More staffing agency drama - does this sound fishy to you?

lckrn2pa · Mar 28, 2011

After my last travel job last april and until PA school started in July I worked registry and what I was told about the orientation hours was unpaid until I worked like 3 shifts. This may be what they were talking about. The agency doesn't get paid for you doing orientation so it comes out of their pocket so in order for them to make money they withhold that pay til you actually work at the hospital.

gigglymo · Mar 28, 2011

That makes a little more sense - thanks for the information! Good luck with PA school!

lckrn2pa · Mar 28, 2011

Oh, and this was in California so it must be common in this state, dunno

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Mar 28, 2011

Get it clarified first. I understand them wanting you to work a few shifts first, but if you don't, they get paid for the orientation and you don't? Sorry, I have a very simple but strict policy to keep from being taken advantage of:

NO MONEY = NO WORKY!

gigglymo · Mar 28, 2011

I like that policy!

SilentfadesRPA · Mar 28, 2011

Put this question to your state labor dept.

I have never heard of someone going to work FOR ANY REASON and not being compensated for their time. :)

Marc

lckrn2pa · Mar 28, 2011

They do have to pay you for it because you were there as their employee, they may have the policy about working as I previously stated but regardless, they have to pay you for your time. I guess I should have made that clear in my previous post. If they refuse to pay you then contact the state and then switch companies. Good thing is since you've already done the orient part you can work at that hospital for a different agency without any troubles. Don't let them take advantage of you on this. If they require you to work it then they have to pay you but clarify with the company if its paid based on working the set number of days.

gigglymo · Mar 28, 2011

Just checked with the staffing office at the hospital - it's considered "unbillable" which I interpret to mean that the hospital doesn't pay for it - I suppose I should have been more specific with the agency, but when they called and told me that there was a required orientation to attend, I assumed I would be paid for it. Can I call the state on this?

To further complicate matters - I was hired on to the agency with 1 year total hospital experience and 6 mos. RN experience. The nurse manager just talked with me about coming on for her full-time. I didn't think this was an option because my agency says I have to work for them for three months, but also says that I should have had a year experience before working at that hospital. They are telling me that if I formally apply for the full-time position and the hospital finds out I only have six months, the hospital will rescind the job offer and the agency will no longer be willing to place me. I feel like this situation is quickly going from bad to worse. Thoughts?

79Tango · Mar 28, 2011

I wouldnt have even told the agency what you are doing. You should make sure the Nurse Manager knows about your 6mos experience (give her your most current Resume) and then go for it! Forget what the agency says... Do what the manager says!

Also just because the agency cant bill the hospital doesnt mean you cant bill the agency.. Meaning they have to pay you.

They will probably try to scare you out of going staff at the hospital so do not let them!

Even if they say "your contract says you must wait 90days before working there." That is a very tough one to enforce and very few companies are willing to do more then threaten,

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 29, 2011

If you are required to attend, they are required to pay you.

Why worry about offending an employer that doesn't pay you. If you want the job tell them they broke the contract first by not paying you, so now you can do as you please.