Bait and switch sign on

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Jan 9, 2005

Have every thing in writing first before you sign on.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jan 9, 2005

Yes. This happened to me as a CNA. I was livid because I didn't find out til my first paycheck. I had to quit and start over again somewhere else.

bargainhound, RN · Jan 9, 2005

If they have lied to you, you owe them nothing.

Leave.

nightingale, RN · Jan 9, 2005

!- Has anyone been promised a sign-on bonus, Holidays off, personal days at the intervue and then been told after orientation starts that these things were never offered?! This happened to me and I have heard of it happening at another LTC facility, and wonder if this is a trend to get nurses to fill HR hiring quotas.
2- Do Nursing Recruiters get a "bonus" for getting a nurse to sign up?
Just wondering?

To answer your questions:

1- Yes it happens, it has not specifically happened to me but I hear of it. Right now, I am in the midst of a job that is not "following through on promises" made by the former DON. It does not involve money but inforces the fact that in order to "get what you want" you need to put it in writing.

In Agency Nursing, I would never take an assignment without promises made and assumed put in writing. I never thought of getting my "regular staff position" duties put in writing.

Now, I am dealing with the harsh reality that I am expected to take call, extra shifts, ya da ya da... and when I so no I am frowned at and worse, etc...

I was told, at orientation, that I would get a new job description when it was made up. Well, a month or so later, when I refused shifts (at night) I was given my job description that included call, nights, a job title I have never discussed (Restorative Nurse and have still have had no training in) and it goes on and on. When I was first shown this "job description, I was asked to sign it and I refused (more frowns and dissapointed looks).

2- Yes, they, the recruiter, gets a "fee" for hiring you. When we are savvy enough and know about these things in advance (like through this wonderful supportive site called AllNurses.com) we can negotiate it as a hiring on bonus.

-- I hope this helps to empower you and helps you to move forward. We all get put into postions now and again that are less then fair. I hope you can turn this around (which is what I am struggling to do) into a success story that you can share with us here.

Let us know how you make out

nightingale, RN · Jan 9, 2005

If they have lied to you, you owe them nothing.
Leave.

True but I encourage you to try to work it out.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2005

When I signed on at my current job, I was to be the part time administrative nurse working 0800-1400 3 days a week. We were allowed to wear business dress, I could get sick days, vacation 1 week per year and more the more years I worked, be eligable for 401K and other stock options, shift differentials, and many other 'little' things like being able to have a coffee cup in my office, store my items in my locked office, and things like that.

After one year all of those were gone! Management went through a huge overhaul and the employees were considered expendible if they didn't fall in line! Moral hit the lowest point possible because we felt like we were being punished...fear tactics were used to the point of insanity...and all of us lost all the reasons (besides our patients that we love) to come to work anymore.

Yep, I lost all those perks I signed on with..and I had them in writing! But they said that since the last management team was no longer there, those promises were not valid anymore! That if I didn't like that, then I could quit... (but with no nursing shortage in my neck of the woods..they had me..uhggggg!!!!) So I didn't quit and just kept telling myself "hey, at least you are part time!".

Then that changed! I was being scheduled to work 1-2 hours less than what they considered full time, and switched me to floor nursing yet still responsible for the administrative paperwork!!! So they got me again...no benifits what so ever and a nice little slave that can sign paperwork for state audits (since I was one of the few RN's!). Again I just said "hey at least I am part time".

I have heard of others suffering from what I have gone through...from sign on bonuses never given, to 401k's that ended, to having health insurance for families then switched to only the employee (that happened to us too!!!!). Cost of living increases cancled, RN's being hired on a part time basis only so they don't get benifits (too costly), and shift differentials cancled, stock options cancled, vacation bonuses messed with to the point they may as well not exist, and a serious switch for managment to think "they need their job more than we need them".

So sadly I don't believe much in bonus/perks/sign on bonuses anymore...I tend to think of those as the pretty frosting on a slab of concrete...all looks good till you bite in and break your teeth (and have no dental insurance..LOL!). It is all frill to tempt you to join in and then for some reason it is taken away! SO I don't look at those when getting a job, I look at ONLY the job itself...and hope it doesn't pull a switcheroo like it did for me!!!!! (no matter how careful you are, things will change...so you must consider a back up plan at all times).

Wow, you know that is illegal for retail companies to do that with products "bait and switch"..why shouldn't it be illegal for anyones workplace!!!

terrina · Jan 22, 2005

I kept the written info where things were circled by the recruiter in the interview, but a circle around things in the pamphlet were not good enough for the powers that be. I let it go for the sake of my mental health and tried to concentrate on the positives of my job. But then I noticed the whole HR staff had a turn over and no one to substantiate the things that were said anyway. I guess it is hard to trust anything that comes down the pike now that I have been lied to so boldly. I like my job, (most days), but the seed of mistrust has been planted. I just wondered if this is a trend. I learned a big lesson....get it all in writing, take notes in the interview, you never know when you will need it.

When I signed on at my current job, I was to be the part time administrative nurse working 0800-1400 3 days a week. We were allowed to wear business dress, I could get sick days, vacation 1 week per year and more the more years I worked, be eligable for 401K and other stock options, shift differentials, and many other 'little' things like being able to have a coffee cup in my office, store my items in my locked office, and things like that.
After one year all of those were gone! Management went through a huge overhaul and the employees were considered expendible if they didn't fall in line! Moral hit the lowest point possible because we felt like we were being punished...fear tactics were used to the point of insanity...and all of us lost all the reasons (besides our patients that we love) to come to work anymore.
Yep, I lost all those perks I signed on with..and I had them in writing! But they said that since the last management team was no longer there, those promises were not valid anymore! That if I didn't like that, then I could quit... (but with no nursing shortage in my neck of the woods..they had me..uhggggg!!!!) So I didn't quit and just kept telling myself "hey, at least you are part time!".
Then that changed! I was being scheduled to work 1-2 hours less than what they considered full time, and switched me to floor nursing yet still responsible for the administrative paperwork!!! So they got me again...no benifits what so ever and a nice little slave that can sign paperwork for state audits (since I was one of the few RN's!). Again I just said "hey at least I am part time".
I have heard of others suffering from what I have gone through...from sign on bonuses never given, to 401k's that ended, to having health insurance for families then switched to only the employee (that happened to us too!!!!). Cost of living increases cancled, RN's being hired on a part time basis only so they don't get benifits (too costly), and shift differentials cancled, stock options cancled, vacation bonuses messed with to the point they may as well not exist, and a serious switch for managment to think "they need their job more than we need them".
So sadly I don't believe much in bonus/perks/sign on bonuses anymore...I tend to think of those as the pretty frosting on a slab of concrete...all looks good till you bite in and break your teeth (and have no dental insurance..LOL!). It is all frill to tempt you to join in and then for some reason it is taken away! SO I don't look at those when getting a job, I look at ONLY the job itself...and hope it doesn't pull a switcheroo like it did for me!!!!! (no matter how careful you are, things will change...so you must consider a back up plan at all times).
Wow, you know that is illegal for retail companies to do that with products "bait and switch"..why shouldn't it be illegal for anyones workplace!!!

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jan 22, 2005

I kept the written info where things were circled by the recruiter in the interview, but a circle around things in the pamphlet were not good enough for the powers that be. I let it go for the sake of my mental health and tried to concentrate on the positives of my job. But then I noticed the whole HR staff had a turn over and no one to substantiate the things that were said anyway. I guess it is hard to trust anything that comes down the pike now that I have been lied to so boldly. I like my job, (most days), but the seed of mistrust has been planted. I just wondered if this is a trend. I learned a big lesson....get it all in writing, take notes in the interview, you never know when you will need it.

Yeah that was the biggest bummer of the whole thing...I DID have it in writing! Uhggggggg! Does leave you feeling like less than dirt to your employer when you did everything you are supose to, and get a mouthful of corporate vomit doesn't it!

I too have tried my hardest to keep a positive attitude, but that is only working so much, and only for so long! I have tried hobbies outside of work, tried meditation, go to bed every night saying 3 things that were positive about my day, reading moral boosting books/articles, comming here to see that I am not the only one (really helps), and really putting a real border on work and homelife!

It has helped some, but alas...I still ask myself if I will be a nurse in 5-10 years and the answer is "unless there is a HUGE change in my job or my career path, I hope not!"... The sad thing..is it is mainly administration probelms..but they have become bigger than a nurse can take on without a union..and last time I checked..assisted livings don't get unions (yeah 7 nurses in one facility does not a union make).

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jan 22, 2005

Lou Dobbs is having a series on how job security, benefits, and money are shrinking in this country for the working, middle-class citizen. Watch it, it will give you an idea of what is coming for all of us workers. :crying2:

nightingale, RN · Jan 22, 2005

It stinks, not being treated fairly. I quite my job (this week) after they bounced my paycheck... the last straw... I could go on and on and I won't.... I am glad to be rid of them and am fortunate to have Agency Work in my area.

(((((((((((((Nurse Hug))))))))))))))))

Thank goodness for AllNurses and the empowerment WE can give each other.

oramar · Jan 22, 2005

Lou Dobbs is having a series . Watch it, it will give you an idea of what is coming for all of us workers.

Lou Dobbs is my hero.