newbie

Can someone tell me what occurrences are? How many do you get? How many can you use? And finally what are the dangers of using occurrences?

I just got a text from my recruiter and my drug and alcohol test came back clear. No surprise there. She said we're just waiting on the background check. I'm hoping that goes well also and that I would possibly receive an offer for bus operator, New Jersey Transit. I was just wondering about the benefits. It seems you earn one week of vacation after 1 year of employment. Does anyone know what the progression is as far as? When does it go up to 2 weeks or 3 weeks Etc? Question 2 regarding sick days , is it also 5 days of sick time after one year? Do you start accruing these on day one of employment or after your 90-day probation ? Question #3 occurrences? What are they, how many do you get? when can you use them? Is there a limit on consecutive days use of occurrences? What are the repercussions of using these days? The recruiter mentioned something about 21 occurrences over a 2-year. Can somebody please elaborate on any of these questions? Much appreciated?

Thanks BreeddekalbL for your thoughts on this particular problem. I know the prudent thing is to not go to the wedding of course. But it's always good to know what your options are and what the consequences of doing those options will be to me and my career. Can someone enlighten me on what occurrences are, what they are to be used for and the trouble you get into for using them. And why would you not use occurrences.? Question number two is: can a job offer be postponed or are you simply saying You will just reapply as a new hire at a future date a have to go through the application process all over again from the beginning. ?? Thanks in advance. Thanks again for all your input, I really appreciate everyone's help.

On the other question is, if I received and then decline a job offer, and then reapply to NJT Plus operator position after the wedding , with this be held against me or cause a problem for me applying then? I would stay at my current job. Just left the wedding since I already have a vacation time booked at my current job for a week and a half to attend this wedding? What do you think? Any ability to park or delay My start date if I am offered a job, which since I had my alcohol drug test Friday, I would think I would get an offer in the next week or two or?

No offer letter yet. Just had drug and alcohol test this past Friday. I am not in the wedding party. It is by best friends daughter that I've spent a lot of time with throughout their lives. The hiring recruiter said to me that if I already paid for the tickets, and if I feel I have to go , she said I could use occurrences. SHe said if I didn't already pay for it that I should seriously consider not going. I just don't know about occurrences and how they work or what they are. She said something about 21 maximum occurrences that you're allowed over 2 years. Are occurrences unpaid absences? Are they sick days? If after one year you approve one week vacation, I'd have to ask. How much sick time do you accrue over what year? So would know about these occurrences or sick days? Thanks

Thanks Breeddekalb for that information and for the link. Here's a situation I have. I've already bought tickets for a wedding in disney beach club Florida for October 1st. Spending the week down there. Damn destination weddings. Why can't they just get married locally. Lol. I won't have any vacation time accumulated yet. I'm looking for some advice and information about using occurrences , which I don't even know exactly what occurrences are. They mentioned something like having 21 occurrences for 2-year period of time. During the HR info session he recommended either cancel your plans or postpone your application for the job as bus operator. My question is can I use these occurrences to go to Florida for this wedding? What are the repercussions of doing this if allowed? Or if I'm offered the job, is there any way to postpone job start date, and park it, my start date, so to speak, for a period of time and start after the wedding like on October 4th when I return.?

Thanks checkmatechamp13. It will certainly be an adjustment working all these different shifts but I am up for the challenge. Thanks again. So everyone bids on a shift by seniority and then they bid on the route by seniority. Also? Or are routes just distributed as management decides ? If routes are also bid on, What makes a route less desirable?

Thanks checkmatechamp13, I'm glad I asked as I always thought the bus drivers would do the route the one direction and turn around and do the route in the return direction. But obviously there's a lot more involved with some routes, I have a question about shifts and bidding. I don't think I need to worry about bidding on a route or shift being on the bottom of the list, but I would like to understand how it works. What are the work shifts 4:00 a.m. to 12.noon, 8-5 pm, etc. Do they force you to do split shifts ? So being the bottom driver in the garage what shift and days would you imagine I'd be working?

Thanks BreeddekalbL, go25, Lawrence St, checkmatechamp13, and FlxMtroD. I appreciate the info and everyone's perspective. I owe you each a drink for sure. But you may throw the drink at me when I add this stupid question of what is a split route?

Garage selection question. They told us that once you select the garage you're pretty much stuck with that garage. There are cases where you could transfer but of course when you do transfer you start again from the bottom, As far as garage seniority goes. Given that I know nothing about any of the garages and I'll say I live in Hawthorne, New Jersey, about 15 minutes from the Patterson garage and 25 minutes from the Wayne garage and 25 minutes from the oradell garage and other garages being probably another 10 or 15 minutes further than that. If you had to choose between Paterson, Wayne and oradell which would you choose? And why? Thanks newbie Bob

Thanks RailBus63. That information seems logical and makes perfect sense. And I think I can handle all those requirements, although a little slower than most. Thanks again

Thanks for that great summary checkmatechamp13. I really appreciate that information. One of my biggest concerns is that I have an severely arthritic left ankle, bone on, and I wear a special Arizona ankle brace. I limp along pretty badly and was hoping that it wouldn't be an issue with being a bus operator as I figured I would be seated driving and minimum walking. Does anyone have any feedback for me about working with this somewhat debilitating condition or would they be not hire me or terminate my employment??

I like suburban routes I think. Lol. Actually, could you describe what the difference is between a local route and the suburban route. And if you could also let me know if Paterson doesn't have coach buses, what do they have now. It's possible I wouldn't know the difference between coach buses and other buses. I really need a link to the newbie section. I have yet to find it. Lol

That's a good question. Would like you're bored? I was going to ask if I had to choose and was given a choice between oradell, Patterson and Wayne which would I choose? Paterson's about 15 minutes away and Wayne and oradell or about 25 minutes away from me. Any recommendations of which to choose?

Thanks Lawrence ST. I appreciate the information and feedback. I was certainly concerned that this would be a job that would not work out for me for this reason alone. Lol I will move forward as I have my drug test Friday. Thanks again.

Thanks for the info Lawrence ST. I appreciate it. I have my drug test this Friday. During the information call I asked about breaks to use the bathroom and it didn't go over very well. He said yeah. Go before you start your run. I felt very foolish. I guess bus drivers have all good bladders. Lol and when I asked about time off they said they suggest not taking any time off for at least one year. I can understand that because you need to earn your vacation so you can have it available for you for the following year. It's just a little strange that they don't say after one year you get one week vacation and after 10 years you get 2 weeks vacation. Which is what I was wondering. They never really covered sick days. They mentioned something about occurrences 21 occurrences in 2 years. Don't know what they're talking about since they never went into detail about it. It's a lot to absorb. Thanks again.

Can someone point me to a thread for NJT bus operator new hire info thread? Looking for basic information regarding when do you start earning vacation days and how many you get, and when do you get more? Sick days info. When do you accrue them? How many do you get etc. Are occurrences the same as sick days? What's the difference ? Are there any breaks? If so, when and if you're running late, no break right? Do you get a choice in which garage you are assigned to? Is there a benefit to working for one garage as opposed to another if they're equal distance away? Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place. Please advise. Thanks in advance.