Am I Being Unreasonable? Please Give Me Your Opinion!

[Nurse!Nurse!Hello?]

I'm really looking for some feedback from other nurses on my work situation. I work as an RN part-time in a nursing home, three 8-hour shifts a week. My benefits, therefore, are pro-rated at 60% of a full-time employee; for example I earn 4.8 hours of holiday pay instead of the 8 hours that a full-time nurse would get. However, I am required to work as many holidays as a full-time nurse works. This year I am working Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day...and as I said, I only work three shifts a week.

I also work as many weekend shifts as a full-time nurse works. So, during a 4-week period, a full-time nurse works 5 weekend shifts out of 20 shifts (25%). I work 5 weekend shifts out of 12 shifts (41.6%). When I mentioned this to the DON, she seemed not to understand why I think this is unfair. What do you other nurses think of this? Am I being unreasonable? All feedback is welcomed! Thanks.

[nurseangel47]

Stop being nice. Talk to the NM about the issue posthaste before the holidays are here! Next week is right around the corner! I would not let them bully/abuse me like that. If you're part time, you're part time and that should NOT mean they have the power over your other part of the week!

I don't think it's due to being part time....I think they're silently coercing you because you let them. Stand up for you! Be your own proactive voice!

[Batman24]

Seems like they are taking advantage of you. Most nurses I know split the holidays up. CE or CR and then NYE or NYD. If you do it this year they will expect it again next year. Speak up. Good luck.

[clemmm78, RN]

I can't speak to the holidays but I don't have a problem with the weekend. I've been working part time for the past 20 years. As nurses here, we work every other weekend, regardless of whether you are full or part time. No-one is trying to take advantage of anyone, that's just the way it is. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to make up a schedule if one had to take into account the percentage of weekends is made up for those working 4 per pay, 6 per pay, 7 per pay and full time?

I would never dream of saying because I work part time, I shoudln't work every other weekend, like everyone else.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

dont see an issue with the w/e s....pretty usual.....but the holiday issue is not......you should only have pro rated respons for holidays....but they will do to you what YOU let them

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i have no problems with the weekends. every other weekend is every other weekend.

i don't understand why you have to work all of the winter holidays, though. probably too late to change the schedule now, but i'd be trying to get an "every other holiday" policy in place soon!

[gitterbug]

I was taken advantage of during holidays last year. I just smiled, worked, made the overtime, but was never home to take calls requesting more of my time. I have left that position, seems they are having a problem filling the slots for the holidays this year too. Ummmmm.

[gitterbug]

We pick the holidays we want off, then pick the shift we want to work on the holidays we are scheduled. Many times we get what we want, other we don't. Seniority does help, but not much. NM even worked Thanksgiving.

[lorster]

I also feel that 12 hour nurses should not have to work every other weekend when 8 hour nurses work every other weekend. If you take a four week schedule, 12 hour nurses work 48 hours of weekends and 8 hour nurses work 32. How is that fair? Same goes with holidays.

[bellcollector]

I have always worked part time. I have my reasons and I never miss or am late. I believe that pt employee's deserve the same respect and benifits that ft people do, benifits adjusted according to hours of course. Because I was injured and am on a return to work program I was just forced to accept a pt (only released medically for pt) position I was offered. Now in orientation I discover that this company does not provide any benifits to pt workers because "they are just pt". I have no problem with working my every other w/e and every other holiday just like everyone else. I also have no problem with not being offered insurance. I do however have a huge problem with not getting pto accrued according to hours worked or vacation time also accrued according to hours worked. Nor do we get paid holidays though we do still have to work every other one just like everyone else. How is that fostering a "fair, friendly and family" work environment. Fortunately I do not have to work overtime and I can guarantee you I won't and in July when I (Lord willing pass my RN nclex) I will most certainly not be staying on there as they have said they hoped I would. I don't think it is right or fair and I definatly do not feel I am being unreasonable. As far as w/e I think that is par for the course just about everywhere but the holidays are not only unreasonable but are rediculous. My last employer attempted to do that to me a couple of years ago obviously I refused and so should you. If we don't take a stand for ourselves noone else will. As soon as I am no longer under the thumb of WC I will find greener or at least fairer pastures. Good luck to you in what you decide to do and remember it is just a job not your life. Bell

[rnin02]

At our hospital, part time and full time have the same weekend and holiday requirements. I think parttime employees have to pay more for benefits (i think, not positive though) and I'm not sure how their sick and vacation time accrues.