weekend/holiday pays during orientation

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Dec 9, 2007

In our hospital, orientees are paid for evening, night and weekend shifts the same as anyone else but they are not scheduled to work on statutory holidays.

RNBelle · Dec 9, 2007

I am a new grad and when I was on orientation I was paid all my shift diffs. As for getting off orientation. Yes, its scary but nice b/c you can do things the way you want to do it and not worry about someone else's opinion. After you get your first shift off of orientation under your belt you will feel a lot better.

Chloe'sinNYNow · Dec 10, 2007

When I oriented, I was paid fr a different budget. BUT I still got all differentials, and holiday pay too.

Doesn't sound "kosher" if they're telling you to work the weekends but not clock in. Who does the liability fall on then?

I see red flags here. Anyone else?

Chloe

elizabells, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2007

When I oriented, I was paid fr a different budget. BUT I still got all differentials, and holiday pay too.
Doesn't sound "kosher" if they're telling you to work the weekends but not clock in. Who does the liability fall on then?
I see red flags here. Anyone else?
Chloe

Working without clocking in is a HUGE liability issue for both you and the hospital. God forbid a lawsuit comes up and you've charted something on a day you weren't officially "there", or someone mentions you doing something. I was up on my unit once, not on the clock because I was at the hospital for a conference, and someone tried to get me to sign something out of the Pyxis for them... um, no. :nono:

Also it's ludicrously unfair to you. How are they paying you for this time? I assume there's no written proof you were there on those days, so how are you getting paid?

We don't get weekend diffs and I oriented on days, so no shift diff either. We didn't get vacation or personal days for our first 6 months, but we did get PTO sick time. God help you if you actually took any, but in theory it existed.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Dec 10, 2007

We don't use time cards and clocks in Canada. The navel-gazers in the ivory towers of academe who are responsible for regulating practice have deemed that to be "blue-collar behavior" that does not reflect well on a profession like nursing. We rely on our computerized scheduling package in my hospital which is updated by the staffing office or a manager prn. So if I'm scheduled to work a 12 hour day today, unless I call in sick or don't show up, I'm paid for 11.63 hours. If I work past the end of my shift, I fill out an OT slip and they decide whether or not to pay me for that time. If I'm scheduled to work on a holiday, I automatically get paid time and a half for the hours that fall on that calendar day. As long as I show up.

EmmaG, RN · Dec 10, 2007

I would like to know if other orientees are also not paid their differentials on weekends and holidays. My manager said at first when I was hired that I wouldn't be able to work on weekends and holidays because I am new, then when my preceptor works on those days, I would have to follow any available RN or LPN on the floor. Then, later, she changed her mind and said I could follow my preceptor wherever she goes as far as I'm not clocking on weekends and holidays. They don't want to pay me my diffs! I feel it's not fair, but my preceptor said its pretty common for orientees in other palces, too. Is it?

No, it isn't. You need to read your employee handbook and if it isn't specified in there, speak to someone in HR. If you work those hours and holidays, you should be paid for them. And for God's sake, don't work off the clock!

ByTheLake · Dec 13, 2007

I was paid at full new-hire new-grad rate from day one throughout my orientation, and that included the full rate for evening, night, and holiday differential. I also received OT pay a couple of times when, though orienting, I picked up a couple of shifts in order to get the # of licences needed for census (because I was helpful even before I was up to full speed, at least as a warm body if nothing else). But this is just policy for the *great* system I work for (along w/full medical coverage starting day one of orientation at no cost to me). If that is not policy where you work, you won't get it. If you need full pay and benefits starting day one, you can get it, but only by shopping around for a hospital system that is willing to make its employees happy and really wants to keep them healthy.

ByTheLake · Dec 13, 2007

I see red flags here. Anyone else?

Yes! I was told my my manager to not so much as attend a CPI course without filling out a time slip or clocking in and out. I get paid for every last minute I'm on campus, including the 10 minutes it takes me to ride up the elevator, get my clipboard from my locker, and get settled into the report room, and then the 30+ minutes we remain on the floor to cover things while the oncoming shift listens to report, gets their first cup of coffee, and officially relieves us.

RNcDreams · Dec 16, 2007

I'm off orientation tomorrow, and for the past 6 months I have been paid the bare minimum. I have worked weekends with my preceptors, as well as evenings and nights.... making the bare minimum.

There were two instances where I was paid a differential:

1.) They accidentally approved me working 11p-7a thanksgiving eve, and HAD to pay it

2.) any time I am stuck past my shift and clock out late, I get a little OT.

I'm ready for the real money now!