Annoyed about a bonus ...help *long*

[Jesskanurse]

I am in a situation that I need a little input on.

I started in February in an ICU (new grad). As of the second week of June, I was in my final week of orientation. For my final week, I was scheduled to work Monday-Weds-Thurs. I should mention that there had been signs posted all over the units that week stating that there was a bonus of $15hour for picking up extra shifts during that specific week. Anyways, on Monday, the coordinator came by and said that they really needed someone to pick up a shift on Tuesday. I told her it was too bad I was still on orientation, otherwise I would (I could really use the extra cash). She told me, 'ohh well you're almost done, you should be fine.' My preceptor who was working with me that day said that she'd even come in and work the first 4 hours of the shift with me to 'get me started.' The coordinator then said to me, 'Hey you get a good bonus!' I asked if this was ok, and she said yes. I even checked with my nursing educator to see if this was ok (since I was technically still on orientation) and she said, 'if it's ok with her (the coordinator), it's ok with me.'

Two weeks later, when I questioned the same coordinator about my bonus $, she told me to my face 'ohhh, I'm not sure if you're eligible for that.... since you were still on orientation.... I did not know you were on orientation still.' This really ticked me off, since I felt like she was lying straight to my face! I then emailed my Director of Nursing in Critical Care and asked if she had received the hours for my bonus. She never emailed back. A month went by....and I never saw that bonus on my paycheck. I then went into the directors office and told her the situation, and she told me she'd take care of it. The next paycheck, I noticed in the bonus section that I'd received a whopping $20. umm... I'm not a genius but 15 times a 12 hour shift equals a little more than 20 bucks!

Last week, I finally went into her office (director) again and told her the situation. She told me 'ohh no, that doesn't sound right. 15 dollars an hour!? (laughing) that sounds like way too much.' She told me she had 'lost' that folder regarding that specific bonus and couldn't look it up anymore. She told me to give it one more week to see if the rest of the money 'shows up' on my paycheck.

Is it just me, or am I getting screwed here? I feel like I'm being taken advantage of. Why would anyone pick up a shift for a 'bonus' of 20 stinking bucks anyways? I could really use some advice here. Being a new nurse, I just dont know what to do. Should I just let it go??? :angryfire

[Jesskanurse]

Wow, thank you for all the responses. To be honest, at the time it was nice to think I was going to get another hundred or so but now for me, it is the concept. I refuse to be a doormat. I never knew what a grievance report was until now. I have to figure out how to do one of those. I just hate the fact that when I went in there, she made me feel like I was asking for a favor. And just to clear things up, yes I did take two patients by myself from 10pm to 6am. The preceptor was there for me until 10pm. I actually did ask her to back me up as well and she said no, just talk to the coordinator she should be able to help you.. and walked away. Wonderful huh?

I dont understand why pursuing this would mean me throwing my career away. In my opinion if they continue to act like this, they are throwing a valuable team member with great potential away.

[rach_nc_03]

Wow, thank you for all the responses. To be honest, at the time it was nice to think I was going to get another hundred or so but now for me, it is the concept. I refuse to be a doormat. I never knew what a grievance report was until now. I have to figure out how to do one of those. I just hate the fact that when I went in there, she made me feel like I was asking for a favor. And just to clear things up, yes I did take two patients by myself from 10pm to 6am. The preceptor was there for me until 10pm. I actually did ask her to back me up as well and she said no, just talk to the coordinator she should be able to help you.. and walked away. Wonderful huh?

I dont understand why pursuing this would mean me throwing my career away. In my opinion if they continue to act like this, they are throwing a valuable team member with great potential away.

Good for you for filing a grievance report. I learned the hard way recently that your employer, when it comes down to it, will act in THEIR own best interests before yours.

I was working in a management position in a LTC/rehab place. My job was 100% sedentary. i found out 2 months after I started that I needed to have back surgery- if I didn't have it soon, I might be paralyzed in 1 leg for the rest of my life. My boss at the time authorized my 2 week absence and assured me there didn't need to be anything in writing.

She ended up leaving 2 weeks later because of her own medical problems. I left 2 days later to have surgery. While I was out, I was told I was fired because- out of the blue- I had to be able to lift 50 pounds. I was never given a job description when I started, since it was a new position, but they made one up while i was gone that included the lifting requirement. :angryfire

I got offered a job last week as a consultant for a nonprofit. I'm going to need to have surgery again within the next few months, so when I got the offer, I told HR I needed a WRITTEN confirmation that this would not affect my employment. They're sending it with my offer letter.

It totally sucks that they screwed you, but kudos to you for calling them on it. And from now on (and I'll be doing the same thing)- get EVERYTHING in writing.

Good luck!

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

you are TOTALLY getting screwed. I save all e-mails and get things in writing. i would have copies of the poster that was hung up,etc. NO ONE will back this up??? I might consider some other place to be employed since they probably won't be the LAST time you will be screwed.

[dano]

i would have copies of the poster that was hung up,etc.

I was thinking the same thing as I read the original post as well.

At my work the boss rarely ever posts our schedule early. We usually have it up the Wednesday before the next work week. One time they changed around my hours to benefit them when I had already made plans based on the measly 4 days we have notice prior to the following week, but of course I couldn't get out of it. Now, as soon as it's up I snap a picture of it with my cellphone. I have evidence of what my original schedule was and if it happens again, I'll just take it to upper management since we're supposed to have 2 weeks notice of our schedule anyways.

A hospital is a business. You have to cover your ass on everything that involves paperwork, that's just the nature of things. One day you'll hopefully find an employer that doesn't play games and treats you with respect instead of abusing your newbieness like that.

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

Ok, I'm a little late in reading your post, and I'm a pre-nursing student, however, from 20 years of work experience I can tell you this, as hospitals are ultimately a business just like any other company...

Be very, very careful about picking your battles at your new job. I personally, think you went too far with the fact you were supposed to get paid a bonus for the shift and did not receive it. You were basically demanding anyone who would listen to address your issue.

You don't want to give the impression with your higher ups that you are a whiner and will beat a dead horse to death. Management HATES this.

Yes, it's money, and yes, you are entitled to it....but when you are getting ignored by management, just chalk it up to administrative red tape and set the issue aside and forget about it. It was ok to mention it, ok to follow up on it, but when it was clear you were getting ignored you should have dropped it.

If you volunteer for another shift AFTER your orientation and don't get paid the posted bonus, just don't work them anymore.

Look at it this way...what is the bonus of ONE SHIFT in comparision to a TARNISHED CAREER?

I bigtime disagree with Maryshome on this one. If you feel that you were taken advantage of (and from the sounds of it..you most certainly WERE) it is incumbent upon you to do something about it.

Don't worry about feeling like someone who is a "whiner". You are a nurse, and you are in demand. The squeaky wheel gets the grease...is a phrase I can recall..because it's true.

And as for that whole runaround you were given "oh, I can't find the policy"...what a crock of crap!! Call someone in the nursing supervisor or HR office to see if this is actually commonplace in your facility and whether or not you are actually able to receive said bonus. Write down who you talked to and when..that way there's some accountability.

And next time this happens...be sure to say to them up front (if they promise you something)...I want it written on the staffing sheet, want it in writing, whatever you have to do. Don't let them toy with you, administrators are masters at this type of thing.

Have a good day

vamedic4

[Midwest4me]

I never knew what a grievance report was until now. I have to figure out how to do one of those. I just hate the fact that when I went in there, she made me feel like I was asking for a favor. And just to clear things up, yes I did take two patients by myself from 10pm to 6am. The preceptor was there for me until 10pm. I actually did ask her to back me up as well and she said no, just talk to the coordinator she should be able to help you.. and walked away. Wonderful huh?

Yep, management needed someone; you kindly stepped forward. You served their purpose and now they are screwing you. From your post above, you have not yet filed a grievance report but "have to figure out how to do one of those". Definitely check into the procedure for completing one(find out if new employees can even fill one out----well---you never know!) then DO IT and confirm any promised future bonuses in writing BEFOREHAND! You are entitled to payment of that bonus---how upsetting that now the coordinator is abandoning you when you asked for back-up---I'd be furious AND hurt by that. :angryfire Keep us posted on the outcome.