Well, I want to say first that I fully understand that hospitals expect you to be at work no matter what the weather.
I always go. I go for other people. That's why I have a four wheel drive. However, sometimes there is bad timing. Such as major snow that falls heavily and rapidly.
I got up, took a shower, got in the car to go to work. I swept it off the night before, got gas the night before, washed my uniform and had it pressed in case the power went out.
I warmed up the car, went off my driveway...moved about 15 feet and it slid into the yard.
The vehicle would not move.
So for the first time in years...I don't call in sick but maybe once a year. Never for weather.
I have PTO right? Lots of it because I never call in.
Get this...hospital is not allowing me to use my PTO for that day.
Freaking ridiculous. So if anyone else makes an attempt and wrecks. Call the news right after the tow truck. The general public should know that hospitals don't care about the safety of their employees. So this crappie about the fact they do? They can stick it as far as I'm concerned.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Fortunately in California we really don't have this issue - however back during the Los Angeles Riots and during some big earthquake events Hospitals asked people to stay at their facilities because workers at home couldn't make it in and quite frankly it was unsafe for workers to try to drive home. I was driving an ambulance then and all healthcare workers were invited/not required to stay in empty patient rooms and provided a meal and access to resident showers. It was a bit chaotic. but we persevered. Where I currently work you have to ask in advance to apply PTO to planned absences.
I see a little of both sides to this story..If the storm was unexpected I understand not wanting to risk driving in it, but we all knew this was going to happen..I also was scheduled to work friday nite...was not scheduled til 7pm..snow started around 1 oclock in my area coming down fast so at 3 oclock..I had my husband drive me to work( I live 20 minutes away)..granted nobody wants to go in that early,,even packed a bag in the event i would not make it home the next morning..but thankfully my husband drives in every kind of weather for a living..so I was able to leave. But I also think hospitals should let there workers know that we will provide a place for you to sleep if you are held over or come in early. The nurses who did decide to stay were all scrounging for extra reclining chairs and cots to sleep on. The hospitals should also be a little more willing to make there staff comfortable, while they are all home with there families in the recliners watching tv and sipping hot chocolate.
What about just letting them know you can't get your car out and need a ride? I know in MA sometimes the police or fire dept. (National guard in the 70s, I hear) will come get you.
We are expected to come in and stay the night if we think we won't be able to make it in for our shift. And if we miss a shift because of weather, we get written up. So I think not getting to use your PTO is fine. Like a PP said, it's not safe for the people who have already worked 12 hours to have to continue working. It isn't like the blizzard was a huge surprise.
How was she supposed to get there without a car? I am assuming this was in a state hit by the blizzard so that no or only sporadic public transportation was running or taxis. Could you have gotten pulled out of the snow and gone in to work late? One employer used to have Security pick us up and take us home in very rough weather.
Of course I always kept a change of clothes and some food in my locker in case I had to stay over.
Let's all move to the warm climate for winter and north for the summers.
Bless all who make the effort to get to work no matter what.
I went into work with Type A influenza on a New Years Eve due to this policy. I had proof of my illness (I had just tested positive that morning) and yet my manager wouldn't send me home so I had to stay.
Its things like this that I don't agree with. You were contagious with the flu, you should have been sent home. On any other day, you would be - but magically, on the holiday its okay to ignore that?
I am assuming this was in a state hit by the blizzard so that no or only sporadic public transportation was running or taxis.
What do people in the north do when the local government issues a ban on driving? Like in NYC this past week didn't they say you werent allowed to be on the road? What happens then (in places where there is little/no public transportation)?
What do people in the north do when the local government issues a ban on driving? Like in NYC this past week didn't they say you werent allowed to be on the road? What happens then (in places where there is little/no public transportation)?
I think that when they ban driving, if you were to be stopped, because we are essential personnel, we get a pass on that. I know in a state of emergency were still expected to get to work.
I had to deal with that obnoxious snow this passed weekend. I have a 4 wheel drive. I made it in. Albeit, I got stuck leaving work the one day but was able to dig myself out. My employer did a very poor job of snow removal.
That's what really made me angry. They posted a notice that if anyone called out for weather, they would not be able to use PTO. Fine, I plan on being here anyway. Then all the call outs were directed to our administrator. Ok, usually changed people's mind about not attempting to get to work. But they make this big stink about getting there and working your scheduled shift but made NO ATTEMPT to have a way in or out of the parking lot. The lot was plowed shut for a better part of the day Saturday. One staff member was stuck there for quite some time because their car was buried in and their ride got stuck coming to get them. They didn't even have the front entrance shoveled. I don't know...I feel like that's wrong. If you want me to be here so badly, have a way for me to park the darn car and a shoveled walk into the building, at least.
What do people in the north do when the local government issues a ban on driving? Like in NYC this past week didn't they say you werent allowed to be on the road? What happens then (in places where there is little/no public transportation)?
This bans are limited to "non-essential" driving, not healthcare workers getting to work.
While they could do a better job of showing it, hospitals are primarily concerned with the safety of patients, and when a nurse who's obligated to be there doesn't show up, that affects safety. It's not really the hospital's responsibility to make sure you have no difficulty getting to work, if you're a nurse at a hospital it's your responsibility to make sure you can be at work, and often just having a "four wheel drive" is not sufficient. Do you have studs on all four? Chains? As well as you seem to think you prepared, it clearly wasn't effective, so I'm not sure you've got a lot of room to complain about not getting your PTO for the day.
If you're responsible (and it sounds like you are) it doesn't happen very often, so what's one day off without pay. It is a policy for the slackers who would take any opportunity to dump on co-workers they have so little respect for. They don't need to be rewarded for being irresponsible.
I see a little of both sides to this story..If the storm was unexpected I understand not wanting to risk driving in it, but we all knew this was going to happen..I also was scheduled to work friday nite...was not scheduled til 7pm..snow started around 1 oclock in my area coming down fast so at 3 oclock..I had my husband drive me to work( I live 20 minutes away)..granted nobody wants to go in that early,,even packed a bag in the event i would not make it home the next morning..but thankfully my husband drives in every kind of weather for a living..so I was able to leave. But I also think hospitals should let there workers know that we will provide a place for you to sleep if you are held over or come in early. The nurses who did decide to stay were all scrounging for extra reclining chairs and cots to sleep on. The hospitals should also be a little more willing to make there staff comfortable, while they are all home with there families in the recliners watching tv and sipping hot chocolate.
The suits aren't all home with TV and cocoa. Our big bosses (CEO even) and managers are all there during bad weather and they stay 2 or 3 days at a time. They make sure to provide a horizontal surface in Recovery or the Nursing school dorm for us, along with plenty of food and shower supplies. Books, TV, an open gym, even a swim in the therapy pool - it's actually fun and we get to know each other in a new way. Most of us would rather be home, but going in early and staying late isn't so bad. Security will go get the stranded and will take people home, too. If it's a nice snow, we might even find the energy and time to make a few snowballs or build a snow family. Last year, I worked 16, had 8 off and stayed at work, did a 12, 8 off, did another 12 then got to go home. Had 4 or 5 hours of sleep while off at work. Not bad really, I was prepared with extra clothing, food, and mentally. Even played Scrabble. Great esprit d'corp among us. Glad it's only once or twice a year, enjoyed it while it lasted more or less.
A breastfeeding coworker was able to pump and get her fluids and we just all helped each other.
hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I
4 Articles; 5,212 Posts
Fortunately in California we really don't have this issue - however back during the Los Angeles Riots and during some big earthquake events Hospitals asked people to stay at their facilities because workers at home couldn't make it in and quite frankly it was unsafe for workers to try to drive home. I was driving an ambulance then and all healthcare workers were invited/not required to stay in empty patient rooms and provided a meal and access to resident showers. It was a bit chaotic. but we persevered. Where I currently work you have to ask in advance to apply PTO to planned absences.
Hppy