Am I being take advantage of?

[DreamyEyes]

The title says it all.

I've been working at a LTC facility for 5 years now. I started as a CNA, and I've been working as a nurse there for a little over 3 months now. When I was hired as a nurse, they kept going back and forth on whether the position would be full-time or part-time. I made it clear to them that I obviously wanted full-time, but would take any hours that I could get. Basically, I was told that I would be part-time but they would try to schedule me for as many hours as they could, and it would eventually go to full-time.

Well, since then, I've been getting 32-40 hours a week consistently, with maybe ONE week a 24 hr/work week (our schedule is monthly). I talked to our HR lady today, and she said that to be elegible (sp?) for full time benefits or pay in lieu, you need to have an average of 30 hours a week quarterly. So as long as the average is at least 30 hours a week per quarter, then you can get benefits. She still has my status at part time, and says that the DON needs to hand over the status change over to her.

I'm going to talk to my DON and ADON about this, but I feel like I'm getting taking advantage of, and they are known for beating around the bush when it comes to talking about issues.

Has anyone been in this kind of situation? I don't want to leave my job, but if, after talking to my boss I'm still not getting benefits, I may have to leave..

[Blackcat99]

I am glad to hear that you are going to talk to the DON about this situation. Hopefully, things will work out well and that the DON will hand over the status change to HR. If you are thinking about leaving if you don't get benefits please be careful. Make sure that you are hired elsewhere for sure before you give a 2 week notice. I have been having a lot of trouble finding a new job despite my many years of nursing experience. Good luck.

[JBudd, MSN]

Whether they are taking advantage intentionally or not, you told them you wanted as many hours as you could get, and they gave them to you. You accepted the position as part time.

So, go to your ADON, without being aggresive about it, just very reasonable. Point out that you have been getting the hours and thank you for that; but now you would like to be considered for benefits as you can qualify per the information you received from HR. Ask for a date by which they can give you a decision so that you know if you need to start looking for a position with benefits, not that you want to leave but your circumstances now require you to find a postion with benefits.

Lets them know you appreciate the hours, like the job but need more. Ball is in their court, they can then choose to keep you as you are, or try to make sure you don't leave. You can make your decisions from there.