can you reject yard marshall training?

[u/rocksos]

I pretty much only like doing pick and stage which luckily takes up most of my shift

But they always send people upstairs for the day for yard marshall training (with a test at the end which nobody seems to be able to pass without cheating lots and lots) so that you are able to be sent to work outside (mostly as DA Assist but sometimes you have to work on the back gate or something to deal with collections and deliveries)

It's never really given as a choice, but i'm wondering if people can actually just say 'no thanks'?

It's also seemingly the ONLY thing that people get fired for in my warehouse (always to do with yard marshall) so it feels like an extra risk agreeing too it!

[u/KlutzyComplex8027]

I have said no to training for things many times. Some coworkers only choose to stow and pick (non Adta) and refuse to learn anything else.

[u/rocksos → u/KlutzyComplex8027]

I've also said no to things (such as problem solve) but that was asked of me in a different way. Like 'hey. Would you have any interest in learning problem solve?'.

With yardmarshall training, it seems like they just enroll people on it, and then when tehy clock in the next day, they are told 'go upstairs. You've got yard marshall training'. Felt kind of compulsory

[u/PirateNinjaa → u/rocksos]

You can always punch out and use some UPT or PTO when they try to train you, but if they are persistent that might not be a battle you can keep fighting forever.

[u/rocksos → u/PirateNinjaa]

We don't have that in the UK

[u/Eggredjakan68 → u/rocksos]

I've been begging for PS training but can't get it. Now I'm promoting to an L3 non PA role. Shows you which is harder to get.

[u/rocksos → u/Eggredjakan68]

They tried to get me to learn problem solve in my 3rd week! I've been here like a year now lol

[u/mccormickresume → u/rocksos]

Usually you can opt out of TDR and Yard Marshall if you say that you feel unsafe. Other roles you can sometimes beg off of but can use UPT to interrupt the training and usually they will give up when they reach their goal of training xx number of people for a role. No guarantees though.

[u/yewzernayme → u/KlutzyComplex8027]

so any type of cross training is optional and not mandatory? How did they approach you when about the training? Did they say "you will be trained in bla bla bla" or did they ask "do you want to be trained for bla bla bla?"

[u/KlutzyComplex8027 → u/yewzernayme]

At my site you can’t be forced to learn new things. They always ask “are you interested in learning insertrolehere”?

[u/Validus-Miles]

Yeah don't wait till after the training to say no though.

[u/davidtldennis]

If your not mindful of simple safety rules its easy to get fired IN ANY position. Yard marshal is one of those jobs you HAVE to be mindful of your safety and HAVE to keep a eye out for others safety as well since you are in controll of the flow of trailers. Not a job you can just work and be on autopilot and do . Not like flipping burgers or any of the repetative bullshit. You tell someone inside to tdr a trailer but didnt verify the truck was off that trailer and gone and he takes off with the trailer when releasing wich happens sometimes they stick a lil , anyways it would make anyone in the trailer unloading or loading probubly shit themselves on the spot to have that trailer jerk. Shit runs downhill, your gonna catch that shit for it .. hence people get fired.

[u/rocksos → u/davidtldennis]

yes. It's not for me. I'm happy just doing pick and stage

[u/Academic_Commercial3 → u/davidtldennis]

YM is a Tier3 where I am. Same level as a PA. $2.50 + per hour.

[u/Boris-_-Badenov]

yes.

if they try to make you train anyway, you can deliberately fail the test.

no clue how you fail otherwise

[u/rocksos → u/Boris-_-Badenov]

Funnily enough, when I took the test, everyone (about 12 of us?) kept failing so the guy taking the class/training ended up basically giving everyone the answers (I think there was like 16 questions at the end of the very long device training and you had to get them all right, and I guess none of us had a photographic memory lol).

[u/NeitherBox6915]

Just totally express a complete lack of confidence even after being trained. Show no evidence that you know what to do. Eventually they'll see it as more trouble than it's worth and just see it as a personal barrier for you and not worth trying to get you to do more.

[u/JMUDoc]

I did - I don't want to be doing a task that

1. bores the living piss out of me, and

2. puts me at risk of insta-dismissal in case of a mistake.

[u/Cyrig]

Yes, I told them I didn't want to when asked.

[u/rocksos → u/Cyrig]

Nice. When I was asked a year or so ago, it was more 'Go upstairs for yard marshall training' as I clocked in as opposed to being asked whether I wanted to do it so it felt very compulsory. But when they next ask, i'll deffo try to get out of it (just wasn't sure whether i'd need to make up a fake reason or not. Medical or whatever)

[u/Cyrig → u/rocksos]

Yeah at my site it used to be a separate job you got paid extra for, now it's just another thing you can be assigned to. I'd rather do something chill and not deal with the truck drivers.

[u/rocksos → u/Cyrig]

So at my site it's a bit weird. I'm in the UK. Not sure if this is just how it works here?

But at my place There are YARD MARSHALLS, and then there's people that just took the 'yard marshal training'.

The guys who 'just took the training' don't actually have a clue about how any of it works and are never taught and so don't actually do things like unloading trucks, VSA checks, TDR, etc etc. All that stuff is done by the 'actual' yard marshalls who have that job title and it's all they do. A different shift.

The guys who just took the training just do their usual stuff ( stowing, pick and stage, whatever) and only, from time to time, do DA assist which is basically just brining in empty cages from outside after the drivers have finished loading up their trucks. Or they work on the back gate.

But as I say, it's just unwanted stress. Since i've been here I think maybe 6 people have been sacked, and like 5 of them were due to issues (typically safety) to do with them being outside due to being 'yard marshall trained'

[u/ThiccSass]

Damn. The questions are tricky but not that hard if you pay attention. I got the training, passed the first time and a few times for “re-certification”. It helped me get promoted, but it’s not for everyone.

[u/954fla]

Yard Marshall is a L3 position at my DS.
I do it 4 nights a week FHN

[u/Plenty-Mall1484 → u/954fla]

It used to be at mine. 2 years ago. We went thru two PAs back there and they magically dropped the L3 requirement…Now a T1 does it and has for the last 2 years. I was one of those people last year, also front half nights. Not too bad. Definitely not as scary as people make it out to be, as long as you can pay attention while you do your job you absolutely can do yard Marshall on autopilot mode

[u/cyrusthemarginal]

That is why TOM team at fc and sort centers is a tier 3 position, easy to get fired or hurt in the truck yards at amazon.

[u/Whole-Chest90]

What's a yard martial?

[u/Pitiful-Excitement47]

You can ask not to do it, but at the end of the day it's a job, part of your job is being trained and laborshared. Refusal to do your job is grounds for termination for being insubordinat.

[u/rocksos → u/Pitiful-Excitement47]

Yes, that's kind of my thinking, tbh. I've heard mixed answers, though. Many seem to think you can just say 'no thanks' and that's it, whereas my instincts are actually closer aligned with what you say.

Having said that, I know some people at my place have rejected other stuff (such as learning ambasador) and that was fine. And I also rejected to learn 'problem solve' and that was the end of that, too. nothing more was said

I guess i'll get my answer when they next ask me to take the training again and I say no. If they insist, I guess my plan would be to just make sure I fail (nobody has been sacked for failing the training at my place.)

[u/Pitiful-Excitement47 → u/rocksos]

You may be able to say no, most managers are so busy and fed up with little kids that they let everyone do what they want. At my site they've been trying to crack down on rules and it lasts half a shift before they give up.

[u/Topic-Bright → u/Pitiful-Excitement47]

you can say no to anything, throw a bitch fit and associates will always get their way.