What would you do?

I know this is the name of a popular TV show, though I have never seen it. I believe the concept is that there are set ups of various acts that might require the "average person" to take action. The question is ...what would you do? walk away and ignore the act... stealing, violence, or intervene,...and when.... and to what level.
Well this is sort of that game, but with a less slanted toward others attitude, although others are affected.
It has to do with work ethics.
My niece Dana, will likely have something wise to say about all of this, as it is her area of expertise..... i love you Dr. Dana.

A number of situations have come up at work recently. And there has been mixed reactions to the behavior of the individual involved, their immediate supervisor, ( in this case the shift 'charge', and the department managment. In the case of the department management, I must axplain that the actions are only those that we overtly have seen, Other actions may or may not have been taken behind the scenes, not for our prying eyes.

There are three situations, and being the Libra I am, I have over analyzed these and seen them from every angle. Are they the same or different? Do all 'situations' call for the same action or reaction?

First..... A day of potential inclement weather. I say potential, because this is afterall Portland. That meaans those driving in from Sandy, 35 miles to the East could be experiencing snow, while those from the same distnace to the west could have dry roads. In between,, anything is possible. Remembering we work on a hill of over 1000 ft elevation. The hospital has an inclement weather policy. Today has NOT been declared a day of inclement weather.
A therapist calls and states, that due to road conditions in their area, they have been in a single car accident. They appear to be fine, but their vehicle is no longer driveable. It is less than two hours before the shift is to begin.
The charge, explains the policy, and states that when management arrives, someone will get back to him.
In the meantime, another therapist is called in to cover that shift.
Remarkably, on their way to work, they are involved in a MINOR, multicar accident, on an icy bridge. With less than an hour to the shift, they call in, explain thaeir situation and simply state, I am returning home, I will not be in. their car appears to be drivable.
The good news: NEITHER THERAPIST IS INJURED!
so... you are the therapist, involved in a minor accident on the way to work....
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
You are responsible for safely staffing the next shift, and two people have now told you they cannot make it to work.... WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
you are their managers.... it is not an inclement weather day, one therapsit was a regualr scheduled shift,one was extra, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Would you 'counsel' one or both?
Would you expect either to come to work?
What if either had a 'hidden' injury... that crept up later in the day.... who is liable?
What if they are so distressed about the personal loss or situation they make a judgement error in caring for a patient?
What if they are preoccupied calling tow companies, spouses etc dealing with the situation that others on that day have to 'pick up the slack'..was it worth the extra effort?

Situation 2...

A therapist calls in within an hour of their shift that their adult child is about to give birth. This is that childs fourth child. There is a spouse, etc available for the child as support, the therapist is not the birthing coach, etc....

you later learn that the 'grandchild' was not born for 48 plus hours.

You are the therapist....
everyone knows your daughter is about to give birth, your work peers can just suck it up!
Do you have an obligation to your patients? Is this justifiable 'family medical leave'?

You are management... same questions....
do you counsel? can you? You learned all of the above information via facebook.... the therapist just simply 'called in sick'...late.

you are her peer...
It is understandable, I would do the same thing if it were my daughter,
I would definitely want my mom to do that for me. We all have done something similar. Sometimes, it just happens.
Or... it is just.... 'her'... that is expected behavior.

Last situation....

a therapist gets a phone call from a minor child during their shift. ( In this case, the middle of the night ). legally the child is old enough to be left alone.
Something has happened. The child is clearly frightened, but it has been determined not in eminent danger.
what do you do....

you are the therapist....

Leave, NOW.... my children matter more than anything. I do not care what the hospital does about my work load, my patients, my peers, Someone will figure it out I am out of here!
Ask to leave, give the charge person to safely dispense my work, give report .......

Stay, I have an obligation to work my shift. If things work out that I can be released that would be awesome, I would explain that I am concerned about the situation at home and the desire to leave, but I know their is no real danger.

Call someone to check the situation.... evne if it means calling the police, and then work on getting home. I need to know that my child is truly safe.

you are the charge....
tell them just to go, their head will not be in their job anyway, and thier patients are just as at risk having someone who is more worried about a situation at home as someone who is not even their.
Besides, you just cannot have them bitching all night.
Assess the staffing situation, reassign things equitably, check and see who can safely take over the work, make sure report is given, beepers reassigned, etc....
Tell them they have to stay, The work is just to much for the staff to absorb. You will do what you can to get them out ASAP. but fo now the situation is just not possible. ( this is of course after you have been assured that their is no eminent danger or real harm to the child at home)

You are the manager....

you hear that the therapist left without giving or writing out report.
is this patient abandonment.... their are others who can care for the patient. the RT is not solely nor primarily responsible for any given patient.

do you counsel the therapist? Do you counsel the charge?

Do you thank those who were left at work to pick up the extra work, either with an email or an act of kindness?

We have all been in these or similar situations....
called in sick when we were not really sick.... simply made a mistake on a flight schedule....
or really wanted to go to a concert....

Went home mid shift becasue we got ill, or our spouse was in an accident, or our child simply "needed us" and no one else would do.

Were less than 100% at work because of a distraction too big to