[RN-Cardiac]

Seems the hospital has 3 choices. 1) Pay the OT 2)pay nurses a salary 3)Intimidate nurses into aquiessing and forgoing what is legally due them

OR,...4) add up all that over time,..use it to hire more staff and we can all leave on time as we would like to!!!

[mhr2133]

What would be the legal issues if something happened (a code maybe) and you performed any nursing while you were not clocked in? would you be covered by anyone's malpractice insurance? I think you need to be on the clock to be covered by the hospital's insurance

[DebRN06]

We have this, too. They had been putting papers in our mailboxes where we had to write reasons why we were past 7:30AM/PM. I always wrote, "NOT STAFFED PROPERLY OR ACCORDING TO ACUITY." For some reason I only got a couple of those!

Most nurses on my unit are there late. In fact, I do not understand how people get out on time and come to think of it, the ones that consistently leave on time hide to do their charting, do not answer phones or call-lights and make the PCTs do EVERYTHING. What good employees b/c they leave on time!! They are also the ones that you know do not chart properly, and take many "short-cuts."

I do not understand how management does not see if they would just staff accordingly they would SAVE money just from nurses leaving on time! I wouldn't stay a minute past if I didn't have to!

There are a few RNs that do clock out before they finish charting, giving report. I always "yell" at them about it...they are only causing more problems for all the RNs when they do that. If management doesn't want to staff properly, then they need to pay for it!!

[NRSKarenRN]

NJ regs: New Jersey State Wage and Hour Laws and Regulations
Wage Claim (MW-31A) - Use this form if you are an employee working in New Jersey or you are working for a New Jersey based company.

[nurseabc123]

yep, we have this too, can't clock in more than 12 minutes before, or 10 minutes after..

[Balder_LPN]

Originally Posted by mhr2133

What would be the legal issues if something happened (a code maybe) and you performed any nursing while you were not clocked in? would you be covered by anyone's malpractice insurance? I think you need to be on the clock to be covered by the hospital's insurance

Not likely to be covered by employers inusrance when clocked out.

[racing-mom4]

We are not paid overtime unless we work over 40 hours in a 7 day span. So odds are we are not staying 4 hours over a week to chart. They would like us to clock out on time, but we are not punished if we are not able. FYI we get in trouble(talked too) if we clock in EARLY. but not clock out late.

I have seen though many times nurses give report then sit around and chit chat before walking over to the time clock---mgmt will then say "Suzy have you clocked out yet?"

[snuggles49]

Where do you draw the line. What about those individuals that "milk the clock" so they can pick up OT. How do you determine if a person has been working that last 15 mins or talking socially to a oncoming co-worker ? Our facility has documentation sheets to write down why OT and then has to be signed by Shift cordinator before it will be paid. If not signed it is deducted from the time. What is a fair and honest way to get OT paid for ?? A short tidbit: just recently 2 RN's were in the employee break room at 655 pm (their shift ends at 730 p) eating with their feet up. The SC comes in to put her food away (she starts at 7 p) and leaves. At 805 p these two RN's were calling the SC for OT. Should they be paid ? They stated they had missed their evening 15 min break. They always miss their scheduled breaks. What is fair ?

[KaroSnowQueen]

Never ever clock out and then continue working. If they don't want to pay you OT, go to the sup and say, "My work is not complete. Shall I stay over and complete it, or shall I clock out and leave it for someone else?"
Never ever clock out and work for free. Illegal, demoralizing and dumb. NOBODY'S insurance will cover you if you are there, off the clock, there is an emergency, you jump in to help, and the end story is a lawsuit somewhere down the line. You will be off the clock, and your behind will be toast, and burned at that.

[bethin]

My employer has started this, or tried to. I brought up what to do if you're not clocked in because it would be OT and a code was called. Would you just sit there? Because legally you cannot participate if you are not clocked in. Also, if something were to happen to you, would workman's comp kick in if you weren't clocked in?