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.
