Bad Weather--Hospitals could care less about your safety

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Well, I want to say first that I fully understand that hospitals expect you to be at work no matter what the weather.

I always go. I go for other people. That's why I have a four wheel drive. However, sometimes there is bad timing. Such as major snow that falls heavily and rapidly.

I got up, took a shower, got in the car to go to work. I swept it off the night before, got gas the night before, washed my uniform and had it pressed in case the power went out.

I warmed up the car, went off my driveway...moved about 15 feet and it slid into the yard.

The vehicle would not move.

So for the first time in years...I don't call in sick but maybe once a year. Never for weather.

I have PTO right? Lots of it because I never call in.

Get this...hospital is not allowing me to use my PTO for that day.

Freaking ridiculous. So if anyone else makes an attempt and wrecks. Call the news right after the tow truck. The general public should know that hospitals don't care about the safety of their employees. So this crappie about the fact they do? They can stick it as far as I'm concerned.

heron, ASN, RN

4,136 Posts

Specializes in Hospice.

You are paying the freight for those who would happily not even make the attempt to come in.

Meanwhile, tell me, how is not paying you pto impairing your safety? If you're a 12-hour shift person, then the person you're supposed to relieve is now working a 24 hour shift. What about her safety - or that of her patients?

If all those who can't make it to work are payed pto, and those who do work are paid time and a half because they can't leave - how does that make you safer?

Sorry, it sucks to get nailed by bad weather, but you're not losing the pto - just not getting it this time.

springchick1, ADN, RN

1 Article; 1,769 Posts

We are expected to come in and stay the night if we think we won't be able to make it in for our shift. And if we miss a shift because of weather, we get written up. So I think not getting to use your PTO is fine. Like a PP said, it's not safe for the people who have already worked 12 hours to have to continue working. It isn't like the blizzard was a huge surprise.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN

13,952 Posts

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

I'd rather be blanket barred from PTO than receive a write up. The news won't care that you are not getting paid to not go to work. You tried. It didn't work. Getting an excused absence is more than many get.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN

1,939 Posts

The same rule applies at my job. I see no problem with it. I planned ahead and booked a hotel before the storm hit.

vone28

11 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatry.

I can understand your frustration. I would try my best to make it in to work. However, if the weather caused the roads to be dangerous. I would have made the same choice as you.

elkpark

14,633 Posts

Go ahead and call the news. I guarantee you "the general public" is a lot more concerned about whether Mama is going to be left to fend for herself in the hospital without sufficient staff than the well-being of hospital employees. This is kind of what we signed up for when we took a job in an acute care hospital, having to get to work regardless of the weather.

Guttercat, ASN, RN

1,353 Posts

I got stuck at the end of my driveway once. High centered the car on a giant snow berm. I called to have it towed off the snow berm. Then I went to work.

If I'm genuinely sick that's one thing, but I certainly wouldn't "expect" PTO for missing work due to snow.

I think hospital employers almost have to go all Gestapo during weather events, because of the few who would take advantage of having a "snow day." To some people, three inches of snow on the ground is a valid reason to stay home.

ktwlpn, LPN

3,844 Posts

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Plenty of staff "pretend" to have incidents just like yours.I work with one who leaves her car in a snow bank during every snow storm .The day she posted a pic of herself on Facebook 'back in bed' after getting her car stuck we knew she was a liar.She had not even gotten up and gotten dressed.This gal comes to work fully coiffed and with impeccable makeup.The pic showed her in her pajamas,make up free and hair in cork screws....

Horseshoe, BSN, RN

5,879 Posts

I think the hospitals are in a bad place in this situation. If they make it that easy to call in when there is bad weather, you better believe it that there would be NUMEROUS people exploiting this understanding and caring attitude. And screwing the people waiting to go home in the process.

It's frustrating, I'm sure, but they really have no choice but to be heavy handed about it.

Now I will say that at my hospital, they would have paid to have someone pick you up. That's how badly they need staff to come relieve the personnel who have been up all night (or who have been working all day and would be hard pressed to keep going for another 12 hours).

Specializes in PCCN.

Im sure this is the case with any job. most employers could care less about the employee. They are just a number. a cog in the wheel.on to the next person.

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Denying PTO because the OP can't get to work in the snow is punitive. I might add I find it childish and mean spirited too.

How would any of us like it if our employer decided when and how they'd pay our PTO requests?

If the OP is given PTO with every other absence, then the weather shouldn't be an exception.

The boss can write you up, lay you off, or give you points, but denying you what's yours isn't right.

News flash. Hospitals DON'T care about the safety of it's employees. We are worker bees, and our only value is how much work can be extracted from us on any given day.

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