Can they fire you for not picking up overtime?

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I'm not in a union position, but I am hired/scheduled FT for 72 hours per pay period. My boss has asked me to stay an extra 4 hours past my shift (with OT pay) twice in the past week and I haven't been able to do it, so I declined. The unit secretary called today to ask if I could work 12 hours tomorrow on my day off. When I said I couldn't do it, she said my manager would be disappointed. No one on my unit is mandated to do OT or stay past our scheduled shift, but everyone always makes me feel so guilty when I can't pick up OT. Can I be fired for not taking OT? I'm probably just paranoid, but I'm worried. I hate turning down OT but I know if I worked more than 36 hours a week, I'd go crazy. I'm in grad school for 6 credits this semester, have pets at home and usually schedule the rest of my life around my work schedule. Is there something wrong with me?

Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

Caller ID and/or a machine. DO NOT ANSWER IT IF IT IS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!! Next time you work and they ask if you got the message, "Oh yes , but it was long past shift starting time when I got home and heard it. So sorry!" even if all you did was lay on the couch watching NCIS reruns!!

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I would try to pitch in sometimes in the interest of being a team player.

Then you can't be accused of not being a team player. Just don't cave in 100% of the time, nor refuse to help out 0% of the time.

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If you don't intend on coming in for an extra shift, then don't pick up the phone. Just do your best when you are working. Don't worry about them firing you over this-----any way, if you are in an "employment-at-will" state, they can fire you anytime.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
Same for any raises or special scheduling favors you may ask for. So my advice is TRY to pick up some extra time when asked - only once in a while, but do not ALWAYS turn it down. it is tough to balance home, school and work, but a little give and take is how the game is played.

I have picked up shifts before and made switches to help other people out but I feel like it's been non-stop calls on my day off lately!

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
Caller ID and/or a machine. DO NOT ANSWER IT IF IT IS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!! Next time you work and they ask if you got the message, "Oh yes , but it was long past shift starting time when I got home and heard it. So sorry!" even if all you did was lay on the couch watching NCIS reruns!!

Sometimes I answer and sometimes I don't. I have work on caller ID and usually if I don't want to work, I'll let it go to voicemail first, give myself a mini pep-talk and then call and say "Thanks for the offer, but I can't come in."

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I work in a "right to work" state. They can fire me for wearing red shoes if they so desire.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Being available for OT is walking a pretty fine line. If you say yes too often they start to take it for granted you will work and they won't even consider asking anyone else. Then they get mad when you do say no. If you always say no, they decide you aren't a team player. If the day comes when you WANT the OT, you have to fight tooth and nail to get it.

You have to take care of yourself but at the same time, you need to show a willingness to inconvenience yourself occasionally for the sake of the "team." Personally, I don't work call in OT unless things are just totally falling apart. I will work OT that is scheduled at least a week in advance. That gives me time to adjust my plans. You might consider trying that approach.

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Sometimes I answer and sometimes I don't. I have work on caller ID and usually if I don't want to work, I'll let it go to voicemail first, give myself a mini pep-talk and then call and say "Thanks for the offer, but I can't come in."

Always let the call go to voicemail. You don't have to call back, even if they ask you to in the message . . . you just tell them that you didn't get the message (if they ask).

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

work 4 extra hours in a FT 12hr shift position is not over time. Working an extra 12? If you can not do it, you can not do it. If it is not a policy to have mandatory overtime then I do not see how they could fire you if you refused.

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Sometimes I answer and sometimes I don't. I have work on caller ID and usually if I don't want to work, I'll let it go to voicemail first, give myself a mini pep-talk and then call and say "Thanks for the offer, but I can't come in."

No, no, no, you DON'T call them back.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
work 4 extra hours in a FT 12hr shift position is not over time. Working an extra 12? If you can not do it, you can not do it. If it is not a policy to have mandatory overtime then I do not see how they could fire you if you refused.

That's true, but it's still extra. I will consider signing up for an extra 4 hours here and there to stay after my shift but I just loathe being asked at 1500 if I can stay until 2130.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
No, no, no, you DON'T call them back.

Thanks for the support. I only call them back if I assume that they're asking for coverage the next day. If they call me at 0500 on a day that I'm not scheduled to work then I'm most likely to let it go straight to VM and go right back to sleep. It's when they call me in the afternoon that catches me off guard.

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