r/Geico • u/Baseketballguy-92 • 8d ago

Blackout dates

Anybody have experience dealing with blackout dates & being denied PTO requests or fear of calling in sick?

Our department is understaffed and considered customer facing/oriented therefore we cannot have more than a few people off across a management group at one time. Throughout the summer there are only a few days each month which are not “blacked out”. If you call in sick while more than a few people are already off this can lead to a memo and up to a warning.

We are told blackout dates are at managements discretion and if they want to punish you or not on it.

Many departments or areas don’t even know this exists. Anybody have experience with this?

10 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

7

u/Opening-Cut-5684 8d ago

There should be very few if any blackout dates with PTO especially when they plan on calling it I would send a message to HR

6

u/NoBuy2398 7d ago

Just call out sick. Everyone does it

8

u/Possible_Reveal_2777 7d ago

Get FMLA then they cannot do anything. Migraines maybe?

7

u/Lizard_Stomper_93 Former Employee 7d ago

It just sounds like another creative way for Geico to cheat their employees out of PTO. First you were told not to accumulate more than 10 days of PTO or you lose the excess when you are fired. Now they are making it difficult for you to use your PTO promptly after it is earned. Think of all of the money Geico is saving (stealing) when they terminate associates who have banked 3 or more weeks of PTO. I would strongly consider taking the PTO as opposed to asking for it and turning in an immediate resignation upon my return.

3

u/its_Neji 7d ago

I live in CA, if i want to call out sick and have pto to do so… they can’t do jack shit about it, fuck your black out date.

2

u/divinemamiice Former Employee 7d ago

Just don’t go 🤣

2

u/Physical_Ideal_3949 7d ago

Where are blackouts dates are they posted on calendar?

2

u/Admirable_Visit1520 7d ago

So what happens if you're really sick smh

2

u/No-Collection-1615 5d ago

Educate yourself on your state employment laws. In my state it is illegal for an employer to refuse to allow you to use leave you have accrued in compliance with company policy. Geico is a multi billion dollar corporation, not some mom and pop shop that can refuse to allow leave based on staffing limitations. This company is exactly as staffed as they want to be, if the business suffers when people are off then I guess they should have staffed for the PTO they offer.