Being keyholder and responding to alarm callout

Gordie1975

I'm a keyholder with my company, me my manager and another staff member are the 3 for our store, my manager put me 1st in the list (so i get called out first) because he says i stay nearer, despite him driving and me needing to phone a taxi there.

Anyhoo, i was out friday night watching a band as it was my day off, at 1am as i was waiting for a taxi home i get an automated call from the alarm company asking of i would respond or not, i hung up as there was no way (IMO) that i should be turning up to a shop, alone , drunk, to deal with a potential break in, also i would need to go home and get the keys and come back, so the company would automatically contact the next person on the list, the manager claimed he never heard his phone go off.

I was in work next morning and all was fine, even though no on had apparently responded, but my manager is saying the area manager got a report on her desk saying i the first n the list refused a call out and isnt happy with me.

My question is, was i right to refuse?. should i have staggered in there no matter what condition i was in?

Not that it makes much difference, but i am salarised, so dont get paid extra for the call out, or the time back, or the expenses paid back.

thanks for any help.

gettingtheresometime

Is your position within the store comparable with being a key holder and being 1st on the list?

Also what is the procedure for a call out ? when the local church's alarm got set off I stayed outside whilst the vicar went in ....and I would add I'm not connected to the church in any shape or form

Gordie1975

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Is your position within the store comparable with being a key holder and being 1st on the list?

Also what is the procedure for a call out ? when the local church's alarm got set off I stayed outside whilst the vicar went in ....and I would add I'm not connected to the church in any shape or form

i would certainly say comparable, i always have a set of keys, as does the manager and the other person (who is a position below me) also has a set.

I know of no procedure other than if you get called, you respond, that is why the manager put me first as it means he never needs to respond, it will always be me.
Thing is, if somethings wrong i dont mind responding, but as i will always be first on the list, i will always be on first call, so either they dont mind me turning up drunk to a response, or they dont want me to drink, or go away on my day off etc.

Marktheshark

I would explain, that us why you have a list as opposed to one person.
I would also think it should be a paid action from start to finish at overtime rates.

Gordie1975

Marktheshark wrote: »

I would explain, that us why you have a list as opposed to one person.
I would also think it should be a paid action from start to finish at overtime rates.

Yeah, your right, i suppose if all 3 of us must have declined to visit then there is obviously a problem, i cant comment on why the others never attended, i only know why i never went.

With regards to pay, as i said i dont get overtime, my contract states how much i get per year, and that i am required to work at east 40 hours, i get the same wage no matter what.

Savvy_Sue

Gordie1975 wrote: »

Not that it makes much difference, but i am salarised, so dont get paid extra for the call out, or the time back, or the expenses paid back.

To me, that makes quite a lot of difference!

Not whether you're salaried or not, but that you don't get extra for the call out, or the time, or the expenses paid back!

And you're basically 'on call' all the time you're not at work? No, that's not on ...

Marktheshark wrote: »

I would explain, that us why you have a list as opposed to one person.
I would also think it should be a paid action from start to finish at overtime rates.

I don't necessarily agree with that.

Where I work, we have someone 'on call' from 9 pm to midnight each weekday evening. They don't often get a call, but if they do they're expected to be available to talk, and if necessary to attend work - that very rarely happens.

We pay £50 per week to whoever's on call, and £50 if you actually have to attend.

Annisele

I think you were OK to refuse, but wrong to just hang up. IMO you should have explained why you couldn't go, and asked the alarm company to call the next person.

I'm not surprised the area manager is unhappy, but I suspect they're mostly unhappy with the manager. Ultimately it's likely to be the manager's job to make sure *somebody* attends, and he didn't.

bluenoseam

I'd suggest that it'd be a bigger problem if you turned up to the alarm call worse the wear for having a few drinks - you did the right thing. I'm of the opinion that the manager in charge should always be the "third" anyway as that way they're the last callout & if it gets to them they should understand THEY have to get there. To me that's a relatively simple logic to follow, you had reasoning for not responding, what were the other two's reasons? I can see why the area manager is peeved, but ultimately if I were you & she asks I'd simply state that you were out & had had a few drinks, it's the truth & it's a valid reason for not attending.

Ozzuk

Our sites have zero tolerance for alcohol - you should have just said you were drinking and to call the next person on the list.

I'd use it as an opportinuty to clarify position with management - if you are on leave then you shouldn't be contacted at all IMO. I don't see you at fault here at all, its poor management.

[Deleted User]

Unless you get paid to stay sober - i.e. an on-call rate, I'd say you are well within your right to refuse a call

I remember that my dad received his phone rental paid for in exchange for being a key holder

Gordie1975

Annisele wrote: »

I think you were OK to refuse, but wrong to just hang up. IMO you should have explained why you couldn't go, and asked the alarm company to call the next person.

I'm not surprised the area manager is unhappy, but I suspect they're mostly unhappy with the manager. Ultimately it's likely to be the manager's job to make sure *somebody* attends, and he didn't.

you are right, i shouldn't have hung up, but id had a good few and wasn't thinking straight, but as for explaining, the call is automated, a voice comes on asking you if you will respond, you press 1 for yes or 2 for no, i should have just pressed no, but as i say, i kinda panicked about how i was going to get from where i was to home, then to work all while drunk.

Thanks for the response.