Descrimination: A full hot meal or soup and a sandwich

An obvious way to relieve the tension over who gets what food is to serve everyone nothing equally.

So, the OP and her colleagues should do nothing... because the obvious way to "relieve the tension" is for the employer to retaliate against them?

Interesting. What other benefits should they surrender out of fear of retaliation?

I am not familiar enought with how unions work to address the legal ins & outs of a union grievance.

However, if I may, I would point out that this would be emotionally hurtful to me if I were an LPN or CNA in this facility. How often are LPN's & CNA's made to feel like they are "lesser citizens," and now the management offers only these two groups, and not the RN's, a "lesser lunch"?

Emotions are a big part of our human experience, and our emotions are often at odds with our logic. Logic says, "be glad for what you have," and "don't complain, or no one will get lunch," but that doesn't address the emotional impact of this practice on the staff.

No wonder people are upset about it, whether it's logical to file the grievance or not. I would be.

While I agree that your place of employment providing ANY food is quite a perk, the OP does have a point. It isn't fair that the earlier employees be served different food from the later employees. Don't get me wrong, I see everyone's point, but if this happened to you, you might feel as the OP does.

I, however, will continue to bring in leftovers and TV dinners for my meal breaks, when I get them that is.

Blessings

Life is just not fair sometimes and it sucks. Sorry, I think everyone should be treated equally and fairly, but it does not always happen that way.

My father once told me "Whoever said life was fair?" He was right.

Does Coors hire nurses? hahaha!

Maybe to take care of the CEO'S with liver disease.

I'm backing Truth66 all the way on this.

I'm also in total agreement with Freedom42.

Those nurses who are happy with their mediocre existence as martyrs can continue to suffer. It's that sort of attitude that the organisation relies on to keep nursing down as a profession, as a voice and as a force to be reckoned with.

Some commentors are also right - careful what you wish for. It may be that all staff lose the lunch options - but hey-ho, there goes the organisation's 'perk' to attract staff.

As for those who think Truth66 is lucky to get breaks. I used to get full free lunches - and dessert, as long as I ate with the patients - and then I had my full break aswell. Sometimes I could use my full break to go to the staff servery too and get another meal if I wanted - for free. On weekends we had BBQ. Free.

Now I work somewhere else - and they don't give a free lunch. That's fine. THey don't pay me for my lunch break eiter. That's also fine.
I take myself off for half an hour and no one talks to me til I'm done.
Some Australian nurses agreements have it claused - if you don't get your break in the first 5 hours - you get paid overtime rate. If you get interrupted in your break for work purposes - you can start it again later - and get paid overtime rate until you get it.

What a nursing body will put up with is not down to how others value them - but how it values itself. Many commentors on this thread have shown themeselves to carry a very low sense of self worth.

And it seems like you guys need to talk to your unions a bit more.


@Truth66

It dosesn't seem like the DON is the problem. The breaks were set and I doubt the DON had a lot to do with the Dietary Manager'd decision - though s/he may have been consulted or advised; in which case a little tactless in the least to not discuss with the nursing team.

The Dietary Manager can change as they are permitted to do so.
The DON can set breaks as s/he sees fit to do so.

What has to be challeneged is how the Adminstration will marry these decisions with the employment contract to have meal options available to all staff.

If it were me - and the PN & CNAs were agreable - I'd go for free soup and sandwiches as the pay off.

all of you who are saying "free" meal, please go back and read.....the negotiated agreement stated the right to purchase, not free......this is a change in a negotiated agreement signed off by management and union and is certainly greivable.....please read more carefully
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Well, I'd think if one of my posts brought about 6 PAGES of incorrect replies, I'd stand up and clarify. She posted what? Three posts? And never once said "Hey wait!! We PAY for these meals! They aren't free! I should've been more clear in the OP!". That's what I would've done, but she just let it keep on going.