Your boss insists on employees taking flu vaccine

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MassED, BSN, RN

2,636 Posts

Specializes in ER.
Yup, same here. Just sign the form and you are set. No pressure.

I do get the vaccine every year. Last years was a waste of time. :banghead: I got so freakin sick with the flu in Feb. I am rethinking it this year.:argue:

I did too - February 7th, in fact. I thought I have had the flu in my life, but after this experience... I realized that likely many people think they have until, like us, they experience the full force. Awful, just awful!!! I had received the flu vaccine too. I don't know if it's just coincidence (I think not) but I also went to a Walmart that I never had gone too and it's in a primarily Asian neighborhood where there are many people who come in and out of the country. This was the last place I went to prior to falling ill.

MassED, BSN, RN

2,636 Posts

Specializes in ER.
What is this, a police state now?

Last year, we had to accept or decline in writing with a reason why.

They also said that if one doesn't get the vaccine and gets the flu they will not be getting paid sick leave for it.

I declined.

then I would say call in with "explosive diarrhea" when you have Influenza (if it could be diagnosed, or just stay home and assume you do).... how could they prove either, anyway? That just encourages you to call in with a different reason, rather than be honest. And they know you can still get a strain of the flu even after getting the vaccine, what would they do, then? Still not pay sick time for those vaccinated employees who still succumbed to flu? Duh.... what kind of ultimatum are they trying to make, anyway?

MassED, BSN, RN

2,636 Posts

Specializes in ER.
No sick leave for the flu? How are they going to know? I already resent after 3 days having to present a note from my MD if I'm sick (like I'm in school and need a note from my mommy.) But it will say I was sick, and am healthy enough to return to work. It will NOT say why I was there, because it's none of my employer's business if it was the flu or a bad UTI or I just had such a horrendous yeast infection that I couldn't come to work for a week without scratching my crotch in front of patients. In fact, if they demanded a reason, that last one is probably what I'd tell them. Will they deny my sick pay for that? And if so, what vaccination are they offering to prevent THAT?

:yeah: hahahahaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
then I would say call in with "explosive diarrhea" when you have Influenza (if it could be diagnosed, or just stay home and assume you do).... how could they prove either, anyway? That just encourages you to call in with a different reason, rather than be honest. And they know you can still get a strain of the flu even after getting the vaccine, what would they do, then? Still not pay sick time for those vaccinated employees who still succumbed to flu? Duh.... what kind of ultimatum are they trying to make, anyway?

thats just manipulative.

you don't have to tell them why you are calling off... "just i have to call off tonight"

if you abuse it, thats the problem. otherwise... you'll be ok.

MassED, BSN, RN

2,636 Posts

Specializes in ER.
I haven't gotten one in 2 years...why...because I am allergic to thimersol and our hospital doesn't carry it! You want me to get it, then get what I need. And the nasal one is not an option for anyone that works NICU....you have to be off work for I think it is 2 weeks until you are done shedding. And that isn't going to fly either.

Of course I haven't gotten the flu in 2 years also, lucky, probably, or it is because I survived the Hong Kong flu when I was a kid and have the immune system of a really healthy horse LOL

a variation/mutation of Hong Kong Flu.... maybe that's what I had in February... hmmm I'm going to go Google that right now!

MassED, BSN, RN

2,636 Posts

Specializes in ER.
thats just manipulative.

you don't have to tell them why you are calling off... "just i have to call off tonight"

if you abuse it, thats the problem. otherwise... you'll be ok.

most places need to know if you're contagious, so you have to provide a reason. Where I worked previously to this ER, the sheet had "who called in, staff themselves, or spouse, friend" "stated reason - and had a few "accepted" things: fever, sick child, and two others I can't recall..." So, yes, they'll ask. Of course you could try to say you have to call off, but where I work, the supervisor will call an employee and if there's anything they can do, they'll have someone come and get you. They'll ask if you can come in 4 hours later and call back. I have heard numerous employees complain about that. I'm a limited part-time, so I don't have benefits or accrue sick time, so if I don't work, I don't get paid.

On another note, I've never heard of an employee calling out without a reason. Or if they had, they'd be answering to management soon after....

My reasoning of calling out with "explosive diarrhea" was tongue-in-cheek - of course it's nobody's business what an employee is sick with.... but if they're contagious, and other staff or patients fall ill with some crazy illness, it's good to know a chain of illness.

wooh, BSN, RN

1 Article; 4,383 Posts

When I call in, I'm asked (by the recording) to state if it's presonal or family illness, personal or family emergency, etc. So I say illness. I'll usually tell when I go back to work why I was out. But I feel if my workplace doesn't trust my judgement in if I'm sick enough to call out and for what, then they shouldn't trust me with their patients.

It's a respect thing. And it's little things like this that show the lack of respect a workplace has for it's employees, and nurses in particular.

Specializes in med-surg,pedi,ortho,one-day,rehab,ER.
but i feel if my workplace doesn't trust my judgment in if i'm sick enough to call out and for what, then they shouldn't trust me with their patients.

it's a respect thing. and it's little things like this that show the lack of respect a workplace has for it's employees, and nurses in particular.

point made :yeah:!

Sunflower3

124 Posts

Specializes in NPD; Administration; M/S; Critical Care.

"what is the big deal? it can only help keep you - AND the patients you work with... from getting sick."

The 'big deal' that keeps me from getting this is Guillian-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune response to a virus that is sometimes the result of the flu shot. It's been documented that 1-2% of the persons who get the flu shot will get GBS, which is too big a risk, for me. When I worked ICU, we had three patients on the vent due to GBS, admitted within a few days of the other, and the common factor was getting the flu shot within the past few days before symptoms showed up!! I've had doctors to tell me that they'd never get the flu shot for themselves. Better to have a few days of illness with the flu than to get GBS and be paralyzed, at least for me.

UnitRN01

wooh, BSN, RN

1 Article; 4,383 Posts

The 'big deal' that keeps me from getting this is Guillian-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune response to a virus that is sometimes the result of the flu shot. It's been documented that 1-2% of the persons who get the flu shot will get GBS, which is too big a risk, for me...Better to have a few days of illness with the flu than to get GBS and be paralyzed, at least for me.

Thanks, I'd forgotten about that risk. Wonder, if my work insists on the flu shot, do I get workers comp as I recover from GBS?

Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

I've never had the flu vaccine and got the flu for the first time last season(not that the vaccine was worth much this past season.) My father got Guillain barre Syndrome 2 weeks after getting the flu shot last year, so now I'm paranoid about getting it, BUT I'm pregnant this year too, which I think they heavily recommend getting it during pregnancy.

Emily

Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

I have been a nurse 24 years and have never gotten the flu shot. I think its just a crap shoot and sometimes they get lucky and it prevents that year's flu, and lots of times it doesn't. I know the virus in the vaccine is "dead" but I sure have seen a lot of people come down sick within hours of getting it.:confused:

I know, I know all the "reasons" :rolleyes:why this happens, BUT I just don't trust the flu shot. And I have never taken it and never will. I refused to let my 84 year old grandmother take it. And she did NOT get the flu while those around her did (who had taken it).

I would sign the paper in a heartbeat declining it, and if they called me before a board (are we in a police state now?) I would say its a free country, I'm not opposed to others taking it but I don't want it. What are they going to do, shoot us?? These facilities just want to look good on paper for TPTB.:twocents:

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