agency pay rate not stated

[smartynurse]

Hi all,

I am feeling a bit insecure about how I handled a situation today. I recently was hired by a per diem agency, have just moved to this area in northern va.. I was told (multiple times, very clearly) by the recruiter, including when I went in for my drug test and finished the hiring process, that my hourly pay at a certain hospital was 40/hour. Well, I just received my first paycheck, and the rate was 38! So, I called the agency and spoke with the recruiter who hired me. She told me that the 40/hour rate was only if I did a contract, otherwise the pay depends on the unit I worked. I will only make 40/hour if I do tele (not my forte, but I will go there in a pinch). I had also called last week before starting to find out if the pay rate of 40/hour was set t/o all shifts or if there was a differential. I was told by a staffing coordinator that it was 40 round the clock. This was not true, apparently there is a differential!

Well, I was upset and told them so. It wasn't even the money, which I know is only 1-2 dollars less. It was the principle! I am a new employee! I was pretty firm in telling them I thought I should be paid what I was told initially. By the way, another nurse that I met at the hospital told me they told her the same thing! What do you think of this! I am worried that they will label me as "trouble" and not schedule me. I am so sick of being walked over by people, I just had trouble with the movers with the moving date and also with the charges. I am deflated! Any opinion would be appreciated. thanks

[chuck1234]

Agency nurses in New York City don't get the differential...it is flat rate around the clock....every where is the same....you did not walk over by anyone....

[suzanne4, RN]

You need to speak to someone above this recruiter, apparently they were untruthful in giving you all of the information that they should have. Everything should have been spelled out to you, differences for taking a contract, vs. just per shift scheduling if there was a difference in the pay. And any other differences with the pay that the recruiter did not inform you about.

And there are many other per diem agencies, this is definitely not the only one around. If another nurse told you that she had the same issues with this agency, then they are doing it to others as well. And that is not a good thing for anyone.

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

Hang in there!!

I think you should talk to someone... but I don't know how to answer your questions about how to do that without getting labeled as a troublemaker.

Confronting an employer is hard. I wish you the best of luck :)

[caliotter3]

I have run into the same problem with pay rates being miscommunicated by staffing coordinators and have had discussions with my agencies concerning pay, both initiated by myself and initiated by the agency. My concern, and I have told a business manager this, point blank, is not the rate of pay; but being told differing information.

Since then, I have found instances of inequality and misinformation. Nobody wants to play 60 questions regarding their pay rate. I have formed opinions about the behavior of those giving me misinformation and now have no qualms about telling them when the situation warrants it. The most above board employers have given me a piece of paper with my pay rate on it during the hiring process. Still, when I find out that someone who is doing the same job is getting more money per hour than I am, I get ready to look at what is down the road. I can't afford to be taken advantage of.