Can a Manager limit how may days off in a row you can take?

[wasabiRN]

One of the advantages of working 12 hour shifts is having four days off. While working 12 hour shifts, there is limited time to see family, do chores, and sleep so four days off in a row allows you to have a life. In addition I am a night shift worker.

My new acting manager wants to limit our days off to three in a row for no reason other than control??. She states to fix staff shortages but there has been an even number of staff on each shift prior to this change.

Has as anyone ever heard of this? Is there anything we can do. We are federal RNs so are controlled by Federal guidelines.

Thank you.

[brownbook]

I'm guessing there are no federal labor laws that you can use to get your 4 days in a row back.

I don't blame you for being pissed. But you might have to accept it or calmly, respectfully, approach your manager and see if you can get your old schedule back. If co-workers are also affected there is strength in numbers.

[klone, MSN, RN]

There are no laws that prevent them from changing your schedule in that way, provided it doesn't put you into overtime.

My new acting manager wants to limit our days off to three in a row for no reason other than control??. She states to fix staff shortages but there has been an even number of staff on each shift prior to this change.

It sounds like she DOES have a reason other than control, as evidenced by your next sentence.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

No, no rules preventing her from doing that. What you have to do is get as many of your like-minded coworkers as your can toget her and approach the manager. Tell her the 4 days in a row off are conditions of your employment and if she doesn't re-instate them all of you will be forced to seek employment elsewhere.

You have your mean it. You don't need to leave your hospital, you can apply for other jobs in different departments.

We faced the same situation (but different issue) with a new manager 2 years ago and forced her to comply by threating to leave the depatment.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Unless you are taking vacation days, I don't think you can do anything about the scheduling issues. It is up to your manager unfortunately.

Annie

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I'm going to take some liberties here, but I have a feeling that the problem isn't you taking off four consecutive days. It's the days you're scheduling off. I'd wager that there are days that no one is signing up to work.

If you're days, maybe everyone is signing up to work Tue-Thur. And if you're nights, maybe everyone is working Monday night through Wednesday night.

When I worked 7P-7A, we were required to work at least 2 Sunday nights and 2 Thursday nights to keep this very thing from happening. Again, assuming here, but if you wanted, say, Monday-Thursday off you'd probably be okay.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I work (mostly) Fri/Sat/Sun so I have 4 days off. No one wants to work those days-most people want to work T/W/Th so they have zero issues with those of us who like to work those days. In fact more of our staff work 3 in a row than not. Weird that your manager has an issue with that.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Staffing the unit is up to your manager's discretion. That they allowed you to work 3 days in a row to get 4 days in a row off was nice but there's nothing to prevent the manager from changing your schedule. There are no federal guidelines about how many days off in a row people who work 12 hr shifts should have. There is no federal guarantee for ANY days off, actually. My old manager would call what your manager is doing "staffing to demand."

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

What does your facilities policy say? Do you have a Nursing Union Rep? If so, I'd bring it to them.

[theRPN2b]

Like others have said, bring together like-minded co workers AND also bring in the union to help you guys out

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

There is no law that will cover you.Even with a strong union contract the ultimate deciding factor is the line "for the functioning of the hospital,they shall have the right"

Your nurse manager is just covering herself so she wont be disturbed by poor staffing phone calls.Our 12 hour fixed schedule gave you a 4 day break once a month,thats it.

But this caused some to work 3 days in a row or only one day off in between two sets of threes.

of course your manager works 9-4 or 8-3 ,whatever,if they stay an hour over they take a day off.

Sorry wish it was better for you.

[klone, MSN, RN]

of course your manager works 9-4 or 8-3 ,whatever,if they stay an hour over they take a day off.

That's hilarious.