Calling in....

travel50 · May 27, 2009

Okay, I have just read all these posts. As to the original poster, I guess your boss has never lost a beloved pet. It can be like losing a child. And the poster whose boss said that it was only her grandmother who'd died. I just like for someone to say that to me. I want to know who made her God to decide how important grandmothers are?

Now to where I work. I am the DON at a LTC facility. I almost always ask what the problem is when someone calls in, but not b/c I am just nosey. We are not provided with any medical insurance. I don't tell them they have to go to the doctor when they call in b/c most can't afford it. (Hint, they are calling in b/c they really are sick b/c they really can't afford to miss a day's pay). But I ask what is wrong b/c I have a direct line to the doctor. If they call the doctor with "can you call something in for me", they will never get past the receptionist. I call with, "I have a very sick employee and I need Dr. L's nurse....I'll hold until she can get to the phone". I give the symptoms and Dr. L will either call something in or tell the employee to come over and "just come to the back door and let me look at you really quick". I've had an employee so sick that she couldn't care for her infant...single mom, throwing up her toenails. Didn't have to ask her what was wrong b/c I could hear. We went over and got the baby and kept her for the day. When a nurse called in b/c her dog just had puppies...I almost got aggravated till I thought, "hey, she NEVER calls in...what else is wrong. I called her back. Momma dog had died leaving these 9 helpless puppies that had to be bottle fed almost continuously. I had her bring puppies to work, and the residents had a blast taking turns feeding puppies. So what I am saying is that I ask b/c I care, not to be nosey.

And I give people a week off for a death if they need it. Just who made the rule that they should be over it in 3 days?

But it is hard when people call in b/c it can be tough to get someone to fill in even with a 2 hr notice.

LHH1996 · May 27, 2009

travel50...can i work with you?? LOL

travel50 · May 27, 2009

travel50...can i work with you?? LOL

Would love to have you except that I don't often have openings. I have aides and nurses who have worked there as long as I have, over 9 yrs. We are a rather close knit bunch I guess.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · May 27, 2009

Given the outbreak of H1N1 flu, I can see why you were asked symptoms.

All you had to say was you were unable to work for personal reasons.

You say you never call in sick, so how do you know that they don't ask this question of everyone who calls in?

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 27, 2009

first let me say i'm sorry for your loss. dogs are members of your family, and even without the lack of sleep, i'd be surprised if you could work after such a loss. i called in sick for each and every one of my dogs' deaths -- i was crying too much to be able to interact with people appropriately.

second let me say that whoever took your call was out of line. i'm sorry you had to put up with that after losing your beloved dog.

hikernurse · May 27, 2009

Okay, I have just read all these posts. As to the original poster, I guess your boss has never lost a beloved pet. It can be like losing a child. And the poster whose boss said that it was only her grandmother who'd died. I just like for someone to say that to me. I want to know who made her God to decide how important grandmothers are?
Now to where I work. I am the DON at a LTC facility. I almost always ask what the problem is when someone calls in, but not b/c I am just nosey. We are not provided with any medical insurance. I don't tell them they have to go to the doctor when they call in b/c most can't afford it. (Hint, they are calling in b/c they really are sick b/c they really can't afford to miss a day's pay). But I ask what is wrong b/c I have a direct line to the doctor. If they call the doctor with "can you call something in for me", they will never get past the receptionist. I call with, "I have a very sick employee and I need Dr. L's nurse....I'll hold until she can get to the phone". I give the symptoms and Dr. L will either call something in or tell the employee to come over and "just come to the back door and let me look at you really quick". I've had an employee so sick that she couldn't care for her infant...single mom, throwing up her toenails. Didn't have to ask her what was wrong b/c I could hear. We went over and got the baby and kept her for the day. When a nurse called in b/c her dog just had puppies...I almost got aggravated till I thought, "hey, she NEVER calls in...what else is wrong. I called her back. Momma dog had died leaving these 9 helpless puppies that had to be bottle fed almost continuously. I had her bring puppies to work, and the residents had a blast taking turns feeding puppies. So what I am saying is that I ask b/c I care, not to be nosey.
And I give people a week off for a death if they need it. Just who made the rule that they should be over it in 3 days?
But it is hard when people call in b/c it can be tough to get someone to fill in even with a 2 hr notice.

How very kind you are. No wonder your employers stay with you so long. :redbeathe

Moogie · May 28, 2009

Would love to have you except that I don't often have openings. I have aides and nurses who have worked there as long as I have, over 9 yrs. We are a rather close knit bunch I guess.

It's because you're an excellent, compassionate manager who treats the staff with respect. I want to work for you, too! :nurse:

sweet sunshine · May 28, 2009

that's ridiculous to have to tell him your symptoms,what if it was of female nature? I would ask higherups if it is the policy, he was probably mad because he would have to find coverage oh well we get sick too!

Aneroo, LPN · May 28, 2009

Some places have had to put policies limiting what management is permitted to ask under these circumstances. This being due to the fact that demanding more info on one person and letting another slide could be construed as discrimination. All I can say is they better be asking EVERYONE for symptoms.

We were told at one job (up front) that we would be asked a generalized question about what was wrong. It didn't need to be specific, and we were able to say "personal" if needed. The reason for this was if there was four employees who have called in within 12 hours with GI bug symptoms, there might be something going on that needs to be reported to employee health.

Same job- insane absence policy. At the end of my time there, I was told "you might want to consider quitting, b/c if you miss more time you'll get fired". Hmm- strep, sick daughter X3, miscarriage and vertigo that gets so bad I have to take Valium. Instead, if you went into work sick and asked to be sent home, you were good and didn't get written up. I never did this, since I had the fricking courtesy not to expose everyone to whatever mess I had, unlike the coworker who came in wearing a mask and wore a scarf the entire shift. I'm sure that's what the patient wants to see walking into a room- a nurse so high on cold meds that she's barely awake and breathing coming in to do an assessment.

Moogie · May 28, 2009

Instead, if you went into work sick and asked to be sent home, you were good and didn't get written up. I never did this, since I had the fricking courtesy not to expose everyone to whatever mess I had, unlike the coworker who came in wearing a mask and wore a scarf the entire shift. I'm sure that's what the patient wants to see walking into a room- a nurse so high on cold meds that she's barely awake and breathing coming in to do an assessment.

That's a whole 'nuther can of worms. A nurse is sick, can't call in because he/she will be written up or fired, then goes to work while taking cold medication or prescription drugs. The nurse is jeopardizing his/her license (not to mention patient safety!) because of working while impaired. Apparently Benadryl impairs one's ability to perform complex tasks such as driving a car even more than ETOH. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/job185drugs/diphenhydramine.htm

This sort of thing frustrates me because it's a no-win situation and the nurse who is trying to do the right thing is often the loser. :banghead:

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 28, 2009

Okay, I have just read all these posts. As to the original poster, I guess your boss has never lost a beloved pet. It can be like losing a child. And the poster whose boss said that it was only her grandmother who'd died. I just like for someone to say that to me. I want to know who made her God to decide how important grandmothers are?
Now to where I work. I am the DON at a LTC facility. I almost always ask what the problem is when someone calls in, but not b/c I am just nosey. We are not provided with any medical insurance. I don't tell them they have to go to the doctor when they call in b/c most can't afford it. (Hint, they are calling in b/c they really are sick b/c they really can't afford to miss a day's pay). But I ask what is wrong b/c I have a direct line to the doctor. If they call the doctor with "can you call something in for me", they will never get past the receptionist. I call with, "I have a very sick employee and I need Dr. L's nurse....I'll hold until she can get to the phone". I give the symptoms and Dr. L will either call something in or tell the employee to come over and "just come to the back door and let me look at you really quick". I've had an employee so sick that she couldn't care for her infant...single mom, throwing up her toenails. Didn't have to ask her what was wrong b/c I could hear. We went over and got the baby and kept her for the day. When a nurse called in b/c her dog just had puppies...I almost got aggravated till I thought, "hey, she NEVER calls in...what else is wrong. I called her back. Momma dog had died leaving these 9 helpless puppies that had to be bottle fed almost continuously. I had her bring puppies to work, and the residents had a blast taking turns feeding puppies. So what I am saying is that I ask b/c I care, not to be nosey.
And I give people a week off for a death if they need it. Just who made the rule that they should be over it in 3 days?
But it is hard when people call in b/c it can be tough to get someone to fill in even with a 2 hr notice.

Where do you work? Do you need an LPN from New York? You seem to have lots of compassion. At least adopt me...

I love my cat! · May 28, 2009

So I am a little perturbed and just wondered what others experience is about this.... :madface:I called in the other night d/t not feeling well and gave the supervisor on duty 5 1/2 hours notice that I would not be in. I called in and stated I was feeling ill and did not believe it would be a good idea for me to come in. Rather then getting an "sorry your not feeling well or hope you feel better soon" the reply I got was "I am going to need some symptoms" WHAT?!?!?! I am sorry but I never call in sick EVER, am never late to work, and on average put in at least 15-20 hours OT per week. All I am asking for is one night. I explained to him that my dog had passed away that morning and due to her being ill the last few days had gone 48hours without sleep and was beginning to feel like I was getting the flu, finally with that he agreed to take me off the schedule but even then it seemed like he was fairly reluctant. Am I being a too sensitive and is this normal, I just felt like I was being called out on trying to play hookie when I really did have a legit reason to not be there. I am sorry but I would not want someone passing meds who had not been to bed for 2 days.

I am very sorry to hear about the loss of you beloved pet.

I've mentioned this is other threads, but I'll say it again. I think that an Employer demanding a reason for an Employee calling in is really unfair and very inappropriate.

Seriously, unless sick-calls are a pattern (a different issue altogether) the Employer has ZERO business demanding a reason for the sick call. I guess it shouldn't even be called a "sick" call. That sounds like the Employee is sick....but are a million other reasons besides the Employee's personal health issues for calling in.

I won't be able to work today/tomorrow, whatever, is sufficient, IMO.

Facilities should be ready for a sick call at any time. People need a day off for whatever reason. Guilting the Employee to come in never seems to have a good outcome.