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 NICU, Post-partum.
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?

You have to be a team player and pick your battles.

If you start getting the reputation of never picking up additional hours/shifts...trust me, they will remember that when you go to them and needs something.

Anytime I can reasonably pick up additional shifts, I do..if it is going to be a major headache, and I really can't, I don't and I tell them why.

So far, I have been fortunate to not have a problem with it.

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Specializes in Trauma, Burn, Crticial Care.

No you cannot be fired - technically but I am sure your manager can make things difficult for you and others....but it is her/his responsibility to staff & schedule appropriately. If you have vacancies - she/he needs to fill these and may need to use outside resources to assist in filling those needs.

She/he may also want to post the scheduling needs for the next 2-4 weeks on your unit and see if staff (with advance notice) may be intersted in covering these extra shifts and working OT.

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Look at it this way, if they are ever in the position of having to choose between laying off one of two people, which do you think they will choose, all other things being equal? Of course, it is unfortunate, but if something should happen down the road that causes you to lose your job, you can not be surprised about it.

I don't think that gave the OP any peace of mind at all.

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I don't think that gave the OP any peace of mind at all.

The purpose of my post was to point out what may not have been obvious to the OP, not to provide peace of mind. It might be considered common sense not to place oneself in a negative position with their employer. Why would I want to paint a rosy picture when that will not be the viewpoint of the employer?

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

Do you mean you work in an "at will" state?

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The purpose of my post was to point out what may not have been obvious to the OP, not to provide peace of mind. It might be considered common sense not to place oneself in a negative position with their employer. Why would I want to paint a rosy picture when that will not be the viewpoint of the employer?

On the other hand, one may come in each and every time they want, and still be the first one canned.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I would have a special message to play on my days off.

"Hi, I am at the GI doc having a colonoscopy with Versed today. I will be unable to return an calls.....":smokin:

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Sort of like, "I'm running out of Guinness. Bring some more."

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

Ugh. I HATE this aspect of Nursing. "We didn't schedule the appropriate/required number of Nurses, so could YOU pick up the slack for our incompetence?"

My old employer pulled this stunt all of the time. Yup. And the turnover was unbelievable. It is one thing to ask a Nurse to stay once in awhile, but the Nurse should have the right to say "yes" or "no' and not get a load of grief for it. Trying to make the Nurse feel guilty or incompetent because they have chosen to stand up for themselves is abuse of power, IMO. Nurses have lives. Sure, for some Nurses, Nursing IS their life and they are more than happy to miss their breaks, lunches, stay OT and come in on their days off, but that is their choice and that choice makes them happy! For others, we have families, hobbies, school or just like our private time.

Nobody should be forced to work OT.

And yes, in an at-will state, an employer can fire you for anything. Just as you can quit at anytime, for any reason.

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