PTO and sick time

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Cardiology.

This is my second vent this week -- ugh!

As a result of some bad personal circumstances in late 2007 and getting dinged for 24 hours of PTO over Christmas/New Years, I started the new year with a single-digit PTO balance.

So, wouldn't you know I came down with a nasty cold the week before last. Congestion, sneezing, cough, sore throat -- no fever; it was just a common viral crud.

Despite being miserable, I missed exactly zero hours of work -- couldn't afford to. I felt bad that my germs were all over the office. My co-workers were following me everywhere with anti-microbial wipes. I redoubled my hand-washing and pushed fluids, vitamins, and soup, but there is so much pressure to show up and get the job done. No patients were inconvenienced or rescheduled, and 10 days later I am feeling 100% healthy.

I'm just frustrated with the pressure (and others have expressed it here recently) to show up for work No Matter What. My manager actually complimented me for "being tough." Well, I don't feel tough.

Now another nurse and a new MOA (who has no PTO yet) have my cold. They too will probably come in on Monday feeling run down and cruddy, but not sick enough to call off. It's a vicious cycle. Grrrr ..... :madface:

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

my facility has a crazy sick time/pto policy as well: three occurances are ok, but with a fourth you get verbal counseling, written counseling with the fifth and terminated after the sixth -- unless you have fmla. so with my shingles last february and last month and an episode of bronchitis in the fall, i'm at my limit. if this freakin' cough doesn't go away and i call in sick, i'm going to have a fourth occurance. you can't get fmla for episodic illnesses like shingles, colds, flu and bronchitis. yet bm, a co-worker of mine, calls in sick at least once a week. she has "migraines" you see, and has fmla for that. i'm a bit suspicious, because her "migraines" always seem to come on the weekends . . .

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Specializes in ltc.

even if i had sick time at my job right now i wouldnt be able to take it.....

2 weeks ago i had the flu and worked with a 103 fever for 3 days (i work LTC) they threatened to fire me if i didnt come in because the adon didnt want to get off her hiney and work.....

now i have strep so bad i cant swallow even water.. i cant sleep right now hence why im STILL awake at 3:22 am when i have to be awake for work in 1 1/2 hours..... again i got threatened to get fired if i called in this weekend.....

this is gettin ridiculous....... i have never called in or whatever then when im genuinely sick i get forced to work

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You need to stay home, period. And get to a doc/urgent care today.

God, this kind of stuff really ticks me off :angryfire

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
my facility has a crazy sick time/pto policy as well: three occurances are ok, but with a fourth you get verbal counseling, written counseling with the fifth and terminated after the sixth -- unless you have fmla. so with my shingles last february and last month and an episode of bronchitis in the fall, i'm at my limit. if this freakin' cough doesn't go away and i call in sick, i'm going to have a fourth occurance. you can't get fmla for episodic illnesses like shingles, colds, flu and bronchitis. yet bm, a co-worker of mine, calls in sick at least once a week. she has "migraines" you see, and has fmla for that. i'm a bit suspicious, because her "migraines" always seem to come on the weekends . . .

ruby vee... you're incorrect about not being able to get fmla for shingles. when you fill out the form it usually asks you if you need to take "intermittent" leave, meaning "prn" at my facility. my wife has debilitating migraines that cause me to occasionally use my fmla for her..either to take her to the er or to medicate and watch her at home with the monsters (oh, i mean "children" ;) ) you are correct about the flu, colds, et cetera...but shingles is a different story. it is a medical diagnosis that is known to cause pain and other side effects. it is covered under fmla here.

i hope you feel better soon.

vamedic4

get your doctor to fill it out for you, and tell him that you need it for times when your conditions flare up. that's what fmla was created for.

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