active shooter event. who have been through it. If you are in the National Guard or Reserves, you are required to attend one weekend of drill per month. It isnt helpful. OP Thank you for writing in. Same with mine; customized by law enforcement but the only customization was Oh yeah all your doors are glass so hiding isnt an option! Your sweet, naive brain thought it was a good idea to make plans to fill every second. You also get children with really poor emotional regulation (like, toddler level) and they absolutely need the practice. Thankfully events like this are never mandatory at my job, so its unlikely to come up. What are the best (fake) excuses you've ever used to get out of - Quora A seven hour training would be insane for any work place that isnt on a military installation or the Capitol/Pentagon/etc and EVEN THEN it would be bananapants crazy. That sounds awful. If you are in the military, or a reservist, there are times when you will be required to attend drill. Want more Junkee in your life? Forcing people to pretend theyd died???? I think many people would freeze. Some say that it is helpful to have even a few seconds of warning, and that the sound should be loud and trigger serious caution. In that case, the advice to advance schedule a dr appointment for that day applies. You need to see that your fear is that a single instance will make you one of the people he isnt nice to, and that is terrifying. Who should I talk to for that?, If he mocks you or implies youre a delicate snowflake, consider saying: You and I are coming to this with a very different frame of reference. Do this training or your insurance rate will go up.. One time my office decided to do an escape room as a team bonding exercise. I had a panic attack, because I couldnt remember where the nearest light switch was, and because the space was such a labyrinth I couldnt see any of the emergency exit signs. The idea that active shooter training is effective at reducing deaths and injuries in the event of a real active shooter is not. Hell yeah, why not. This one will go prettywell,butwait! My 1st grader and her classmates knew all the hiding spots in their school and when they built a model school classroom as a project, insisted they put several into their creation. If you do not own a car, you might be thinking that you got to pass all the car excuses. Ive heard a couple of guys who have played too many FPS games talk about how theyd save the day. YOLO, you thought. Ive never had (or heard of before now) building-specific active shooter training which is really sad because that would be so useful! But some gossip can cause harm to your team and the organization. SEVEN hours??? My mind is so boggled by the fact that anyone would find this an appropriate and normal thing to do in a public setting where there are almost certainly students, staff, faculty, etc. (I mean, safety is great, but this person is hilariously the most accident-prone person we all know, and always has a story about falling down the stairs or getting a ticket for speeding on the way to work. But it might be helpful to do so. It will not be possible for me to participate.. Oh and he made the video on his phone! And a quality training, I cannot stress this enough, does not last seven hours. And if it is, there is a huge possibility that the other people wont show up either. Thats just totally unreasonable. But Alisons advice is great. Or deliberately schedule a doctor/dental appointment that day and say sorry it was the only time they could get you in. Two weeks ago, we had our first active post-Covid drill, meaning we were meant to act it all out. Even seasoned writers need a helping hand at times, thats why we trust Grammarly Premium. That is the point. Or what about the people who have to eat food/take pills at certain times of the day because of health conditions? Unfortunately, David is your work colleague, and this party is a big deal for him. Call in sick is what I would do. by Take the day off. Just call in sick. But since you happen to be the person whorenegesquite frequently,havent you already used that one? Might as well live to the fullest. Adults with postsecondary qualifications will earn significantly more than those with only high school education, so it is a recognized pathway to a more comfortable life with a stable income. I am lucky in that my dean is sympathetic. You know what would be more effective than repeated active shooter drills that traumatize people and trigger trauma responses in survivors? Get involved in your unit. The two are not the same. It traumatized her. Just call in sick that day. I work for state government and am my agencys safety coordinator in addition to my regular, full-time role. In banks they often hold robbery simulations that range from a silent note passed to a teller to a full blown takeover with machine guns. Im a little bit too old to really be a member of the school-shooting-generation (in that I was in undergrad by the time Sandy Hook happened), and my impression when I hear my younger peers talking about it (and from some commenters in threads below) is that the pervasiveness (of both the drills and the threat) is what makes them so traumatizing for many people. If the host does not know about your dating life, you can easily go with this one. (And get a pizza delivered to your address. 7 hour training is Crisis Porn. You can go the formal accommodations route. The kind of situation that can easily develop really complex emergencies that take skilled professionals to safely respond. Seven hours is unbelievable, but sounds more like a training event for the police than your workplace. My sons had fire drills, but no active shooter drills. Hey [Name], sorry cant do tonight. So. I am happy to review written materials, but I will not be participating in a simulation., Other language you could have on-hand to use if necessary: This isnt about mild discomfort. (Joking, of course, but trying to make a point.) I did not encounter any of the officers because I immediately closed my door when the drill started, but my Dean and several coworkers who were standing in the hallway right next to our office did encounter one. If he doubles down, especicially on the threatening to goad a potential shooter to shoot you instead (seriously wtf?!?!?) And so on. Even if it isnt, its going to take a while,and you may not be able to make it up. The lights were on a timer. If you decide to go with one of the previous options, I wish you luck, strength and eloquence. We hope that these excuses will help you get some much needed you time. This means if you click a link and/or buy a product, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I was out the day the training happened, but apparently it was just a cop lecture interspersed with scary videos. Ive worked at a college for two years, administrative assistant to a Dean. Weve had some real fires, but unless the sprinkler system fails, the building will just flood instead of burning down. I bet some dudebro with delusions of heroism thinks it is a cool idea. Yeah, at the last staff meeting, there was some talk of replacing our annual watch this decades-old video active shooter training (whichI hate that video so much. If you feel you need to address it with your boss directly, you could do that while being vague. No one will want you near them or ask any more questions. Im so sorry for what you went through, Doc of the Town. Theyre valuable for kids because kids suck at hiding, staying still and being quiet. The prurient excitement exhibited by those conducting the trainingsand folks like OPs bossis a sickness in our society. They are not going to find out; unless they know your father very well. 2. Nothing can really prepare you for this. In the military, missing 4 hours of a required training equals one unexcused absence. Absolutely unnecessary. Ill clear my head first, get in a better place and come to the next one. Because Labor Day is around the corner and we're all thinking about that coveted three-day weekend, we thought we'd come up with a list of the Top 10 Excuses to Get Out of Work, brought to you by Bloodsucking Bastards, a comedy/horror film featuring the one office you'd like to work in even less than your own. Youll get a free pass. Many generation Z are adopting the quiet quitting culture and it is not because they are lazy. You can opt out the same way you opt out of team trust falls and workplace hotdog eating contests. Never did an illness/epidemic one, which is too bad, because the covid response here was pathetically weak for the first year or so. Seriously, I dont understand how it goes for seven hours. Which will be entirely true. Interestingly, this attitude has prevailed even at the two urban campuses Ive worked at where gunfire outside is a not-entirely-uncommon occurrence. Just type I got a call from my father in the morning today, and he is here in town for some work business. Learn more about me here. And if my boss gave me grief about it Id jump straight to calling a lawyer and what should OP say to this lawyer? I have tried to transfer out of this unit 3 times. Seven hours of active shooter training for ordinary office employees? There wont be chaotic running through the halls. Certainly when there was a real fire at my office, the quarterly fire drills made things worse people were going back for coats and purses , stopping off at the restroom and so on because they assumed it was yet another drill. I cant imagine a full-fledged day with simulations. How are those guys SO obvious, and yet everyone still keeps believing them when they say theyre not Nazis? Learn how your comment data is processed. we had to watch those run-hide-fight videos at the old job and the entire time Im like how is this going to work for us. Informthem how you need to fill up for one of your colleagues for an extra shift,and you wont be freeuntilmidnight. this isnt an Im calling my lawyer so I can sue knee-jerk thing, its consultation on employment law and options when the obvious ones are made inaccessible for one reason or another. Not-really-jokes aside, call in sick. They dont even have scissors at their desks. To enhance the dramatic effect, you can fill up your voice with tears and can have a catharsis you were longing for. And seven hours long? As most millennials in the US here can attest to mass shootings are incredibly tough subject and quite traumatizing. As it is a work emergency,no one is going to know that you are bluffing. should I tell my coworker about our colleagues criminal record, I deeply regret joining my companys leadership program, and more, my company is cutting my overworked teams pay as punishment for mistakes. excuses to get out of drill weekend - shantisrl.com If youre super close with them, theyll probably just laugh and say theyll catch you later. It has nothing to do with any practical benefit, IMO. No?). Personally I think if there are ways to prepare people that dont involve trauma, then we should do those. On top of that, everyone was ordered not to use their cell phones. Its about 80% victim-blaming) with an actual drill, andI would not be able to. So yes, after a while you realize not much will change and there is nothing you can do about it and you dont understand why people dont careand you never see any photos of dead children so it is almost theoretical and what can you do so you just get numb. Our organization lost one person in the large event because they couldnt believe it was happening and went to go see. No matter how frequent people use it,this one never gets old. For example, you can offer to work when others would rather the time off such as during the school holidays, on public holidays, and days when people would like to be away from work such as New Years Eve and Christmas Eve. I do not feel safe. It was 3 hours of my life! My husbands previous job did an active shooter training at their factory, with different employees pretending to be the shooter, complete with something like a pellet gun or paint gun (I dont remember exactly what was used). Ive even had to go so far as to use a very light dusting of a slightly purple-y matte eye shadow to emphasize the dark circles under my eyes for one job (company was populated by a LOT of ex-military). OP, I am so sorry youre in this situation with insensitive unthinking people. Often, the employees are the main reason why employees quiet quit their job. There are many good reasons why you might not want to work on the weekend. My youngest told me as an incoming kindergartner that she shouldnt but the cool light up shoes for school. 1. Repeated training hones the reflex actions needed in terrible situations. I interned at a plant that had an annual disaster training day where they would pick one scenario and do a full day simulation + training on it. He does not understand the psychic toll that shootings have taken on many people in my generation and does not understand that anxiety means something more than just sort of worried about something.. I can barely handle our yearly training video on this let alone a full day. excuses to get out of drill weekend - rootedgames.com Im a teacher and have been in charge of children during these drills. I hope that, some day, no child anywhere will ever have to even think about doing something like that.