Can my boss do that?

[KianaM]

Hey all! I am currently a nursing student in Hawaii and am sumultaneously working as a CNA in a care home. I have a few questions about the working conditions in the home. I am usually scheduled to work twelve hour shifts in which I am the only caregiver for the five residents living in the home. The family that owns the care home lives in the same house so they come and go as they please. Once in a while they will pop in to check how things are going but besides that I am the only one there with he residents. Recently when receiving my pay check I've noticed that they were shorting me a couple of hours. When I asked about the diacrepancy they told me that they do not pay me while the residents are napping in the afternoon. They call this my "break" however they still need my assistance going to the restroom if they need to and I'm also monitoring them. Might I remind you that I am the only caregiver working during the twelve hour shift. Is this normal? Or is am I right to feel cheated? Also, the family expects me to wash and fold their personal laundry. They even ask the night shift workers to iron their work clothes. Finally, my last gripe is that they are completely disorganized. Last week they called me at 115 to inform me that I was supposed to work at 1, however, they didn't bother to inform me prior to that at all. Am I still obligated to drop everything I'm doing and show up for my shift when this happens?? I guess my big question is whether these things are a cause for concern and whether I should quit because I feel taken advantage of a little.

[pinkstethoscope]

If I were in your position, I would definitely feel taken advantage of. How on earth is it a break for your if you are still helping the residents? You should have a set break time where you are away from your residents and doing whatever it is you want to do with that time.

Also, the fact that they have you do their laundry seems absolutely ridiculous. They are perfectly able people. If they want their laundry done by someone else they should hire a maid. You are a CNA, not their personal maid.

[rn/writer, RN]

If you can leave the house while the residents are napping, then you're off the clock. If, however, you are expected to be available to the residents for toileting or any other need they may have, you should be paid for your time.

It sounds like this family is uber-cheap and you and the other workers are the ones making up the difference.

As a compromise, if they're expecting you to fold their laundry, tell them you'll do it during the residents' nap-time, aslong as you get paid for the entire two hours or whatever it takes.

Otherwise, I'd be looking for other options. Just make sure you have something better lined up before you give notice.

Best wishes.

[sunshine100]

Are you kidding me? I would run fast and start looking for another job. They are taking advantage of you!

[caliotter3]

I would leave this situation and not attempt to use these people as a reference in the future. You are in the home, you are on the clock. Like you would really ignore the needs of one or more of the residents who wakes up from their nap, at your expense. These people are taking advantage of you and probably violating a labor law at that. I would find another job.

[yajaira21]

Wow! thats really weird if I were you I'd start looking for another job ASAP

I think what there doing is illegal...... so if 2 residents are sleeping and the rest are up you wont get paid?! Or of everyone is sleeping and your cleaning restocking ect. they wont pay you!? screw that

Find another job

[theladymagic]

I do not what having this job means to you, I do not know how hard it would be to find another job in your state, I also do not know if you can afford to quit, or how many mouths you have to feed on your check and what other bills have to be paid out of that check. But what I do know is that you are being used. And no, this is not normal for any CNA job. I would never tell you anything to do, but if it was me, I would get all of my notes, witnesses and any proof I could get my hands on and then take it to my states Department of Labor, ( Which is not the employment securities commission, but I would go there next because after I was finished reporting to everyone I could ,they would fire me and in two weeks I would need my unemployment check to start coming in ). I would then report them, on behave of my residents to the patient ombudsman. I would also call the state board that license the place where I work to come investigate my place of employment. This not only wrong to do to an employee, it's wrong for the residents. So if it was me, I would do everything I could to make a wrong right. I pray you do what ever it is that is right for you. Stay Blessed:redbeathe