Cutting salaries, taking vacation time...are they free to do as they please?

Nurses Activism

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I have a question concerning some recent activities at my workplace. I am a cath lab nurse in Texas. Recently the hospital laid off 50+ people to cut costs, has closed clinics, shut floors, etc. The same hospital just now (like 2 months ago) opened a completely new cardiac center with a cardiac ER, cardiac ICU, CCU, cath labs...the whole nine yards. Anyway, our labs are already run with the absolute minimum staff. Nobody gets a break, a lunch, or time to pee. I have been in this lab about 6 months. With the hospital about 2.5 yrs working CCU. So 6 months ago they offer me this job. Salaried (exempt) at about $33.00/hr. Now, Friday the 19th, my boss and other upper management people come to us. First we get the "if you walk out of here and say anything bad about the hospital you are cutting your throat" spill, then we are all given figures (on scratch paper) of our new wages, We have two choice, go hourly or salaried. It's all or nothing. Remember there are RN's and RT's here. We all have to make the same decision. Some people wanted hourly, some wanted salary. The boss person decided we would have to go with a majority vote. I think this is wrong on so many levels. We are not a union, We aren't even all in the same profession. The rates were figured individually. She said our rates were figured based on our yrs experience, and our attitudes. Apparently our attitudes were used to determine how big our cuts were going to be.

So long story short, upper and middle management recently took a 10% decrease in salary to help cut costs. The figures we were given were anywhere from a 25-30% decrease in pay. Although many of us have never been written up or disciplined our pay was cut based on attitude. This info was presented to us at 4 pm the Friday before Christmas and the decision had to be made immediately since Christmas is a slow week for the cath lab with MD's on vacation, out of town, etc.

Also, before now we were supposed to be salaried. Sometimes we work 60+ hr weeks and management tells us "that is part of being salaried." When we have a 32 hr week our vacation time is used to make our 40 hrs or else we dont get paid our full salary. I just think this is wrong. It seems we are salaried when it benefits the hospital (60+ hr weeks) and not when we have a short week.

I would just like to know if things like this are legal. If so, it seems that they can do whatever they want and get away with it. I appreciate any help.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

Legal yes--can they get away with it, as long as you go along with it they can. It is up to you stay or go. If you stay, you will be playing by thier rules.

Someone on this board has a really good quote "when people show you who they are-belive them"

best of luck--this may be a blessing in disguise--as it does not sound like the env I would want to place myself in 40+ hours a week!!

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Hey do we work at the same place? just kidding, it sounds very strange, but as for the vacation hours being pulled every which way to benefit the hospital/clinic yes my workplace does that also.

have you spoken with your co-workers? I think you will have to stand together to get somewhere in this. Perhaps chip in to retain legal counsel just to know where you stand, employment laws are a mix of federal and state.

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Definately not staying around to play with this bunch. Gave my notice this am.

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Start looking.

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Best argument I have read yet for a unionization drive....

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Specializes in ICU/ER.
Definately not staying around to play with this bunch. Gave my notice this am.

Congrats for standing up for yourself and those around you---yes the timing is crappy--a few days before Christmas and all, but I have a feeling you will be very happy in the long run.:yeah:

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I guess it comes down to "Am I better off somewhere else?" Sorry you have to make this decision.

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Specializes in ER.

are you f@#$% kidding me!?!? that is NONSENSE. maybe I'm just naive because I work in California at a union hospital, but unless my very existence depended on it, I'd run from that place.:banghead: :angryfire

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You made the right decision.

Good luck.

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.
Best argument I have read yet for a unionization drive....

Is that before or after the UAW itself, refused to help the Big Three auto industries.

And the OP lives in Texas, anti union land at its finest,

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.
Definately not staying around to play with this bunch. Gave my notice this am.

What part of Texas, if you dont mind other Texans asking

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