Anyone else feeling the effects of the recession at work?

[greeniebean]

I went to get my check today, and found out that my LTC is majorly cutting hours, and doing away with incentive programs such as the on-call program and the weekend option program. However, they just hired 13 new uncertified aides (my facility pays for the classes and tests for all of them). I feel like I'm getting screwed here. I have put in 6 long years at this facility and was utilizing the weekend option program, so that I could focus on my kids and nursing school. Now that's down the tubes.

I have a full class load this fall so working an extra day isn't an option. So I'm basically going to learn how to live off of $130 a week, while recieving no public assistance. I realize that Baylor Programs are a suck hole money wise for a facility but I wish I had recieved more notice that the program was cut (was told today that starting Saturday, no more baylor pay). I feel so stressed about how I'm going to juggle this and nursing school. I know I'm probable coming off as spoiled, but I put in 5 1/2 years of 6 day weeks at this place, and I'm not trying to get out of work. I really just have no hours left in my day to work anymore!

Is anyone else feeling the pinch at their Jobs? What are you guys doing to handle it? Responses are greatly appreciated!

[greeniebean]

Oh and at the risk of being flamed I guess I should add that I truly am thankful to have a job at all. I know some people would kill for any job.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

My place is starting to become stingier with the supplies, but that's about all.

[greeniebean]

My facility doesn't seem to care about the use of supplies. They also recently bought $900 worth of artwork for the walls...and a month later decided they should have gotten more "Religious" paintings so they went back and spent $600 on more paintings! They only seem to care about cutting the budget when it comes to the employees.

[JessieC777]

I work on a surgical/ortho floor and I can see it. We have a lot of patient that have elective surgeries such as knee and hip replacements ect... Our census has been pretty low this year. We've all had to do a lot of floating to other floors...it sucks!

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

My facility doesn't seem to care about the use of supplies. They also recently bought $900 worth of artwork for the walls...and a month later decided they should have gotten more "Religious" paintings so they went back and spent $600 on more paintings! They only seem to care about cutting the budget when it comes to the employees.

Ugh my facility spent a lot of money on new washers & dryers (our maintanence director even admitted that our previous ones were still in perfect working condition & only been used a couple of years) but yet they complain about our census being low & make us all sign up to come in late or leave early to save money. I don't like that because a lot of our residents need a lot of care and to manage up to 15 residents by yourself for as long as 2 hours..that's asking a lot.

[Mz phattie]

INDEED! my hours has been cut from 21-32w oncalls to 8-16w oncalls. and if im unlucky, sometimes i have a whole week off.

im calling every shift letting them know im available to cover...sucks!!!

not to mention , the building it self is short on funds to maintain things and upgrade with materials. one thing i dont understand is, my facility keeps hiring new people, specially from agency to cover called out shifts? why not give the shifts to the people who is not working and is already staffed?

nehoots

i was suppose to be going to school this semester, so it would have worked out. But since im not, im thinking of taking up a second job? but still a lil effy just because i've been doing two jobs since i was in highschool.

a better idea that someone said was to work out (unless of course your already in shape) and that exactly what im trying to do. i have all the spare time to do nothing!

[cincymom96]

I geuss everyone is feeling the recession. My company is taking a 4% paycut from everyone working in the facility starting the first paycheck in september. Should we be happy to still have our jobs? I don't know it is already hard enough to meet the cost of living expenses in my life now they want to take what few dollars extra I have each week and lets not talk about all the new procedure policy's there putting in place like two aides to a floor instead of three. With the economy the way it is what do you do.

[Commanderzoom]

I geuss everyone is feeling the recession. My company is taking a 4% paycut from everyone working in the facility starting the first paycheck in september. Should we be happy to still have our jobs? I don't know it is already hard enough to meet the cost of living expenses in my life now they want to take what few dollars extra I have each week and lets not talk about all the new procedure policy's there putting in place like two aides to a floor instead of three. With the economy the way it is what do you do.

For starters, you don't screw over your staff or force them to work short. That results in lower quality of care and if there's lower quality of care, you lose patients/residents to a facility that has a better standard. Your employer is really not looking at the bottom line. They're going to lose money.

[greeniebean]

Well it would have been a little better if i could get an extra shift during the week, but they're cutting hours so that's not going to happen. Now I have to try and find a THIRD job!

[Ninja Nurse, ASN]

My unit has decided to remove patient nourishments and lock up all supplies. If a patient wants apple juice or crackers during kitchen hours, they have to call down for it. It's embarrassing to have to tell them that.

Also, they've dropped a tech on the weekends leaving the ratio around 10:1 because they think census is lower on the weekends. We all know though, it's because of the shift differential pay because we're just as full over the weekend as the week. I keep telling myself it'll get better and I'm just thankful to have a job.