casual position in Ontario

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I have heard from fellow nursing friends that when you start working, you basically start off as a casual in a hospital. I am looking for jobs in Toronto and have been interviewed for a casual position. So it is based on availabilities and there aren't any guaranteed hours. I was wondering if anyone had been a casual in Toronto and how it went in terms of working hours?

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Specializes in Medicine.

I work casual as an RPN in Ontario (Hamilton area,so not all that far from Toronto). Yes there are NO guaranteed hours, and if a shift is overstaffed that causal staff are either floated to another ward or they may be cancelled (has happened to me before).HOWEVER, I've been working casual for almost 2 years now and I have ALWAYS had full time hours, I can't seem to remember a time where there weren't gaps to be filled (people being off sick,vacancies that they haven't hired for yet,people on vacation).

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Thank you for your reply! I am relocating to Toronto for this position and hearing that as a casual we usually get full time hours reassures me!! I was afraid that I won't get many shifts and end up relocating there for nothing!

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Specializes in Gerontology.

My recommendations: when you first start, take every shift you can. Even if you hate a certain shift, take it. This will get you out there and become a familiar face. When someone wants to give a shift away, they will think of you because they know you will work. After a few months you can start to be more selective. But if you are too picky right out of the gate, you will not get shifts.

Also, the more you work, the more seniority you will have so if a part time or full time position opens up you will have a better chance of getting it

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Thank you for the reply! When you say that I should take every shift that I can, does it mean I should do overtime if necessary? Do casuals get overtime $?

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Thank you for the reply! When you say that I should take every shift that I can, does it mean I should do overtime if necessary? Do casuals get overtime $?

Overtime is a rare species in my hospital, lol. You have to read the collective agreement very careful to find out when a casual is eligible for OT. Usually after the end of the scheduled shift. So working 9 hours when booked for an 8 or 13 when booked for a 12. You do qualify for Stat pay if you manage to get booked for a holiday. Usually regular staff are very reluctant not to work them.

In y hospital at one time, casual were booking 14 shifts in a two week period. They were lucky to get six shifts.

Staffing will cancel you once you work ten in a two week pay period because there are other casuals looking for shifts.

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Specializes in Medicine.
Thank you for the reply! When you say that I should take every shift that I can, does it mean I should do overtime if necessary? Do casuals get overtime $?

At my hospital casuals do sometimes get offered OT (I've been offered several times lately myself). The more hours you work = the quicker you build seniority. So do over time if it's offered and you feel like it (provided that you're not too tired because safety comes first)

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Thank you for the reply! When you say that I should take every shift that I can, does it mean I should do overtime if necessary? Do casuals get overtime $?

It depends on how short your hospital is and how much seniority or hours you have under your belt. if you start working in various units, in a few months you will easily get full time hours as well as opportunities for extra shifts or overtime as well.

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