Vacation Requests Constantly Denied: A Rant

[MECO28]

Hi All,

What do you do when every single vacation request you make is denied? I am not unreasonable; I never request off during the holidays but I do try to take a handful of days off in the summer (not weeks on end, a day off here and there; like maybe 4 days total all summer). So far every day off I have requested has been denied!

Basically we can only be assured of getting days off four months out of the year (October, February, March, and April) because the rest of that time either conflicts with holidays or prime time vacation. I try to take any longer vacations during that time but occasionally I need a day off in the summer! Everyone on my unit has this same issue; the scheduler will sit on requests for months and then after many emails will FINALLY get back and 9/10 the day is denied. It doesn't matter if it's for your own dang wedding!

I am trying to get a group together to approach our manager about this. It's ridiculous and really impacting my job satisfaction. They expect us to stay overtime and be "team players" but there is zero reciprocity.

So frustrated....

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Agree with the PP re: poor management. Very few organizations provide formal training for people responsible for scheduling.

Two important points

1. DO NOT organize a "group protest". This would technically be an 'organized labor' effort and would not end well. Instead, focus on your own needs and represent yourself ONLY. If other people have the same concern, they need to fight their own battles.

2. File an HR grievance. Be sure to get your ducks in a row first. Documentation of all of your requests that have been refused. Don't bring anyone else's schedule into this discussion - avoid the "she gave Sally a week off but I didn't get one" lines of reasoning because you do not know (nor should you know) about discussions between your manager and other staff members. Focus on your own issues. If you can show that every single one of your requests were refused, they will likely find it very hard to justify.

Good luck - wishing you success

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

If they are unwilling to change, you could always try to find a job somewhere that you can self-schedule. We self-schedule in six week blocks, so there is no requesting vacation - we just schedule off. We can take PTO whenever we want and we get six X marks per schedule where we absolutely cannot be rearranged into one of those days. I don't think six is enough, but I digress. Other than that, we may get rearranged if there are a lot of gaps, but mostly we get the shifts we sign up for. I'm usually only rearranged for 1-2 shifts in six weeks, tops, if I'm even rearranged at all. I was not rearranged at all on the current schedule.

[Emergent, RN]

I just want to say, I have a great nurse manager. She goes above and beyond to grant vacation requests. I'm soooo thankful. I've left jobs before because of unreasonable scheduling. It is uncivilized, in my opinion.

We nurses especially need our time off. We give our all, we give up many important holidays, we work long, exhausting shifts. We need time to recharge and enjoy God's creation, relax with family, rejuvenate body, mind and spirit.

[MECO28, BSN, RN]

I hear you, Emergent. We work hard, we need to play hard once in awhile.

When I came into work EVERYONE was grumbling. I didn't organize a group protest or anything like that but I did sit and talk with my manager and pointed out that if everyone is unhappy, perhaps we could all meet with her, look at the schedule and try to work something out that will make everyone happy. She was fairly receptive to it and it ended up working out because we were mostly able to switch among ourselves.