Am I being "nickle and dimed?"

[rnrae]

I am on my first assignment. I took the per diem money and let the agency find me housing. I am guaranteed 36 hrs/wk.

My question is this: The first week of orientation was only 31 hrs. (they let us out early 2 of the days). When I got my check yesterday, they deducted the 5 hrs and pro-rated the per diem! I am really po'd.

Is this usual practice???

[Reigen]

I am on my first assignment. I took the per diem money and let the agency find me housing. I am guaranteed 36 hrs/wk.

My question is this: The first week of orientation was only 31 hrs. (they let us out early 2 of the days). When I got my check yesterday, they deducted the 5 hrs and pro-rated the per diem! I am really po'd.

Is this usual practice???

If your contract specifically states guaranteed hours, then the agency must pay you for those hours. While the agency can say that they will not be able to bill the facillity for those hours (and they ae correct) you are still guaranteed your hours.

What I would do--- is call my recruiter, and state what my contract has for the guaranteed hours, and that I would like those missed hours paid for. I am not absolutely sure about per diem but I think that is a daily allowance rather than a hourly paid item, so therefore that too should be paid at the full day rate.

I would also let them think that if this was not corrected in a very timely manner, that I was willing to leave this position.

Good Luck

Reigen

[suzanne4, RN]

Many of the contracts where you are guaranteed the hours have a statement that your hours the first week may not meet the guarantee, it depends on the orientation, etc at the facility. And as such, they do not always guarantee the hours for the first week.

Please have a good look at the contract that you signed, more than likely there is something that is stated right in it. If there is, then you are out of luck.

If there is not, then you can call your recruiter and discuss it with them.

This is why it is always so very important to read and reread every single sentence of that contract.

[naskippy]

I have experienced this on most every contract/assignment. It is not unusal. But after orientation week if this happens you should be able to get your pay for the hours promised in the contract...unless it is of course your fault for not getting them such as being late or calling off sick.

Thanks