Call-off policy

dian57 · Nov 22, 2005

Working in a nursing home is different than working in a supermarket. When you're short-staffed, the cereal boxes don't know any better. Our business is human life and unfortunately, mandatory overtime is sometimes required in order to ensure safety for the people in our care. We use a seniority list and everyone understands that when it's their turn to stay, they stay. This only happens about 4 times a year, thankfully.

Our policy is at least 2 hours notice to call out for the shift. Less than that means no pay for the day. It is unfortunate that the staff with all the drama in their lives has made this policy necessary. We have 9 sick days per year, 3can be used for family illness (children mostly).

I've sent people home who are obviously ill. I'd rather work at minimum staffing than compromise my resident's health.

pkeyrn · Nov 23, 2005

In our facility, the day and evening shifts are to call in a minimum of 2 hrs before they are due to be on duty. The night staff however has to call in a minimum of 4 hours before they are due in. This has caused problems in the past as many night shift workers might go to bed feeling fine or just slightly under the weather but then wake up just a couple of hours before their shift feeling awful, vomiting, etc. They are still expected to show up to work because they did not provide an adequate or timely call. I have always felt this discriminates against the night staff ( especially since every member of the night shift has their own sleeping pattern).

allele, LPN · Nov 23, 2005

Ours is pretty standard.....two hours before your shift, and I believe night shift has to call out 3 or 4 hours in advance. We're allowed so many call offs in a 12 month period....I work 12's and I believe I'm allowed something like 5 call offs in a 12 month period before I'm fired. And of course, if you call out on a weekend you need to make it up. I rarely call off and we're actually pretty good on our unit. People rarely call off and there's always someone willing to help out if we need them. I have to admit, I don't think it's fair that the OP has to make up the shift. I think it's very nice of you to be willing, but I don't think it should be required of you. If you're sick you're sick. Anyway, that's what we do! :)

dinkymouse · Nov 24, 2005

Our facility has the 2 hour before shift policy and if you are gone 3 days or more you have to have a doctor's excuse before you can come back. No one has to make up the shift but we are "highlighted" and have to stay until they find someone else or end up doubling. When the new admin. came a note went up saying that this was going to be enforced along with the showing up late problems. That was 2 months ago and none of the "chronics" have gotten canned.

Nurse-o-Matic · Nov 24, 2005

When someone calls in sick, a nurse on the previous shift will have to stay over. We keep a list and take turns staying over but many employees have doctor notes that state they can't work more than 8-hour shifts due to back pain, foot pain, anxiety, blah, blah, blah. What this means is the same five employees get stuck covering for the sickies.