Employer broke new hire agreement..ever happened to you?

[Marshall1]

I accepted a position that is M-F..no nights/weekends/holidays..full benefits (which I don't need), not high stress, about 20 min from home, great pay..been there 4 weeks. I was also promised reimbursement for mileage for orientation (it was 200 miles round trip/day for 5 days) and was told part of the benefit package was the employer would pay 10K toward student loans I already have in exchange for the promise of 3 yrs of serve and after orientation I would not be required to return to the main facility as any other mandatory classes would be via video or online. The student loan payback was the main reason I accepted the position because the M-F is not a schedule I would normally want. I prefer time over money. Anyway..

I learned over the weekend, via email from the HR person I worked with..that I am NOT going to get reimbursed for mileage for orientation nor am I eligible for the student loan payment plan and the reason? Because these items were not written out correctly in the job description ad when the job was posted online! Even though I have in writing from the employer these things WERE offered to me it is trumped by the ad not being correct. I don't know why this matters and she wasn't able to give me a straight answer. She also said a "couple" of classes were overlooked that I will have to go back to the main facility and while I will be paid my hourly rate I will not be given mileage so there will be at least 2 more days of travel. I am not thrilled about the mileage not being reimbursed but am willing to let it go but the student loan broken promise is another issue. The facility does have a nursing union but I am not a member. I don't really know what they could do anyway. Overall the job is not bad, its a clinic position and though the nurse manager is definitely a 100% management she isn't unreasonable but again, I was willing to exchange the 12 hr shift work for M-F in order to get some of the student loans paid and now that is no longer an option. My spouse works 12 hrs so this new schedule of mine has impacted us being able to spent time together/go do things but we were willing to work around it because of getting the loans paid down. At this point I'm going to just stay at the job but this has changed my view of the employer for sure.

My question is: anyone ever have an employer make a promise like this then change their minds? What did you do?

[caliotter3]

Like another said, only you know how badly you need this job. I would push the matter and if unsuccessful, then make the decision to stay or go. It is too early in the game to be treated like this by a new employer. And yes, I was told one thing and then the employer did something else. But it was not until some time later that I discovered what had happened, so I was invested in the job. But I did end up leaving. Nothing like being lied to to ruin the employer-employee relationship.

[caliotter3]

And to those in the know, links please?Which dialysis thread?

I thought I remember references to this thread and/or the company mentioned, and they were removed. I was interested in reading about this and was disappointed to find it was censored out.

[Marshall1]

Thanks for all the replies...I spoke to HR and employee benefits at length yesterday..the reimbursement for mileage the orientation is now being looked at..as far the the student loan assistance..no one can really tell me anything definitive so I am applying for it through employee benefits dept. instead of going through the person at HR - figure it can't hurt to at least try. Am not intersted in getting an attorney..as some pointed out on here - too expensive and would create more issues than I'm willing to stir up at this point. As far as trust, I definitely do not feel the same about this employer since this began..other nurses and staff have said what some one here have said - get everything in writing and expect problems as this employer is "famous" for saying one thing then doing another..so I am going to keep everything in writing as far as requests off etc. I do have the promise of orientation mileage in writing - from 3 people actually -so that helps.

In the end I think employers, especially in todays economic situation, have more on their side than employees do..nurses seem to have lost their "voice" to some degree in the past few years - or maybe it's just where I live..I don't know..I am going to chalk this up to a learning experience..I've not had this happen before with an employer but it doesn't sound like this is unusual...I plan to stay because right now, aside from this HR screw up, the job is not bad and I am fortunate to be in the position I'm in with what it does offer and I'm too tired to spend hours filling out applications and going on interviews! This is not a dialysis position - it's a medical office position for a large corporation.

[merlee]

You have this in writing. Keep pushing, especially the person who wrote the letter.

I relied on what people said, and found out that their word was a waste of time.

Hard to get past that letter

[Sugarcoma, RN]

I had an issue with my current job. I was hired for full time at a certain rate of pay and signed an offer. Later my rate of pay changed and status was reduced to part-time. This makes my benefits more expensive. My recourse is none, however, because the offer letter stated it could be changed at any time. This has caused some ill-will on my part against this system and unit. There are other issues that make it a not so great place to work, but because I need the job I am still there. I am looking for new employment outside of this system altogether because of this experience.