I have a question regarding comment my current boss made. I am currently a nursing student and graduate soon. I have worked as a nursing assistant and various other jobs on my unit for about a year and a half. My boss has already said I have an RN position with him/her on our unit after I graduate. He/She has promised me ICU experience within my first year, something I REALLY would like out of my new career since this is where I would like to focus (I know it is rare in most hospitals to work in the ICU without 1-2 years of RN experience). Anyways, I was working with my boss the other day and he/she asked if I already had children or if I was planning on having them in the future. After I told him/her my husband and I would like to have a family he/she made the comment "You know if I let you work for me I am going to need you to give me a full year before you get pregnant"- he/she then smiled and looked at me and asked "You promise me that you won't, right?" I was blown away at his/her request and replied "I'll think about it."
I know that RN bosses are probably annoyed when they get new nurses hired who then quickly become pregnant, take family leave, reduce hours, etc. I would have no problem with this, say, five years ago, even two years ago. But I will be past 31 years old by the time I graduate. Before this conversation with my boss my husband and I had been talking about trying to get pregnant within the next few months. Now I don't know what to do because my boss is not the real forgiving, accepting type- from previous experience of seeing him/her deal with issues with other RNs, I know I would pay for this decision some how- he/she is vengeful. So I guess I need advice on the best way to deal with this situation. I cannot go to HR because you have to explain the situation which would then be explained to him/her and he/she would know I was the one who said something. Thank in advance who your any advice you can offer.
Maybe, just hang on there for about six months or so. Try to get the hang of it before you and your husband decide to have a baby. Good luck to you and your family.
You want to be employed at least for a year anyway, because of FMLA, as several people have noted. You're going to be in orientation for the first two to three months, and you'll need time to build habits before going on a break.
And to our Canadian and other non-U.S. nurses: we're not even guaranteed pay for the 12 weeks we have off for FMLA. Most people use some sort of combination of saving up vacation days and short-term disability to cover for those 12 weeks. Some companies give additional paid leave, but those are few and far between.
12 weeks... Excuse my ignorance but do you only take off 12 weeks after giving birth in the states? If so, holy cow! I am amazed by this.
Under the Family Medical Leave Act, an eligible employee can take up to 12 weeks off to take care of a relative, including a newly born or adopted one, or if they are incapacitated. It's not paid (though you can use your PTO), the company has to have at least 50 employees, and you have to have worked for the company for at least 1 year and 1,250 hours.
Under the Family Medical Leave Act an eligible employee can take up to 12 weeks off to take care of a relative, including a newly born or adopted one, or if they are incapacitated. It's not paid (though you can use your PTO), the company has to have at least 50 employees, and you have to have worked for the company for at least 1 year and 1,250 hours.[/quote']
You also must work for a year to be eligible in my province, and must work a certain number of hours in between mat. leaves.
Our employer is required to top up only the first 6 weeks of medical leave (I believe through short term disability) and does not pay us during the leave, rather we are payed through our governmental employment insurance.
A woman giving birth is entitled to 17 weeks leave and then she and her partner can split an additional 35 weeks as they see fit. Adoptive parents get 35 weeks to split as needed
What is crazy to me us that they will only hold your job for 3 months, seems awfully short to me.
You also must work for a year to be eligible in my province, and must work a certain number of hours in between mat. leaves.
Our employer is required to top up only the first 6 weeks of medical leave (I believe through short term disability) and does not pay us during the leave, rather we are payed through our governmental employment insurance.
A woman giving birth is entitled to 17 weeks leave and then she and her partner can split an additional 35 weeks as they see fit. Adoptive parents get 35 weeks to split as needed
What is crazy to me us that they will only hold your job for 3 months, seems awfully short to me.
America is all about bussines needs and greed not the employees or customers. The only reason businesses care about customer service is because a happy customer is likely to come back and spend more. We also have no government insurance to help when out on any leave. People are lucky to still have a job after three months off.
BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN
3,520 Posts
I'd have a little talk with HR---TOTALLY illegal of your boss to pull that shizz....