Do you think this is fair?

[bigmona]

I'm in the weekend program at work, and work every single weekened. I only work Sat & Sun, so I am considered part time. We have 4 weekenders on my unit, and as a result, the rest of the regular staff only end up having to work maybe 1 weekend shift every 1.5-2 months.

Since I'm a weekend person, I get the higher weekend rate. If a holiday happens to fall on a weekend, I have to work it, and I do NOT get time and a half like the rest of the staff, because I'm already paid at "a higher rate"- but when you do the math, the regular staff are making more hourly than me on holidays.

Not only do I have to work these holidays at my regular rate, I am not allowed to request vacation time if it's a holiday.

So basically, I don't make any extra working on a holiday, I don't have an extra holiday requirement because I'm part time weekend staff, but I'm denied any requests to take a holiday off because "that's not allowed". Does that seem right to you? It seems to me that since I don't make holiday pay and don't have an extra holiday requirement like the rest of the staff, I should be allowed to take the holiday off if I request it (not to mention I have #2 seniority on this unit). Also, as a result, a lot of regular staff get out of working a weekend holiday because the weekend people have already filled in most of the slots.

I have to admit, I have a "thing" for when a situation seems unfair and get worked up about it- but am open to someone else's input and perspective to tell me I am looking at things incorrectly. My manager does not seem to understand where I'm coming from. It's hard when I have NO family time because I'm working every weekend, and then I miss out on family time during a holiday too because it happens to fall on a weekend. And no, I don't think anyone would willingly switch with me to work on a holiday.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

to the op: i see nothing at all unfair about your situation -- looks as if you have a pretty sweet deal! if you're starting to chafe, however, maybe it's time you went back to regular staffing. if you're not ready to do that, then take the bad (christmas and new years falling on saturdays this year) with the good (set schedule, only two days a week and most holidays off).

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I'm full time-I work every other weekend and half the major holidays each year.If a holiday falls ON my weekend rotation I work it unless it's Christmas. Christmas,T Giving and New Years are worked every other year. As full time I work on one unit-and am often in the charge nurse role. Our "PRN" staff are not required to work a number of weekends or holidays and are responsible for nothing but passing meds and maybe picking up a few treatments.They always work on the larger units and are the second or third nurse.They are NEVER in the charge nurse role.They NEVER do an admission or hospital return.Many never even call a doc and note new orders. They also make more dollars an hour then I do-is that fair? They do not get bennies and have no gauranteed time. That's the trade off....

When we had a Baylor program those folks were allowed ONE weekend off a year.They got their straight time no matter if a holiday fell on the weekend or not. They also had little responsibilty just like our current PRN staff.

We all have to make sacrifices for our families-if the weekend option is no longer working then leave it.But look at a calendar to see exactly what holidays really fall on the weekend next year.

[bigmona]

You make a whole lot of assumptions here, most of which are wrong, and then you judge me for it?

Like I said before, I'm part time. No benefits. Everyone else is self schedule and works when they want. My schedule is filled in for me and I am the one who has to switch if I need it. I hardly feel like a victim- grateful to have work but wanted some other nurses opinions on sorting out a situation that didn't make sense to me. So like I said, thanks to those that gave mature replies. I just got unlucky in the sense that so many holidays fell on the weekend this year but I know I'll be missing most of them in another year or two (if I stick it out working weekends for that long).

What you're saying is you make more per hour than everyone else, but are not on one or two days every once in a while?

Also, is the Sat-Sun thing considered fulltime? At my hospital our 'weekend incentive' people work two days, but get paid for three (which is why I ask). They're considered 'full time' and get full benefits, but don't get as much vacation time off nor as much sick time. They can, however, request 1 weekend off a quarter.

Look at it this way:

You get paid more than anybody else for normal hours

You get the days you WANT to work (weekends), and not the days you don't (unlike your cohorts)

You possibly are still full time even though you work a whopping two days a week (if above is true)

You don't have to work ANY holidays except the ones that fall on your weekend.

They get:

More money a few days a year

They have to work whenever they're scheduled and have to switch to get around it

They work 3 days a week or more

They have a holiday schedule rotation where they have to work pretty much every holiday.

If this bothers you the only way of getting around it, sans finding a new job, is to go to normal shifts and working whenever the heck they want you to.

In short:

Stow it and stop feeling like a victim.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Sorry, it is fair, holidays don't always fall on a weekend and this year they do. You have opted to work weekends. Our weekend program is the same. You work all weekends, actually NO ONE in our hospital is allowed vacation time over holidays so that argument would be in the bag here. It is what it is. But I will say, ours do get the holiday premium. You might want to opt out next year...the eves and days are on Sat/Sun.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Well, you agreed to work it... Two days a week for full time pay, or close to it, is amazing.

[flashpoint]

It may not seem fair, but you prpbably knew (or should have known) what you were getting into when you accepted the position. The hospital I used to work at didn't include shift or weekend differentials in when they figured time and a half or double time for overtime or holidays...so, if the holiday was on a weekend or you worked night shift, you still got time and a half or double time, but it was at your base rate....you basically lost your differential. It was a bit "unfair," but it was also explained to everyone before they accepted a night shift position.

I feel very lucky because my family has never cared when we celebrate holidays...if not everyone can be there on December 25th, we get together on the 23rd or the 27th or whatever. If one of us can't make it on any day that works for most of us, we still eventually get together even if it is for breakfast at McDonald's or for brunch after church.

The pay thing is a bit of a bummer, but other advantages to a weekend only option probably outweigh missing holiday pay.

[pinksugar]

Sorry if some of you thought that my post was insensitive, but I think that it is quite self-centered for a weekender (already getting plenty of great perks year-round as it is - lots more money and a set schedule) to expect regular staff to cover holiday weekends that they would like to be off. Weekenders aren't the only people that want to be at home on weekends and holidays with their families - regular staff want those things too. When regular staff work they get paid a lot less to do so and don't choose their schedule (the way that a weekender does). You can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't have all the benefits while others have none. You have to take some bad with the good. Christmas and New Years are falling on Saturdays this year - many years they will be falling on weekdays. Those years weekenders won't have to work almost any major holidays at all, while regular staff will be required to cover several holidays.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Each facility (and sometimes each unit) has their own policies. They ALWAYS seem unfair to someone.

If you split up the holidays (like A works holiday, B works day after, vice versa for the next holiday) then the people with out of town relatives hate it, because they always have to work part of the holiday and can't ever get a real visit in. The family in town people love it, because they get at least "part" of every holiday to spend with family.

My facility splits up the holidays, including weekend ones and even more annoying to me, the "fake" ones that you don't get holiday pay for, like Mother's Day and Halloween. I don't mind working holidays, but I hate working weekends. So I get really annoyed when I have to work Mother's Day and it falls on a weekend that I would otherwise be off. In my opinion, every weekend and every other weekend people were aware that Mother's Day and Father's Day and Easter always fall on a weekend when they signed up for it, so they should suck it up, that's what they get the extra pay for. But they think it's unfair to always work them. They won on this point. So now my weekends are ruined, which I think is unfair.

There's NO way to schedule things so that everyone thinks it's fair.

Lots of things I don't like. But as long as the majority of the staff is treated equally unfairly, we've just got to suck it up. :)

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

Wow, the holiday schedule really brings out the best in nurses, huh? (One of the best perks about teaching nursing ).

Speaking of which, think of it this way: I have every holiday off (excpet for some like veterans day, but trust me, I'm not complaining about that one). I am off every weekend, and every summer (and get paid too). However, I probably make less than you (maybe not you, b/c you are part time), and have a masters degree. I do get to sleep in my bed every night (no night shifts), I am never mandated. BUT: here's where I think my job is unfair. I am getting married, and am trying to plan a honeymoon. We'll be getting married before school is out for the year, but I need to wait to go on my honeymoon, b/c I can't take any days off. I am off for spring break and Christmas break, but I am too cheap to spend the extra money on a cruise during the peak times. Is this 'fair'? Obviously it is, b/c I have roughly 16 weeks 'off' during the year, but they are spelled out for me. Just like you have 5 out of 7 days off a week, spelled out for you.

I hope I am not coming off as obnoxious. That's not my intention. I just wanted to give you another perspective (one that may have you reacting in the same way that others are here). I know that noses go way out of joint when it comes to PT vs. FT, vs. agency, vs. Per diem. I have been all of these types of nurses (excpet agency). I've heard everyone's arguments, even down to who doesnt have kids (because apparently Christmas is only for children??), to who is more religious than whom (apprently a priests' note is needed??). As a per diem (where I am still affiliated), I am not obligated to work any holidays. People think per diems sit home on their days off and eat bon-bons (I work 2 other jobs in between my bon bons ). My hospital usually alternates for all holidays; they put out the old schedule to remind everyone of who worked last year (even for ones like Halloween).

I am assuming you have a very good reason you cannot work during the week. If it is child related, I can't imagine being out of the house every saturday and sunday, missing all family events, sporting events, parties, shows, fairs, etc. That is a huge sacrifice. I did a lot of weekends when my daughter was little, and missed out on a lot. But the flipside is that I was home during the week. there was no weekend plan at my hospital, so I got the same rate as I did during the week. The extra $ you get is well deserved IMO (and probably not nearly enough to compensate).

Other than the lack of time and 1/2, I think it's fair, just because of the odds, as another poster pointed out. This year (and next) is just a rough one. Then you are home free for 5 years, just as you were for the last 5 (assuming you were there).

[Sarah010101]

What is relevant is what is the market for your replacement. Rates of pay and benefits are not exempt from the laws of economics and as I understand it, right now there are many, many nurses available to take your place if you leave.

I understand how you feel about not being paid what you think you should be, I have been there in many past jobs and it is very frustrating. But.... I would take your job in a heartbeat... at regular pay. So i agree with this poster saying that you are unfortunatly replaceable in this day and age.. i dont know, i wouldnt rock the boat.

[rn/writer, RN]

To the OP: When holidays fall on a weekend, most employers give their employees a paid weekday off either before or after the weekend. Celebrate with your family on that day.

You really have a pretty good deal that only occasionally proves to be inconvenient. I'd make the best of it and enjoy the six years when it isn't a problem.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

debate on an internet site shows absolutely nothing about someone's professionalism or attitude at work. chastising someone for their poor attitude and hoping that they won't be your nurse one day is indicative of the nastiness and backbiting that so many say they deplore. and since it appears that you're still a student, you don't even understand the realities of being a professional yet anyway.

one more thought: those who get picky about which nurse they'll allow to take care of themselves or their families usually end up with worse nursing care . . . unless all you really wanted was the pillow fluffing.

ruby, thanks for taking this up in defense of people's opinions and saving me from excoriating that stupid--yes--stupid student.

another point for experience.