absentee/tardiness policy

[sls0703]

I am a new DON at a LTC facility. Would someone be willing to give some guidance on their current disciplnary policy for absenses and tardiness? Also, do you give special consideration to call-in's do to weather? What do you classify as being tardy(5 minutes)? I have heard some facilities are more stricter on thier absence policy vs their tardiness. We currently start our progressive policy at 5 occurences with termination being at occurence 12. This is based on a 12 month period with it starting over at thier anniversary date.

Any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

At my last facility we had a policy of no more than 3 unexcused absences/late in one quarter. Unless the roads were closed by the police, no exceptions were made for weather. Some staff didn't think that was fair but when they all lived within walking distance and didn't come but one guy lived 75 miles away and managed to come.....

We also didn't accept too many excuses. I'd have CNAs giving me notes from their kid's doctor. I'm sorry your kid was sick, but that doesn't excuse YOUR absence. Whatever you decide, put it in writing and make sure everyone knows what the policy says.

[sls0703]

Thanks for your response. Quick question- any thoughts on how to get the policy to hold up against unemployment. It seems that the last couple staff we let go due to excessive absenteeism we had to pay them unemployement, despite having written documentation that they called off and that we had a progressive policy in place. We did follow the policy and it is documented. The judge just said "well they were sick"(some had MD excuses some didn't). Now in the scheme of things it would not have mattered cause I would rather have left them go for the staff morale then to deal with all the call ins, but just curious how others handled that or if that is normally what happens. Not alot of experience here. I am a former RNAC so this policy stuff is just a little different :)

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I don't know about your state, but in Massachusetts you can now go on unemployment if you were Per Diem and didn't get any shifts! The whole thing is crazy. It seems the employers are always looked at as the bad guy. Just try to make sure all the documentation is done and that you treat everyone the same way. Good luck.

[noc4senuf]

As for unemployment, make sure your policies are clearly written. THey should include examples of what is excused and what is not. A signed paper upon hire that they were either givien a copy of the employee handbook and made responsible for knowing its contents. When submitting to unemployment, make sure to send copies of all. I have lost one case in 8 years.