I fell asleep for a couple of minutes during a Zoom meeting. My camera was off, and there were 20 people in the meeting, but unfortunately my audio wasn’t on mute, and I was snoring. I keep denying it was me, but no one believes me. My boss wants to talk to me. Should I fess up?
Well, you’re definitely not alone in wanting to take a nap during some Zoom meetings, that’s for sure. People usually stay off camera because they are doing something else at the same time or just don’t want to have to be “on,” but actually taking a nap is bold, my friend. It’s pretty easy to figure out who had sleep apnea, either because they were the only person who didn’t respond or come on camera. Even if you were on mute, your little window lights up when Zoom thinks you’re trying to talk. You probably sounded like a lumberjack snoring. Tell your boss that you were up all night ill but that you didn’t want to miss the meeting even though you didn’t get any sleep. Admit you dozed for a minute, say you’re sorry and that it won’t happen again (unless of course you are really, really bored).
My employer has slashed 120 accumulated days of my sick time without compensation. They admit that they made an error (over 20 years) in allowing the accumulation to go past the cap of 160 days, and year after year, HR sent me statements and allowed my sick time to grow. I am now at a time where, due to ill health, I might need to use that time. Are they correct? Can I do anything?
I’m sorry to hear that you’ll need the sick time, and hope you have a speedy and full recovery. Generally, if a company makes a mistake and there is a clear policy of what they do officially provide, then they can refuse to honor the mistake. That said, under the circumstances you should make an appeal to HR to see what accommodation or exception they might consider. Over 20 years, their benefits and paid time-off policy may have changed — and federal and state laws have changed, too — so the days you have lost may be covered in a different way. Have the conversation.
Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Hear Greg Weds. at 9:35 a.m. on iHeartRadio 710 WOR with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. E-mail: [email protected]. Follow: GoToGreg.com and on
Twitter: @GregGiangrande