Attendance

[IttyBittyBabyRN]

Sorry this is so long but I really want to get a perspective on how

other hospital's attendance policies work. Consider what our hospital implemented this year:

There is no longer ANY excused

absence.

Absences and tardiness are assigned point values as follows:

1. Any call-in, whether a week before your shift or ten minutes before your shift--1 point

A weekend shift is 2 points.

2. If you leave after half your shift is worked, you get half the point value.

3. If you arrive at work sick, and are told you must leave---yep--still get the points.

4. A tardy is1/2 point; weekend tardy is 1 point.

5. If you, say, have a week long illness-you accrue points for each day in a row missed. So a 4 day stomach bug/flu/etc. could get you 6 points if it crossed a weekend.

6. The ONLY way to avoid points is to be an inpatient or to have FMLA papers (which they may or may not approve.)

7. If there is a giant wreck, bad weather, etc. that causes multiple people to be late, HR may excuse that "if they deem it affected enough people."

You are terminated upon earning 14 points in a two year period. So, if you ONLY work weekends, you can be sick three weekends in 24 months and then you are fired with the next absence.

There are obviously always some who call in frequently and it is frustrating. But this policy is horrible!! We have already lost some amazing nurses who either were sick themselves or had sick kids a few days and have been fired.

Our manager actually encouraged anyone who can to get FMLA for something so that they will not be penalized if they call in. People are scrambling to get it for migraines, asthma, etc. just for security.

The main issue is that WE TAKE CARE OF CRITICALLY ILL BABIES!!! And nurses are literally being forced to come to work sick, because you can't risk needing your points later if you are sicker, have a car wreck, etc!!

We want to warn everyone not to come to our hospital! We do not want your baby to be put at risk because of this.

It is so frustrating and demeaning to everyone who is a loyal employee. Loyalty is fading fast.

We we really want to know if other nurses are being treated this way. We feel helpless and literally have no recourse it seems.

Looking forward to your feedback :-)

[pixie6089, BSN]

That's a terribly strict policy. I'm sorry you have to work there. I would think about going somewhere else. Unless the current position was so awesome in other ways to balance out this overly strict policy.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

It sounds like the entire NICU staff should call in sick (with advanced warning). There IS strength in numbers......from a California nurse.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

Get intermittent FMLA, usually not that difficult, most of us have migraines off and on. Usually employers can't pursue corrective action if you call in FMLA.

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

That is absolutely awful.

[IttyBittyBabyRN]

Our manager actually said that anyone who possibly could should get intermittent FMLA. Work the system......We say all the time how we would LOVE some California nurses to come over here to Tennessee and teach us how it's done . The problem here is that no one believes "They can't fire us all at once." It is incredibly frustrating to work in a system that has always been known for treating employees poorly. But they spend a whole lot of money advertising as the best hospital around......wait until next year's infection statistics come out

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I wouldn't work there.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

We want to warn everyone not to come to our hospital!

Write a review of your employer on glassdoor.com. That's a great site to anonymously rate your employer.

Other than that, I don't know what to tell you aside from that you should unionize. This policy is absurd. I hate employers who treat nurses like elementary school children. Obviously excessive absenteeism is a problem but there are also legit reasons why one would and SHOULD call out. I knew a girl who was given a warning once because she called out three times- once for a death in the family, once for her kid being sick and once because she had a head injury. After she was given a warning because of it and told that she was not eligible to be promoted to a level 2 nurse because of this (even though she'd been with the hospital for something like 15 years), she promptly said she'd had enough and found a new job and we lost a great nurse.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We have a similar policy. We get points for calling in, double points before or after a scheduled holiday. There are certain levels for record of discussion, written discussion and the trip to HR. If we have Doctor's notes they deduct points ( only with the trip to HR). Our points are on a rolling year, and if you don't call off for 6 months, half come off automatically. Intermittant FMLA doesn't count but they make it a pain to keep up (certain diagnosis are every 3 month recert).

Our ur policy changed last year, we

grumbled but adapted. And in this area it isn't easy to leave and find another job, especially in NICU.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

This is ridiculous, treating professionals like children...worse, actually. My school age children miss school when they are sick, without fear of repercussions. I hope this place doesn't shoot itself in the foot by what it's doing to its experienced staff...and I truly pray that this policy doesn't kill any babies.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

The thing is this, it comes down to punishing the masses for the people that abuse sick time and call off all the time. Easier to punish all and not the offenders. We have people who abuse intermittant FMLA , so now if you call off on Fri-Sun you get to make that day up on the next schedule. Is what it is. And the union for other workers follow this also at our institute. When I am

sick sick I get a note to cover my butt. Sucks.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

The thing is this, it comes down to punishing the masses for the people that abuse sick time and call off all the time. Easier to punish all and not the offenders. We have people who abuse intermittant FMLA , so now if you call off on Fri-Sun you get to make that day up on the next schedule. Is what it is. And the union for other workers follow this also at our institute. When I am

sick sick I get a note to cover my butt. Sucks.

The sad thing is it punishes everyone EXCEPT the folks who abuse sick time because they have always figured out a way to work the system!