Clocking out ..NO Overtime

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Clocking out to prevent Overtime

    • 6
      Yes
    • 101
      No

107 members have participated

okay.. I work in SNF , I have been talked to about my overtime hours. Come to find out many of the LN staff clock out then come back to finish charting ..etc. Really? on their own time. Because they are intimidated by the DNS. DNS says we cant have overtime and she is getting pressured by corporate office.

1. Makes me look like I am the only one getting out late.

2. Paints a wrong picture of what really needs to be addressed. ie Acuity level

3. The legality of being off the clock at still on the floor!

4. Who wants to work for free? or better yet divide the hours you give them for free and subtract it from the rate of pay you get. Do I see any hands?

Where could I find proof of this, I am doing an assignment and I need to reference that in Ontario you cannot work voluntary overtime.

ahh help!

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Not aimed at this particular poster - but in general, this attitude just really ticks me off. Maybe because I have been lucky enough to have had good DON's - maybe because I like to think I am a good DON. It should never come down to an "us vs them" mentality.

1st - As the DON, I have a budget I have to follow. If I do not follow it they will fire me and find someone who will follow it. End result - it WILL be followed no matter what. No need to hate the one who happens to hold the seat. No need to set anyone up to fail. Respect goes both ways.

2nd - I do stay on my staff to get punched out on time. I expect my nurses to supervise their aides and try their best to get them out on time. Supervision of the aides in part of their job description and I would just bet it's part of yours too. We all know there are some that lolly gag around the entire shift (both nurses and aides). Those are the ones that need to cut it out. They take up any slack in the budget for the shifts when the crap really does hit the fan. (Keep reading I'm not done).

3rd - I started out as an aide 25+ years ago and worked my way into this position. Believe me when I say I get it. I've been there and done that. There are those days that nothing goes right, nothing goes on time and there is no choice but to be over. This is when you should be able to explain what caused you to be behind and you should also expect your DON to understand this and back you up on those days.

No one should ever be working off the clock. Had a nurse past couple weeks come to me all proud of herself because she had clocked out on time after a horrendous shift - of course she was still there an hour and half later. Called her into my office and told her to never do that again (then reported the extra time to payroll for an adjustment). Would much rather be fired for being over budget then doing something illegal. (Best option would be to keep my job tho).

I see nothing wrong with the poster's comments. I've seen nurses and aides (majority of them) stressed out, no lunch hoour, tiney or no breaks grabbing a bite of junk food to eat as they chart or pass meds or assess or do an admit or several discharge and then look at the clock and see that it's 6:25pm, still have charts, a last med pass and have to be ready to give report at 6t:45pm, never quite make it and have to go over even as they lament that they will be fussed at for going over time.

Most aides/nurses in hospitals or LTCS that I've worked in are not lazy or lally gag to the point of wasting time in lieu of running out of time to complete tasks.

And yes working of the clock is illegal and in some major companies I'ved worked at, is a fireable offence for the EMPLOYEE!!

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it's almost impossible to finish everything including charting in 8 hours for most nurses....

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I have worked at more than one employer where this practice was mandatory. At one place, I was told during the conversation when they hired me, that I had to clock out on time. I never gave it a second thought, seeing as how I was very, very familiar with the job market at that location at that time. When given the choice between jumping up and down about overtime laws and having a job, to this day, I choose having a job.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

It sucks, it's wrong, and there ain't nothing you can do about it.

Do whatever you can do to not get fired while you look for another job.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, PACU.

I'm terribly sorry I was vague. By "them" I wasn't referring to my DON. She is wonderful! The people I was referring to are the company owners who are never there to see how hard everyone works. They see numbers, not people. Again, sorry. :(

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Actually we have had this same discussion at work. If you clock out and then continue to document, technically they have proof you are working "off the clock" and it is a reason for termination among other things (like time card fraud). Also, you are technically accessing peoples charts, etc when you are off the clock--another violation. Be careful, you could loose not only your job but your license. What if something you document off the clock comes into a lawsuit? How could you have documented you did something when you weren't working? Lots of "ifs" if you work off the clock.

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Contact your local Labor Relations Board for the most up-to-date info.

Take photos of others who are working 'off the clock'.You are not the only one there.

Contact your supe or DON 5 minutes before your shift ends to say you are not quite finished and will need to stay over.

Or earlier if you can see it coming. Ask that person if they have time to do your last med rounds while you finish your charting.....

This is a health-care industry-wide issue, and would not be tolerated in most other businesses.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

You can NOT clock out and continue your work, that is illegal.

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You can NOT clock out and continue your work, that is illegal.
While I certainly don't condone the practice of working "off the clock", the question of whether it is legal or not depends on your position. It may be illegal if you are an hourly worker. It may not be if you are salaried.

If you are on the professional and administrative payroll (P&A), you are paid an annual salary, not an hourly wage and so "overtime" may be moot point. The same would be true if you were on the management payroll. It is not uncommon for P&A and management employees to work far in excess of 40 hours per week or to not use their full allotment of vacation days (effectively working for free). Some employers, such as those working of government contracts, have to keep track of these extra hours and report them (they reduce the effective hourly wages, something the government wants to know about). Many are not required to however, and don't.

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Specializes in Pedi.
While I certainly don't condone the practice of working "off the clock", the question of whether it is legal or not depends on your position. It may be illegal if you are an hourly worker. It may not be if you are salaried.

If you are on the professional and administrative payroll (P&A), you are paid an annual salary, not an hourly wage and so "overtime" may be moot point. The same would be true if you were on the management payroll. It is not uncommon for P&A and management employees to work far in excess of 40 hours per week or to not use their full allotment of vacation days (effectively working for free). Some employers, such as those working of government contracts, have to keep track of these extra hours and report them (they reduce the effective hourly wages, something the government wants to know about). Many are not required to however, and don't.

You are correct that it is not illegal for an exempt salaried employee. I have never known salaried employees to have to "clock in" and "clock out" though. The OP was talking about LPNs and CNAs, both of whom are always non-exempt employees in the United States. It is always illegal for hourly employees to work off the clock as hourly employees are always non-exempt and hourly employees must be paid for all hours worked.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
You are correct that it is not illegal for an exempt salaried employee. I have never known salaried employees to have to "clock in" and "clock out" though. The OP was talking about LPNs and CNAs, both of whom are always non-exempt employees in the United States. It is always illegal for hourly employees to work off the clock as hourly employees are always non-exempt and hourly employees must be paid for all hours worked.

While what you say is all true, it is very difficult for the bedside worker to baulk the employers and while highly illegal have been fired for trying to correct the wrong behavior of the "coporate" office. The coporate greed that has entered healthcare has no care for the patient other than their reimbursement rate and has no care for the worker other than how cheaply that care can be delivered.......safety not considered. Sad...:sniff:

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