Are leaders allowed to create a separate work schedule for someone because they are single, whereas everyone else has a family?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 10:23:50 -0400

My battle works S6. Due to COVID-19 they decided to move the work cycle to 1 day on; 2 days off. Everyone in her shop does the same job and everyone is mission essential. She was told today that the work cycle doesn’t apply to her cause she’s single and everyone else has a family. Is that even allowed? I don’t think Marital status is protected but still sounds like something is grossly wrong.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 10:26 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 10:26:00 -0400

This is something your Battle is going to have to address with her leadership. It's nice that you're concerned for your Battle, but this is not your lane, not your circus, not your monkeys.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 11:10 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 11:10:08 -0400

Its happening all over the world right now. People in all walks of life are being sent home during this pandemic. first are those with families. Is it fair? Probably not, but we all have to understand in these times. Selfless service, its in the Army Values. perhaps you've heard of it? this isn't just an army issue, and i think there are far more important things going on in the world instead of worrying if a single person has to work instead of a married person.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 17 at 2020 12:14 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 12:14:59 -0400

Let's rephrase the question.
"Are leaders allowed to assign work schedules based off a needs analysis of the actual variables that affect a Soldiers day to day life"?

Yes, yes they are.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 1:21 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 13:21:18 -0400

There's a big thread on the Army's systematic discrimination against Single Soldiers. It's real, and it's not going away.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 1:38 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 13:38:00 -0400

Is the purpose of the one day on, two days off (1 2) to permit the married Soldiers to be home with their children because day care centers are closed, or for another reason?
If the married Soldiers don't have children, are they working the same schedule as the single Soldier?
Is the intent to limit the risk of catching COVID-19 for the married Soldiers?
Does working every day expose the single Soldier to a higher risk than those working 1:2? If so, does this also raise the risk for the married Soldiers, because the single Soldier, if infected because of the greater risk to which the single Soldier is exposed?

Note: Is there a plan to deliver food and check on any single Soldier, if they get infected?

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Mar 17 at 2020 2:52 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 14:52:35 -0400

Each SM personal situation is unique
Leadership should be addressing each SM personal situations.

No there is NOTHING wrong, immoral, illegal, against regulations with assigning duties to one SM different then to another based on individual situations. Perhaps that single SM should look up and refresh themselves on the Seven Core Army Values
LOYALTY
Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other Soldiers. Bearing true faith and allegiance is a matter of believing in and devoting yourself to something or someone. A loyal Soldier is one who supports the leadership and stands up for fellow Soldiers. By wearing the uniform of the U.S. Army you are expressing your loyalty. And by doing your share, you show your loyalty to your unit.

DUTY
Fulfill your obligations. Doing your duty means more than carrying out your assigned tasks. Duty means being able to accomplish tasks as part of a team. The work of the U.S. Army is a complex combination of missions, tasks and responsibilities — all in constant motion. Our work entails building one assignment onto another. You fulfill your obligations as a part of your unit every time you resist the temptation to take “shortcuts” that might undermine the integrity of the final product.

RESPECT
Treat people as they should be treated. In the Soldier’s Code, we pledge to “treat others with dignity and respect while expecting others to do the same.” Respect is what allows us to appreciate the best in other people. Respect is trusting that all people have done their jobs and fulfilled their duty. And self-respect is a vital ingredient with the Army value of respect, which results from knowing you have put forth your best effort. The Army is one team and each of us has something to contribute.

SELFLESS SERVICE
Put the welfare of the nation, the Army and your subordinates before your own. Selfless service is larger than just one person. In serving your country, you are doing your duty loyally without thought of recognition or gain. The basic building block of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go a little further, endure a little longer, and look a little closer to see how he or she can add to the effort.

HONOR
Live up to Army values. The nation’s highest military award is The Medal of Honor. This award goes to Soldiers who make honor a matter of daily living — Soldiers who develop the habit of being honorable, and solidify that habit with every value choice they make. Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do.

INTEGRITY
Do what’s right, legally and morally. Integrity is a quality you develop by adhering to moral principles. It requires that you do and say nothing that deceives others. As your integrity grows, so does the trust others place in you. The more choices you make based on integrity, the more this highly prized value will affect your relationships with family and friends, and, finally, the fundamental acceptance of yourself.

PERSONAL COURAGE
Face fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral). Personal courage has long been associated with our Army. With physical courage, it is a matter of enduring physical duress and at times risking personal safety. Facing moral fear or adversity may be a long, slow process of continuing forward on the right path, especially if taking those actions is not popular with others. You can build your personal courage by daily standing up for and acting upon the things that you know are honorable.

Then perhaps ask them...how many children do they need to care for at home, or pets, or spouses, or family. Things that are suddenly no longer in school, at work, self caring and need a partner at home to help care.
Id question a solders desirability for continued service that wants to complain about having to work longer or harder so another SM can help take care of those stuck at home.
If that single SM can not find it to help a fellow SM now in this "easy" sacrifice, will they leave a bunker during a IDF attack to drag an injured SM caught out in the open?
Will they expose them selfs to direct fire in order to provide suppressive fire so insurgents coming through a wall breach do not reach a soft target?

If a single SM was not willing to do the job as tasked because its' "Not Fair" , Id strongly question they willingness to live the Army's core values and should expect to be denied reenlistment, making way for a SM that is willing to be a team player

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 17 at 2020 2:55 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 14:55:37 -0400

If your "friend" is an enlisted Soldier and not a DAC, then the answer is yes. Supervisors can schedule their workforce as necessary to accomplish the mission. It seems a little unfair, but it's still within the supervisor's authority. One day on and two days off looks fairly generous. In a real crisis, I would expect something like four days, four nights, four off, forever. Anyway, complaining won't do much good.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 3:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 15:33:47 -0400

Leaders have wide latitude to manage their soldiers work schedules as needed to accomplish the mission and mitigate risks. Right now families contracting COVID is a major risk that needs to be mitigated and the command has carte blanche to utilize whatever TTPs will most effectively meet the end goal.

The Army isn't fair, but it is effective, and right now it's being told to reduce the spread as much as possible during this national emergency. If the command felt the best course of action was to lock everyone in the hospital under quarantine and separate them from their families, they would be allowed to do that.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 17 at 2020 4:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 16:39:15 -0400

As a commander I would give her the same work schedule as others. Fairness is very important to me. Be fair when giving out bad tasks, be fair when giving out rewards.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 17 at 2020 5:58 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 17:58:59 -0400

You have that and then incremental "special taskings" for married with working spouse and no kids. I remember somehow getting tagged for the far away one-offs. Others are out there too. The flesh peddler shop would say I'd get the nice place with decent schools when I had kids that needed school. Pretty blatant back in the day. They keep it a bit more under the rug nowadays. There are legit assignments which a spouse can't come or must come; mostly the former. There were also spouse is fine but no kids and keep her on the pill assignments. Yap and other islands comes to mind. These were great jobs although 1 of 1 paper didn't necessarily help but there were letters from the Ambassador community that did help.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 6:23 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 18:23:19 -0400

Is it allowed? It seems to be permitted by the highest level of the CoC that is aware. Maybe the shop OIC or NCOIC is implementing this and the CO Command Team aren't aware of the fact that single soldiers are getting screwed.

In general this happens all the time, an unfortunate reality of being a single soldier in the barracks. I've dealt with it, even as a NCO living in the barracks. It's not right but it's on your battle to bring it up to the chain. If they cannot provide a no shit answer to why they're doing it, I'd have your battle raise the concern to the next level

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 17 at 2020 6:41 PM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 18:41:33 -0400

Short answer: yes. Long answer: yes, but it sounds like piss poor leadership.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 7:28 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 19:28:33 -0400

Can they? probably

Should they? probably not.

I wonder how this is going to affect providers in the IRR awaiting BOLC dates. I’m a licensed RN as of a 31 January. I imagine I will find myself in a military hospital before attending BOLC if this COVID pandemic truly gets out of hand.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Mar 17 at 2020 10:06 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 22:06:41 -0400

Are they allowed, not really. Does it happen, yes. There is generally a difference between black and white rules and reality. But, it is up to senior enlisted to manage that and make sure it is equitable because things like this will breed resentment and affect unit morale.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2020 1:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 13:38:44 -0400

Is it allowed? Not sure there's any direct regulation no it. Should she put up with it? No.

Marital status is not any type of protected category - no.

The COVID-19 issue is something no one has really dealt with before. However, she shouldn't have to keep on a regular schedule if everyone else in the shop is on that new schedule. If it was me - single with no kids - when this is happening I'd take it up with my supervisor. Then I'd go higher. I'd probably even go talk to EO.

Also - the thing I've seen in my directorate is leaders finding out how the closure of schools and daycares affects their family. Like - single soldiers with kids. Dual military. Or those whose spouses work. They're working through each situation to find a plan - especially since FCPs don't apply in this situation.

She needs to take it up higher and go to EO to be an intermediary.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2020 10:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 10:53:46 -0400

This is an issue and should be addressed. I can understand if they based their decision on the likelihood of spreading the COVID to family members whereas the single Soldier has a lesser chance. This could also be looked at as the Soldiers with kids have to be home more since kids are out of school. As a leader these are things we must take into consideration. Yes Soldiers are supposed to have a family care plan in action but no one expected the impact of the COVID.
I would, later on, look at the sacrifice your battle did during this time and compensate them at a later date. I would also inform your battle this upfront so they know they are working towards something in the future. Keeping the moral up for your battle is pretty important and letting them know their sacrifice for his/her teammates does not go unnoticed.