Employment application: would you sign this?

Nurses General Nursing

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i was checking out my former employer's web site. they now have an on-line application form.....guess they think they might scare off someone if they actually walked in the door.

anyway, down at the bottom was this bit of information:

i certify that the information given by me in this application is true in all respects, and i agree that if employed and it is found to be false in any way, that i may be subject to dismissal without notice, if and when discovered. i authorize the use of any information in this application to enable ******** ****** to verify my statements, and i authorize past employers, doctors, all references, and any other persons to answer all questions asked by ****** ****** concerning my ability, character, reputation, and previous employment record. i release all such persons from any liability or damages for providing such information. i further agree, if employed, that i am to work faithfully and diligently, to be careful and avoid accidents, to come to work promptly, and to not be absent for any reason without prior notice to my supervisor.

i understand that if i am employed, i will have the right to quit my employment at any time, for any or no reason. i also understand that the hospital has the right to terminate my employment at any time, for any or no reason.

i agree to submit to a physical examination, including a drug examination whenever requested by ******** ******; and if employed, i agree to abide by all present and subsequently issued personnel policies and rules of the hospital.

"hmmmm and that's the way it is in a no right to work state"

now, who here would sign this?

I work in the state of SC and employers can say pretty much anything they want to, or don't want to, as far as reference.

I called the Labor Board in Columbia and ask this specific question d/t a "non-reference" I was given.

I also thought that all they could give was employment dates and rehire or no rehire==not so. They can say anything they want!!

SO, just another reason to lay low and keep our mouths shut, don't make waves for the institution that is shafting it's nurses and patients. Yea, right..

To the original question by P_RN; no, I wouldn't sign it. That's one of the reasons I work agency. Cuts out alot of the BS.

In simple terms:D can someone tell me what "right to work" and "employment at will" mean?

What is the Right to Work principle?

The Right to Work principle--the guiding concept of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation--affirms the right of every American to work for a living without being compelled to belong to a union.

Employment-at-Will principal-- this means the employer may terminate any employee at any time, for any reason, or for no reason. As a general rule, therefore, the employee has no right to challenge the termination or request a hearing.

Why even have a contract? I wouldnt sign it!

Navada too is a right to work state. I have seen statements very close to the one you posted. Not all are on the application it self. Often this is a separate document that you either sign or you don't work there.

Since Nevada is a small town. (i. e. there are not a lot of job options here, being largely rural and very sparcely populated and very underserved by health care) And every employer has this same statement (more or less) you don't have a lot of options.

It has been my observations that even with this statement most employers will dilligently go through the progressive disapline thing before they will fire.

To give an example of how scared they are to just fire without cause I'll tell my story. I was a wistleblower. So my employer desided that I and my husband who worked the same place had to go. They systematically set up a program of harrasment. They lied to our faces about what they observed us doing in our work. Now I know exactly what I did and so did the observer. The message was clear. They created infractions where there were none. We would not quit. Finally after an appropriate amount of time passed after the whistleblowing I was fired. (they waited 2 weeks to fire my husband. They admitted that they thought he would quit)We applied for unemployment. The employer challanged it. I declined to go to the hearing. I received a copy of the transcript from the hearing. The employer had admitted that they planned to fire me on a certain date (surprise it was the time of the whistle blowing) but they delayed inorder to find cause. Basically they were told that you couldn't do that. If you are going to fire for cause you must have cause when you make the decisionn and they were told they could not create cause. I got my unemployment. I had another one fire me with phoney cause. They also fought the unemployment claim and I won. I guess the bottom line is they are still reluctant to fire without cause because you can claim and get unemployment that way. Each time unemployment is paid the employers rates for unemployment insurance is effected.

This last one was a CNA job and AFTER they lost the unemployment hearing they reported me to the state board hoping that they could apeal once more with the unemployment folks. The state board said they had no evidence of any wrong doing on my part.

Where I work now they always do the progressive disipline thing before firing.

Agnus - I don't know where you work in Nevada...but Nevada does uphold the whistle blowing laws. There are many resources in Nevada for protection. I know someone who received quite a healthy chunk of money whistle blowing medicare fraud.

Nevada is a right to work state but you can not be fired without cause.

I'm glad things are better at your new place of employment.

question on the employment form. In addition, there was a part about sending for my credit history/credit report and of course a background check for any arrests/convictions, and a check at my school ( grades/school loans), and also driving records from the state driving licensing dept. I asked them? "what does my credit history have to do with my getting a job here?" They replied that it reveals "My Character." I asked, what happens to this information once you have it accumulated in a file? I was sitting in the Human Resources directors ' office at the time. I asked, "does this information go to the ICU directors' office also for his information?" "Oh no," she replied, "It never leaves the file in THIS office." I looked around the office at the 1/2 dozen minimum wage clerical workers there and realized within a week or two, all of these people would know more about me that I did. (It also includes your doctor and medical history search). I really wanted the job and so I signed it. I got the job. I regret signing it as I do not believe the file is as secure as she said. I know the ICU director has access to it. And the clerical people all read it, because over the next two weeks, before orientation, I took out a paper or two to add to the file folder and they simply got the file out of the drawer and put the paper in it, and a couple of times , my file was in a stack on their desks. It was mandatory to get the job..And as the HR director said, ""everybody signs it."" They work on making you feel like you are a scumbag with something to hide if you do not sign the form.

But, yes I would sign it...

For several reasons...

1) I am very certain of my past background and performance. As I am sure is the case with most of the posters on this board, I have nothing to hide.

2) The in-depth questions that the application seeks permission to ask of previous professional contacts, would most likely never be asked. If they were, most administrations would refuse to answer for fear of liability.

3) And finally, as others have pointed out, this facility is not the only game in town. In today's time of severe nursing shortage, if you have a valid license, and your breath will still fog a mirror held in front of your face, these places will trip over themselves to hire you. How many nurses have you seen lose their job in the last 2 years, who didn't find another job in less than a week? Often times in less time, and better conditions than the one they just left. That is assuming that the nurse in question wanted to work...

I understand that some people have a severe "privacy" hang up, but that's not something that I suffer from...

So for me... YES, I'll sign...

George

Thanks for the info. Spudflake.

This was not anykind of nursing job or medical issue.

I consulted with an attorney as these events were developing. There was no whistle blower law that could protect me in this situation. There are many kinds of whistleblowing.

I knew I would loose my job. I considered it a given. It was a small sacrifice.

I left there and when to nursing school. Not a bad outcome.

There are obvious draw-backs to living in an unchecked, open-season, capitalist society. Folks wouldn't have it any other way because they love their "freedom." I've looked at this from both sides, and it can be scary. Booo! :eek:

In the coming month, I will be breaking my apple and getting a position at a local hospital now that I have my CNA license. I cringe at the idea that I may have to work with such ideas over my head. Mario changed his path in life to become a nurse out of core talent (gift) to care for people, and because i love all people. How could I be terminated? I'm not in it for the money, but I know there are folks who are.

I haven't figured it all out yet. If I really wanted the position, Iy'd have to sign it and be aware that a T-1000 lurks (T-1000 is from The Terminator)

I understand your *fears* and telling you that you are not alone. Just be natural; What else can you do/be?

Thats exactly how it is here in New Mexico.

for the first six months of your employment anyway.

They have the right to fire you at will, and you have the right to walk, no two weeks.

sucks don't it?

Craig

Yep, here in hell, opps ther i go again, i mean NY state which I believe is a right to work state, that is a standard contract unless your in a union. It's really not that big of a deal, you still have rights. I've signed many a forms like that for past jobs i have had.

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