Hi all! So I am relatively a new graduate (3 months prior experience) before landing a job at a SNF. I have only been there for a week and although I was told during the interview that I would be working nights, my manager wanted me on the 3-11 shift to learn admissions for a month. I've been working with this RN for about 2 days now and shes really nice. We talk about out personal lives and etc. (For example she had a daughter by someone who is the same ethnic background as me..etc). So I'm explain my experience from my last job at a large teaching hospital and simply mention that I am taking a pay cut but its worth it because I want the experience. She then asks "Oh what are they starting you at." I stupidly tell her my wage (37) and didn't think anything of it. I explain that I usually leave the part on the application where it says to put your desired wage blank but this time around I put a high wage (I was getting paid 5 dollars more at my last job than this one.) She then says oh wow your very lucky and that they didnt start her at that wage and she put 38 on her application but management told her that they couldn't afford to pay her that. Anyways she says I'm lucky and we leave it at that.
My next day, I notice that she is acting a bit different but didn't think anything of it...it is a stressful job however. I do notice however that we dont seem to see eachother at all and that she didn't teach the the computer system (the most important part) but is teaching the other new hire the computer system. When I sit down to observe so I can learn the phone rings. She quickly looks at me and says "Can you answer the phone in a dismissive tone." Again, didn't think anything of it.
When night shift comes on, one of the night nurses says its her last day. No body knows why it seems very VERY abrupt because nobody talked about it before. I see her and this other nurse(my preceptor I suppose) kind of talking privately. This nurse that resigned was a nice girl and I ask "Oh where are you going?" All she says is "Somewhere." which again I thought was a bit odd.
The next day my manager comes up to me and asks me to meet him in his office. By his tone I can tell something was wrong but have no idea. He asks me if I told anyone my wage and I said yes to my preceptor. He then informs me that 1 nurse (the night nurse) quit because of it and that 2 more are considering quitting. I explain that it was naive and I didn't know i confided in her. He tells me she is not your friend, she went and told everyone and that she is already treating you differently. He then says next shift you will be on nights, I need to get you away from them. EVERYTHING now makes sense to me.
Sorry for the long post but what should I do or is there anything that I can do to rectify this situation. Should I confront/talk to this nurse who went and talked about me to everyone? I do not know how much the other nurses are making and had NO IDEA I was even making more than them. IDK if its because I have my BSN or bc they knew I wouldn't have accepted a job or a wage any lower when I was making $5 more at my last job. I feel HORRIBLY about this especially because our SNF is already so short-staffed.
I'm a pretty self aware human being. Warts and all. It's not a facet of my personality I'm proud of, but I would have a hard time remaining friendly with the OP. It's completely unreasonable, but I wouldn't like the OP because management gave her more money than me.
I'd go to work every single day fighting my basic inclination to resent the preferential treatment. As I'm an equal opportunity resenter, I'd also dislike management even more than I do.
I completely understand the attitude of the OPs fellow nurses. Anybody ever hear the phrase "Don't kill the messenger"?
Because of the above, and because I know myself, I never discuss wages. I never ask or give out that info. If some over eager co-worker starts to tell me what they make I tell them I don't want to know and the reason I don't want to know.
Just another thought. It might be against federal law to fire for disclosing wages, but management can fire you for 100s of different reasons, or for no reason at all. They just have to lie about the reason you got canned.
it is incredibly naïve to believe that an employer who chooses to terminate an employee who has created a hostile work environment because of salary discussions is going to do or say anything that links the two, termination and salary discussions. I mean really does anyone find any HR that stupid?
An employee will be terminated for a Bad Fit. Lack of Teamwork. Inability to get along cohesively with coworkers. And they don't have to say anything at all, other than So Sorry, Didn't Work Out!
I am sorry this happened to you, but its a good lesson. You never tell anyone your wage, and keep a lot of your personal life just that. Nursing is quite competitive. You will make some wonderful friends in the career. Just remember that the people you work with are not particularly friends, they are "people you work with." Be friendly, be polite, but don't feel the obligation to answer every question people ask you. It is really none of their business. Some people have a very clever way of coming across innocently, prodding for your personal information. Their only goal is to spread your business, because it makes them feel important. Be proud of your BSN, and know that you are worth every single cent and more that you are being paid. You sound like a very kind and trusting person. Don't stoop to their level, and I would not even confront the nurse. You can just look at her and she will KNOW that you know. You don't need her approval. I wish you many blessings!
LOL, one coworker once gaily brought up the subject of masturbation, saying that "Everyone does it!". I must have looked at her in stunned silence, so she said, "Well, you do it, don't you?". I told her that I was too old for stuff like that, and she thankfully shut up.
Of course, all at the nurses station, not over drinks in a bar...
OP - I still think it's pretty ratty for somebody to ask you about your salary, then act offended and rude toward you when you answer. I am glad you found a different job. It also sounds like you learned an unfortunate lesson - don't trust your coworkers.
I would feel different about the situation had you just randomly started blaring your salary to everyone, but to be directly asked then punished for answering is just wrong. Very immature coworkers.
Lmao I think it's funny that you don't think its possible to make that much. Because of my expectations, 37 is seen as low for me. I live in California btw. Nurses in top hospitals in the Bay Area start can start at $50. Please do your research before doubting anyone. Cost of living is high as hell over here too.
But it what baffles me is why you think I have any reason to lie on an anonymous forum, and especially about my wage which has been the cause of my distress. Goodday
LOL Glad you think it's funny. And I already said, if you make that much, good for you. I don't always believe everything I read on anonymous forums. Only you know what you make--- (Oh, and those you told at the SNF) Only you would know why you would or wouldn't lie. I am neither for or against you in this situation. I don't know you and am not aware of any other posts from you. I know employers don't like employees discussing their pay, but, at the same time...we have to move ahead with our pay rates, so it needs to be discussed in some way....maybe not in the way it happened with you.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I'm a pretty self aware human being. Warts and all. It's not a facet of my personality I'm proud of, but I would have a hard time remaining friendly with the OP. It's completely unreasonable, but I wouldn't like the OP because management gave her more money than me.
I'd go to work every single day fighting my basic inclination to resent the preferential treatment. As I'm an equal opportunity resenter, I'd also dislike management even more than I do.
I completely understand the attitude of the OPs fellow nurses. Anybody ever hear the phrase "Don't kill the messenger"?
Because of the above, and because I know myself, I never discuss wages. I never ask or give out that info. If some over eager co-worker starts to tell me what they make I tell them I don't want to know and the reason I don't want to know.
Just another thought. It might be against federal law to fire for disclosing wages, but management can fire you for 100s of different reasons, or for no reason at all. They just have to lie about the reason you got canned.
I, too would have problems being friendly with the OP. I probably wouldn't refuse to teach her, but then again I cannot help but wonder what ELSE she has done to make her colleagues so angry. If she has the attitude that I'm sensing, it might be very difficult to precept her.
Discussing your paycheck with someone other than a joint account holder just seems stupid. Or maybe I'm just showing my age.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
OP - I still think it's pretty ratty for somebody to ask you about your salary, then act offended and rude toward you when you answer. I am glad you found a different job. It also sounds like you learned an unfortunate lesson - don't trust your coworkers.
I would feel different about the situation had you just randomly started blaring your salary to everyone, but to be directly asked then punished for answering is just wrong. Very immature coworkers.
You know, the OP, if she indeed takes this new job will be on her third job in less than four months. (Assuming I remember the original post accurately.). That is indicative of a problem, and I don't think being too trusting is the problem.
Really? I made $43/hour as a new grad on nights in 2008 in NYC. There are definitely places around the country where new nurses make that much.
It seems the pay is much higher in CA,...even higher than the last time I checked....which wasn't recently. Good for California...just didn't immediately believe it or look it up. I stand corrected on California pay ranges.
I'm well aware of this, and that is why I stressed staying for a while (at least 6 months) and doing both jobs. I said I didn't want to be a job-hopper but will definitely take the better option if I had too. It's funny because I had doubts about taking this job in the first place which stemmed from them telling me orientation was tomorrow without them telling me my pay rate or having me sign any official paperwork first. I even had to delay it, but it is what it is at this point.
You know, the OP, if she indeed takes this new job will be on her third job in less than four months. (Assuming I remember the original post accurately.). That is indicative of a problem, and I don't think being too trusting is the problem.
Actually everyone really liked me (I'm a very nice person) before the mention of my salary to the one coworker who asked, it all changed right then. Funny you say this bc an LVN came up to me today saying "You are a very nice quiet person, and we were all talking about you." "We feel less stressed working with you and thankyou!" LOL. SO sure, there MUST be something I did to anger everyone.
If you think I have some attitude, sure, understandable. Toward the end of this post I have felt myself being more straight-forward/stern with people...but then again I feel like that's because that's what I have to do for my job now. Being nice to those who don't return the favor gets old.
I, too would have problems being friendly with the OP. I probably wouldn't refuse to teach her, but then again I cannot help but wonder what ELSE she has done to make her colleagues so angry. If she has the attitude that I'm sensing, it might be very difficult to precept her.
Discussing your paycheck with someone other than a joint account holder just seems stupid. Or maybe I'm just showing my age.
Thanks so much for this. She did ask the question ever so innocently! In a way like she didn't know just "Oh out of curiosity," as if she wanted to know for my own well-being! But it's only now looking back at it that I can see this was very mischievous/border-line deceptive. I can see that she is one of the biggest gossipers now. She KNOWS I know at this point, and as awkward as it is we'll just leave it at that. It's just so unfortunate to me that we seemed like a great duo working together to get all of our work done, and now that I told her info she wanted to know it's awkward as hell. Then again, I wonder how she would have acted if I chose not to tell her my salary when she asked (prob in a similarly fashion tbh) Curiosity does killl
I am sorry this happened to you, but its a good lesson. You never tell anyone your wage, and keep a lot of your personal life just that. Nursing is quite competitive. You will make some wonderful friends in the career. Just remember that the people you work with are not particularly friends, they are "people you work with." Be friendly, be polite, but don't feel the obligation to answer every question people ask you. It is really none of their business. Some people have a very clever way of coming across innocently, prodding for your personal information. Their only goal is to spread your business, because it makes them feel important. Be proud of your BSN, and know that you are worth every single cent and more that you are being paid. You sound like a very kind and trusting person. Don't stoop to their level, and I would not even confront the nurse. You can just look at her and she will KNOW that you know. You don't need her approval. I wish you many blessings!
imintrouble, BSN, RN
2,406 Posts
I'm a pretty self aware human being. Warts and all. It's not a facet of my personality I'm proud of, but I would have a hard time remaining friendly with the OP. It's completely unreasonable, but I wouldn't like the OP because management gave her more money than me.
I'd go to work every single day fighting my basic inclination to resent the preferential treatment. As I'm an equal opportunity resenter, I'd also dislike management even more than I do.
I completely understand the attitude of the OPs fellow nurses. Anybody ever hear the phrase "Don't kill the messenger"?
Because of the above, and because I know myself, I never discuss wages. I never ask or give out that info. If some over eager co-worker starts to tell me what they make I tell them I don't want to know and the reason I don't want to know.
Just another thought. It might be against federal law to fire for disclosing wages, but management can fire you for 100s of different reasons, or for no reason at all. They just have to lie about the reason you got canned.