Coming in before your shift in blizzards...

[nd deb]

Can a nursing home require staff to be at the facility a shift or more before their actual shift starts when there is a snowstorm or blizzard? If so, aren't they supposely required to pay a prn wage while a staff member sits there and waits. The place I work at has this policy that you come before the storm hits or you find your own replacement. Many times there is no one available to call as a replacement. As a result you may end up coming a whole day or more before you work. Also, if it is nasty out and we are scheduled to work the following nite shift, we are encouraged not to go home but rather stay at the facility or someplace in town.

[mamamerlee, LPN]

If they want you to stay, THEY should put you up somewhere safe, and provide either actual meals, or a per diem for you to buy meals. It's not reasonable to expect people to be available more than a few hours before their shift - they have families that may need special care, or need to arrange for child care.

[nd deb]

They let staff sleep in the family room in one of the recliners or couch; activity room on the floor, on floor or pt bench in pt room; and/or you can take a resident bed that isn't occupied. I think we are still to pay for meals. They don't really have an appropriate place for staff to shower in.

If you call and say you aren't able to make it in due to roads, weather, you then get written up. So in a way they encourages staff to get in there before the storm hits, sometimes they are there a whole day or 2 before their scheduled shift.

[elkpark]

If you call and say you aren't able to make it in due to roads, weather, you then get written up. So in a way they encourages staff to get in there before the storm hits, sometimes they are there a whole day or 2 before their scheduled shift.

You've answered your own question -- they can't require you to come in to work early, but they can sure penalize or even fire you if you fail to show up for work because of the weather/road conditions.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I had to stay the night at work due to a blizzard. They provided meals and rooms at the facility. No one could leave unless management said so. I had to pick up extra shifts but no doubles.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I never even wondered if it can be required. I just leave super early with an over night bag because I know other people won't make it.

It's health care, not the grocery store.

[Moogie]

They let staff sleep in the family room in one of the recliners or couch; activity room on the floor, on floor or pt bench in pt room; and/or you can take a resident bed that isn't occupied. I think we are still to pay for meals. They don't really have an appropriate place for staff to shower in.

If you call and say you aren't able to make it in due to roads, weather, you then get written up. So in a way they encourages staff to get in there before the storm hits, sometimes they are there a whole day or 2 before their scheduled shift.

Utterly ridiculous. If you're required to get to work before a storm hits, the facility should at least provide your meals for free and make sure you have a decent place to sleep if you have to stay overnight.

BTW, is administration also willing to come in early or extra if there's a storm? I honestly do not believe a manager should ask the staff to do something like come in early if there's a storm (or stay late) unless he/she is willing to do it as well.

[nd deb]

They usually get out of it.. I don't ever see them offer to come in and cover for someone that lives out of town a ways.

[calliesue]

Our administrator will pick you up if you can't make it. I just leave super early . Last bad storm I came in at 10p and slept on the couch so I would not have to drive in early am on solid ice.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I made the 40 miles to work yesterday in a foot and a half of snow that hadn't been completely cleared and was still falling heavily. Slow and slippery going. Downshifting a lot helped.

EVERY clinical person made it. I was proud of us.