Can they really DO that? A rant!

dijaqrn · Dec 8, 2006

This was a common occurrence in the late 1980's when nursing shifted from team to primary care nursing. There were hints out for a year, i.e. are you working on your RN? was a frequent question. I was one of those laid off LVN's, they called 2 nights later and asked me to come in, it was pretty funny. I was able to get a better job, now I'm an RN but my heart bleeds over how trends in nursing wreck havoc with peoples lives!!!!

SCRN1 · Dec 8, 2006

That is really a shame!

I don't know about other states, but here our hospitals can fire you without notice or reason at any given time. You have to sign a paper agreeing to that when you are hired. So I guess they could fire all the LPNs here if they wanted.

BSNtobe2009 · Dec 8, 2006

Talked to an LPN last nite that used to work at the hospital where I used to work. She said they are now firing all LPNs except a very few that have been there for over 20 years.
She had been there for 5 1/2, was a good nurse. She got un-employment because they screwed up their paperwork, but a lot of them didn't because of some paperwork thing.
Now it just came out in our local paper that the CEO of this hospital is going to receive some award from the govenor of Iowa for 'hospital excellence'!! This about makes me want to :barf01:
Excellence must be the new word for screwing over the older nurses, and now the LPNs that have put in years to MAKE that rotten place, so that they can be replaced with STEPFORD nurses. I am SO glad I don't have to work there any more!!

I can tell you why they are not getting unemployment.

First, anyone is legally entitled to unemployment benefits if the employer pays into unemployment due to a layoff or even getting fired, unless you were fired for "gross misconduct"....with ONE exception.

If you waive your rights to unemployment compensation, and you can do this and not even realize it.

A company doesn't need you to sign anything for your to lose your job, that is a HUGE misconception. They also don't need you to sign anything if they legitimately WANT you to receive severance pay. It is 100% unnecessary.

However, a dirty trick some unethical businesses do, is when they deliver the shock that you have lost your job, they hand you a stack of papers to sign and say something along the lines of, "Oh, sign here to receive two weeks severance pay (or whatever term), this says that we will give you a good reference and you are eligible for rehire."

Most people are so upset, they just start signing.

What they don't know, is what they are signing is a waiver of unemployment benefits, and usually an agreement where you are voluntarily waiving your right to sue an employer. It is very, very legal thing to do. Unethical, immoral, but legal.

Anytime you lose your job, unless they are offering you one hell of a severance package, DON'T sign anything!

RN BSN 2009 · Dec 8, 2006

Wow... good stuff to know, thanks.

Retired R.N. · Dec 8, 2006

If you work in an "At Will" employment state, you can be fired at any time for any reason or for no reason at all. Texas is one of the At Will states.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 8, 2006

IL is also an "at will" state. I too was an LPN for two years while in the RN program. This was back in the early 90's. Where I live (central IL) no hospitals are hiring LPNs at all and few hospitals have any LPNs.

buildingmyfaith57 · Dec 8, 2006

they have that here in wisconsin to. but some places will turn you into the state. just for the fun of it.

wjf00 · Dec 8, 2006

I am very sorry for the LVN's that are caught in this cycle. The move to discharge LVN's from the acute care setting has been off and on in CA. Currently the trend is to push out the LVN's. Our facility is union, so no current LVN's are being laid off. However no hospital in the area is hiring LVN's. Remaining LVN's are completly frozen in their positions. They are not even allowed to trade up into positions that are left by retiring LVN's. The few remaining LVN's are being asked to train to OR tech positions, which might be a decent deal as thier pay rate cannot go down at all.

Our facilities chief Nurse exec. told a gathering that her goal is 100% RN staffing. She seemed to think that would make me happy as I am an RN. But honestly this is bad news for RN's as well. Because sure enough in a few years the trend will be back to LVN's and RN's jobs will be at risk.

Not that it is any consolation, but no LVN would ever collect unemployment in CA. The prison system, and SNF's are always in dire need of LVNs.

If a student tells me their goal is acute care, I always advise them that an LVN is a difficult road right now.

busylady61 · Dec 8, 2006

However, a dirty trick some unethical businesses do, is when they deliver the shock that you have lost your job, they hand you a stack of papers to sign and say something along the lines of, "Oh, sign here to receive two weeks severance pay (or whatever term), this says that we will give you a good reference and you are eligible for rehire."
Most people are so upset, they just start signing.
What they don't know, is what they are signing is a waiver of unemployment benefits, and usually an agreement where you are voluntarily waiving your right to sue an employer. It is very, very legal thing to do. Unethical, immoral, but legal.
Anytime you lose your job, unless they are offering you one hell of a severance package, DON'T sign anything!

Geeze. That is SCARY. I never knew that. Thank you for sharing that! I hope I am never in that situation, but if I ever am, at least I'll be prepared....!

oramar · Dec 8, 2006

I will give the place I work credit. They are going to all rn staff but slowly. They just stopped hiring LPNs. That is the decent way to do it. No broken hearts or lives.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 8, 2006

Another thread along the same lines.....

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/hey-managers-whats-up-weeding-out-good-nurses-175927.html?highlight=hey+managers