I am worth less for Christmas?!?!?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Okay so I volunteered to work Christmas because the poor LPN that works day shift has had to work all holidays for 5 years. She has a son going to Iraq and I felt I simply had to help her out by letting her have 5 days including Christmas with her family and son!:)

Then I found out for the first time in 7 years..my hubby FINALLY had Christmas off (he is paramedic). Uhgggggg..oh well, I still did a nice thing...and besides, I get off work at 1430...so not bad.:rolleyes:

Then I remembered..oh yeah I get double pay because my organization appreciates people that work on Christmas! (all other holidays are time and a half). Yeah..well that will help me out quite a bit...so cool!:biggringi

WRONGO!!!!!!:angryfire

Because I am part-time, I don't get double..but time an a half. Now granted, I shouldn't complain but that hit me SO WRONG! What...my Christmas is worth less than anyone else working it??? Like my family is worth less for their sacrifice of their mommy being gone Christmas eve and Christmas day!?!?!? OH I was livid!!!!!!!! :eek: :nono:

I would understand this policy better if it was a detour from people working part-time, but they mandate that all RN staff to be part-time, and LPN's to be full for money reasons (sick I know!!!!)...so it isn't like it was my choice...so why am I worth less???? OH yeah..I am more expensive..UHGGGGG!!!!!!!!

Is this common where you all work? Do you feel it is right? I mean, I can come up with 101 reasons why adminstration would do this..but knowing their hiring practices I can blow each one out of the water!!!!!! (I work in Admin!).

Simply another tactic to save a buck to the expense of RN's! WOW, wonder why we are leaving the field or thinking about it????

My hubby is as mad as I am, and he said "well since you are part-time then they must abide by your schedule..so NO MORE working holidays under any circumstances...and you will submit a calander of days you are available and not and they will either abide by that or you quit!" Okay a little harsh but...I can see where he is comming from!!! I get NO benifits whatsoever, the least they can do is treat me as they would anyone else at that place for this Holiday they claim is to be the "foundation of the family unit..therefore double pay for you and your families sacrifice". UHGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!:angryfire

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At my facility, there will be NO extra compensation for the sacrifice this year. The holiday differential is exactly the same as the weekend differential, but it is an either/or kind of thing (they won't pay holiday AND weekend...cheapskates), so those working Christmas and New Year's will get the same differential they get any other weekend shift. Merry Christmas to all...NOT! :icon_evil

On the other hand, at least the folks who work in the hospital I recently left will actually get SOMETHING extra for the holidays this year - you see, that h---hole doesn't pay anything extra for a holiday, but does give a weekend differential :icon_roll

Be glad you are getting what you are - others have it worse - but I understand how you feel. It does suck that you get less than everyone else.

:icon_neut

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

That was something I told my hubby...at least I am getting something. And the money isn't the issue as much as HUH?!?!? (if you know what I mean).

I feel like that is a slap in my face to a point...the all other positions are full time except for receptionist (who is quite upset too) and us RN's...and it is like...thanks for being our yes people, having to solve all probelms we encounter, thanks for also doing that and being the PR for our establishment..and Admin on the weekends...you do it all...oh but wait you are part time...thanks, but you aren't worth it because you work 3 less hours per week than anyone else (they milk the part time to an hour or so below limit!!!!!!).

I will go with my hubby's advice and NEVER work holidays again as long as I work part time for this organization..life is too short, and my child is 10...I am going to get my mommy time with him while he is still young..you can never get that back..double pay, half + reg or not!!!!!! I give everything to my job as is...but this little slap in the face was a reminder of the horrid admin policies I complain about wayyyyyyy to often. (there are sooooooo many!!!!!!!).

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

Wow, both of the previous situations really stink! My brother-in-law works as a cashier at Safeway supermarket and he gets triple time for working on Christmas. Sad commentary about our priorities, isn't it?

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Yes it is! My hubby who is a paramedic doesn't get the benifit even I do at time and a half! He only gets a 100 buck bonus (which is more than most jobs..but then again look at what he does..he deserves that and MORE!)...even if he is going to be out there doing 4 extra hours because the county needs him (they have to stay on shift if the demand is high...no matter what..hubby is late every day...1-4 hours!).

Saddest thing yet..he makes substantially less than I do...and he has been a paramedic for the same company for over 8 years!!!!!! I made almost twice as much as a new nurse than he did when I met him 5 years ago!!!!

Oh well..it isn't like I am going to call in or not show about this..I just thought it was rather Scrooge of them! LOL! Or better yet...Grinchy!!!!!!

If they don't offer candy canes, nice coffee and cookies..I will walk out! LOL!!!!!!!!! (J/K)

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Specializes in Home care, assisted living.

At our ALF I'm pretty sure you only get holiday pay if you work the day before AND after the holiday. :confused:

We also have a new nurse in charge, and a lot of rules are changing. Now we NAs have to give a six-week notice AND get our own coverage for vacations. I have a feeling that next year, no one will be allowed to take time off during the holidays, either.

Oh, and guess what?? Once again, our hours have been cut. Our old boss hired too many people, or so the excuse goes. So for the THIRD time in my four years of employment they're cutting back hours due to the budget. I'm sick of hearing about that stupid budget!! :( These residents are spending at least $2,000 a month just for room and board. What are the folks in mgmt. doing with it?? (Last I heard, some funds were misallocated and the books are messed up. Oy...)

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.

When I read the first paragraph of the first post I thought how thoughtful it was of someone to sacrifice for a fellow employee. The more I read, the more it seemed the OP was resenting their gesture of kindness because they weren't going to get paid as much as they thought. Are you telling me you wouldn't have offered to work for the LPN if you knew about the lower differential?

Some facilities pay minimal or no shift/holiday/weekend differentials. Consider yourself among the lucky that do receive something extra.

I suggest this thread be a forum for sharing random acts of kindness or sacrifices that have been made to help others at the holidays.

Thanks for allowing my input :)

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I don't think she's saying she resents doing someone a favor because she's not getting something really awesome in return. I think they're two separate points: she's happy to do something nice for someone AND her hospital's policy isn't very good in regards to RNs holiday compensation, which was a policy she learned of only through switching shifts with her coworker.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
When I read the first paragraph of the first post I thought how thoughtful it was of someone to sacrifice for a fellow employee. The more I read, the more it seemed the OP was resenting their gesture of kindness because they weren't going to get paid as much as they thought. Are you telling me you wouldn't have offered to work for the LPN if you knew about the lower differential?

Some facilities pay minimal or no shift/holiday/weekend differentials. Consider yourself among the lucky that do receive something extra.

I suggest this thread be a forum for sharing random acts of kindness or sacrifices that have been made to help others at the holidays.

Thanks for allowing my input :)

Agree that this would be awesome for starting up a thread of kindess! And please sjt9721 read post number 3...it isn't about the money, but the policy that treats employees different because of how many hours a week they can put in!

It shouldn't matter how many hours THEY choose I work, I am worth as much as any other employee working that shift, that day, and the VERY same duties! Money is always an incentive, but I did it for my dear LPN who is terrified this may be the last time she sees her baby son! Least I could do! My family agrees with that...just is as upset as I am for this twist on the admins part...like that is unusual...they do tend to bring a downer on the holidays in one form or another (they chose this time of year to stop the 401K, no cost of living increase, and in order to get your health insurance (which spouses and children can not be covered..got that last Christmas)..you have to sign a waver giving our facility full rights to your medical records (which I believe is illegal but they won't insure you unless you sign!!!!)..hey there is ONE perk to being Part-time..I don't have to do this!!!!!!!! So it is more a matter of policy than money..I will work it regardless...but what I may do after...well that is still to be chosen because I need to make a stand because I am a professional and should be treated as such...if I give an inch..they take a mile, so I have to stop it when it is controllable...or I might as well stay silent.

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Specializes in Home care, assisted living.

I can diefinitely sympathize concerning the little changes and twists that mgmt. likes to spring on unwitting employees. A few years back, they took away our Christmas bonus (the one time I did get it, the government took $200, leaving me $300. Nice. :angryfire But at least I got a bonus.)

After corporate office did that, they decided to make it merit-based. In other words, corporate pays us visits during the year, we spruce up the building and give them a little dog-and-pony show each time and then HOPE in vain for a bonus in our paychecks. I'm sure corporate office gets THEIR bonus every year!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

We only recently started getting time and a half, so double time would sure be nice.

By part time do you mean per deim, no benefits? Double time could fall under the category of benefits that you give up to be per diem.

But I agree, everyone working the holidays should be making the same differential pay.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
When I read the first paragraph of the first post I thought how thoughtful it was of someone to sacrifice for a fellow employee. The more I read, the more it seemed the OP was resenting their gesture of kindness because they weren't going to get paid as much as they thought. Are you telling me you wouldn't have offered to work for the LPN if you knew about the lower differential?

Some facilities pay minimal or no shift/holiday/weekend differentials. Consider yourself among the lucky that do receive something extra.

I suggest this thread be a forum for sharing random acts of kindness or sacrifices that have been made to help others at the holidays.

Thanks for allowing my input :)

Why not start a separate thread for random acts of kindness (assuming one doesn't already exist) and let this one be for the topic the OP has selected? I don't hear any resentment directed towards her friend, I hear it directed against a policy that she considers unfair.

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