Would you accept this call out excuse?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Thursday night I got a call at 7pm from a night shift CNA saying she was tired and didn't sleep that day and couldn't come in for her shift 11-7.

I told her that I that I would write up the call-out slip, but I didn't think being tired was an acceptable excuse. I got a string of profanities and then "fine, I'll come in"

I called my DON and double checked with her and she backed me up....but wow....if you are going to call out, come up with a better excuse, please!

Every job I've had required at least two hours notice so my spot could be filled, whether it was retail, food service, or nursing. As long as she gave sufficient notice and was not abusing the call-out policy, then let the poor girl sleep.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I worked with a woman who would call out for church events. Not religious holidays or funerals, but regular church services and events. I was raised in the chiurch, and my chruch always scheduled services in advance. I don't remember any emergency church services that weren't funerals.

First, when someone calls off, it causes a huge problem with staffing, and if it happens often enough, it makes people want to quit. You end up losing good employees when lazy ones call off constantly. Therefore, asking people why they are calling off is necessary sometimes. Every employer has a policy about call-offs, and some have particular acceptable and unacceptable excuses. For example, one of the staffing agencies I work for has this policy, and they consider "not having a babysitter" unacceptable. However, if you are sick, that is acceptable. It depends on the agency, and according to a lot of state labor departments, companies are well within their rights to ask.

Second, I do hate the once or twice a year if I do have to call off and my company gives me a hard time. I have had perfect attendance for 2 years and then I was in the hospital having my appendix out and my agency didn't believe me. Now, that is their problem. You can't go to work when you're on Dilaudid...

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
First when someone calls off, it causes a huge problem with staffing, and if it happens often enough, it makes people want to quit. You end up losing good employees when lazy ones call off constantly. Therefore, asking people why they are calling off is necessary sometimes. Every employer has a policy about call-offs, and some have particular acceptable and unacceptable excuses. For example, one of the staffing agencies I work for has this policy, and they consider "not having a babysitter" unacceptable. However, if you are sick, that is acceptable. It depends on the agency, and according to a lot of state labor departments, companies are well within their rights to ask. Second, I do hate the once or twice a year if I do have to call off and my company gives me a hard time. I have had perfect attendance for 2 years and then I was in the hospital having my appendix out and my agency didn't believe me. Now, that is their problem. You can't go to work when you're on Dilaudid...[/quote']

The one agency I work with is reluctant to accept the no baby sitter or can't take last minute call because I'm making dinner. The branch director has discretionary funds and a list of vetted babysitters that can respond on short notice ( and she can in an emergency/ urgent basis pay the difference in cost between your regular sitter & the emergency replacement. Even if you normally have a "free" family baby sitter but not if you abuse this benefit ) she's also been know to send a full meal to a nurse's family at agency cost if that is the only barrier to a nurse taking a last minute shift. Some administrators are also trying to improve staff morale while ensuring patients get safe & proper care as scheduled/entitled.

Alas this is rare though

I've always operated under the policy that honesty counts. you don't call in sick if you aren't sick. you know when your days to work are, plan your life accordingly. I worked at one place that got so bad, they just eliminated sick days altogether for anyone not on salary. no work - no pay. if it became problematic, and it did pretty quickly, you just got fired. end of story. the folks fell in line pretty damn quick. I valued my job, so I only called out when it was really necessary, and because of this, I also earned some leeway with management. I think I called out sick less than a total of 7 days over 9 years.

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

I have one thing to say..."WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND"... Aloha~

Therefore, asking people why they are calling off is necessary sometimes. ...

Second, I do hate the once or twice a year if I do have to call off and my company gives me a hard time.

So questioning others is good. Questioning you is bad. Sounds like a great way to create a company-wide policy.

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

A valid excuse is open to so much interpretation; what one unit manager finds valid another may not. Personally, I'm glad that my facility's policy is that the person taking the call is not allowed to ask why the caller won't be coming in. How much the caller offers is completely at their discretion. Unless someone is off for more than a week, the time off comes out of the paid time bank, which covers sick days less than a week, holidays, and vacation days; there is no differentiation between where the pay comes from. The policy is that anyone who has three occurrences in 90 days (consecutive days count as one occurrence; also includes lateness) enters the disciplinary process, regardless of reason- even those accompanied by a doctor's note are counted as an occurrence. Yes, there are some people who call off like clockwork once those 90 days are up, and the entire department knows who they are. Then there are those who almost never call off- and when they do, they get phone calls to see if they need anything (yep, my team is that close- love the day my boss picked up my prescription and dropped it off for me on her way home as I was in no shape to be driving).

@malamud 69 - your understanding of a call out shows an abuse of the privilege in making use of the call outs, call outs should also be justified for it will also be affecting the people who will be handling your shifts, that would be disrespecting them even if you follow the call outs at the right time prior to the schedules if you will be using them for your personal pleasures. If you want to have these personal moments or activities , file an early leave of absence to have them scheduled properly...

Some of the excuses I got:

1. "I have a hangover." (At least they were honest.)

2. "My sister is in the hospital" Me: "for what?" Them: "I don't know." Supposedly this employee went to the hospital, still had no idea what sis was in the hospital for. He had on Facebook what a great time he had late at night drinking. I made him come in.

3. "My mom is in the hospital dying from cancer." I found out later that mom had cancer, but was fine.

4. "My cousin is in the hospital." Me: "that is not a close enough relative." I found out later that she only met this cousin once.

5. "My dog is having puppies."

6. "My brother was in a bad accident." I found out later it was a total lie.

Some of the excuses I got:

1. "I have a hangover." (At least they were honest.)

2. "My sister is in the hospital" Me: "for what?" Them: "I don't know." Supposedly this employee went to the hospital, still had no idea what sis was in the hospital for. He had on Facebook what a great time he had late at night drinking. I made him come in.

3. "My mom is in the hospital dying from cancer." I found out later that mom had cancer, but was fine.

4. "My cousin is in the hospital." Me: "that is not a close enough relative." I found out later that she only met this cousin once.

5. "My dog is having puppies."

6. "My brother was in a bad accident." I found out later it was a total lie.

All of which just goes to show that if you force people lie every time they call in, they will do exactly that. Some people are just better at lying than others.

Once again, we are all adults. All one needs to say when calling in is "I'm calling in tonight/today." That's it. That's all.

If I called in and the person on the other end demanded an explination, I wouldn't be rude but I would tell them that it's none of their business. Because it isn't. I have accrued a certain amount of sick time. It is mine to use as I see fit. It is part of my compensation and I am entitled to it.

The supervisors where I work neither expect nor want a sob story when employees call in.

So we should give the third degree because the floor is short when a person calls in. Does replacement staff magically materialize when the call is "legitimate"?

If you don't have a replacement when I call in with a hangover, you wouldn't have had a replacement if I called in with the flu. Management's lack of planning for people to use their sick time isn't the fault of the staff that's calling in, it's the fault of management. Perhaps if people were treated with respect like adults instead of children who need a note from their mommy proving they're sick, they'd not need these unplanned mental health days away from the place.

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