Re: tutor absenteeism

[diepenbrock@UHCL4.CL.UH.EDU]

This semester was the absolute worst as far as tutor absenteeism goes.  I 
have the same type of deal as most people who have responded: tutors have 
to find replacements for themselves; I pay them (though not much); and I 
have fired unreliable people.  The one essential element for me is my 
training class.  This is the proving ground.  If a tutor trainee cannot 
show up for scheduled observations and turn work in on time, I don't hire 
him/her for the center.  This means that I spend some time training people 
who don't work out, but I'd rather know what they're like before I have to
depend on them.  

So why was this semester so bad?  Short staff, a very sick mother, 
and a tutor who fell and injured herself so badly she was out for all of 
April.  There isn't much you can do about that sort of thing.  However, 
because I train my new people in the beginning of the semester, they are 
ready to tutor during the last month (and eager for experience).  I have 
a group of new people to beef up the end of the year schedule and to 
compensate for those unavoidable emergencies.

Chloe Diepenbrock
University of Houston-Clear Lake