backstabbing

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I'm a male patient care assistant in a hospital. I've worked there for 10 months. Recently I've noticed some backstabbing from some surprising sources. The other day my boss called me into the office and had me sign a paper she had typed up with some very vague complaints. There were no specific instances documented, though through our discussion I deduced some of the people with whom she had conversations. Vague things about disappearing for long periods of time, etc. The instances of disappearing are called lunch breaks. If they are going to subtract money from me each day, then I am entitled. I haven't discounted that my boss does not like me and wants to get rid of me and this is the first step. I'm sad because up until this point I enjoyed where I work very much and was having a blast taking care of patients.

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You're working in a women dominated field, lots of cattiness goes on. Meow!!

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Very often, poor supervisors will take the word of a lynch mob without giving the accused a chance to defend themselves. This could happen at any workplace, but is more common in female-dominated workplaces, that is, nursing. Be prepared to encounter this often if you stay in healthcare.

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First off, I would be concerned about signing anything. Was this supposed to be a written warning?

If you have a union rep, now is the time to speak with that person. If you do not have a union, I would ask that an HR person is present--only because what your manager is saying in essence is that you are not allowed to have a lunch. Which, if they are docking your pay for the time, this is not what I would think would be legitimate.

I am not, per TOS, offering legal advice, however, if you are "forced" to sign something I would for "receipt only" and if allowed, (and most HR department do allow this) a response to the complaints for your record.

If you do not have , get it. Cover yourself.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

I am not defending any of your accusers....I am not defending the NM. There have been times at work I need the assistance of a tech/PCA/aide. After looking for the assigned tech for several minutes someone will tell me "oh yeah, I just saw John in the break room." You are absolutely entitled to a lunch and don't let anyone take that away from you without a really really good reason. However, it really helps if you announce it to the relevant nurses that you are taking your lunch and that you will be gone for 30 minutes. That should clear up any vagueness.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

In some places they write their times out on a whiteboard so people don't waste time searching for someone on break.

Also prevents some one from always "just started my lunch 10 minutes ago"

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