Compensation Policies

[JaneyW]

Any of you out there per diems?? I am a per diem and the first to be put 'on call' for low census. My hospital has always had a policy of paying $5/hr for being put on call and then time and a half if/when you are actually called in. Now they want to take away the time and a half and make it just straight time if called in.

They also used to pay us time and a half for 'In House Registry' hours which were any hours above and beyond our normal working week. As per diems, we have to work one 12 hour shift a week and each shift we work beyond that is paid at in-house rates. They always used to count a shift we were put on call for as a shift worked because it was a hospital convenience day and beyond our control. Now they don't want to count the shifts as worked and that effects our rate for our second shift, etc.

Needless to say, I am not very happy about all this. :angryfire I am being told that other hospitals don't pay in-house to per diems and don't count on-call shifts as worked. I'm not talking about designated on-call shifts, but shifts when you are scheduled and they put you on call because of census.

So, what do your hospitals do and where are you? I am in southern California.

Thanks!!!!

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Your lucky if you have gotten 5 bucks for on call status. We get 2 and that was just raised in the last couple years. We do get credit if we are called off because of census, but all pay for any hours worked is straight time unless you go over 40 in the week.

I dont feel that you not getting credit for those hours if you were called off because of no fault of yours is right. I was per-diem for 2 years and probly only worked about 6 months of my required hours per month. I maintained my senoirty that way.

Better check you HR policies. Some places have policy in place if you dont work a certain number of hours in a year for your position you are automatically terminated. Be careful they cant pull that on ya. But if they are telling you that it doesnt count as your required time if THEY call you off, that policy may be in place where you work.

[JaneyW]

Your lucky if you have gotten 5 bucks for on call status. We get 2 and that was just raised in the last couple years. We do get credit if we are called off because of census, but all pay for any hours worked is straight time unless you go over 40 in the week.

I dont feel that you not getting credit for those hours if you were called off because of no fault of yours is right. I was per-diem for 2 years and probly only worked about 6 months of my required hours per month. I maintained my senoirty that way.

Better check you HR policies. Some places have policy in place if you dont work a certain number of hours in a year for your position you are automatically terminated. Be careful they cant pull that on ya. But if they are telling you that it doesnt count as your required time if THEY call you off, that policy may be in place where you work.

California is an at-will state so they could terminate me at any time for any reason. I'm not worried about not getting enough hours--just about them changing the rules on us all of a sudden with NO WRITTEN POLICY. We used to be a non-profit but were purchased by UHS last year. Since the first of the year they have implemented the kronos time keeping system and are changing the rules on us almost weekly as they try to figure out how to do it.

I have called HR and have been told they don't have a written policy for per diems right now regarding hours requirement or in house registry. It's very frustrating. I like where I work very much and don't want to leave over this. I am just curious as to how they do it elsewhere.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I am treated very fairly where I work. When it's time to "low census" someone, my name goes in the hat with the FTE's. We all take turns, so it's not always ME getting called off. We staff creatively, also, in that we will split it among us. Sometimes we each will get off the clock for a couple of hours, remaining "in house" (taking a break) and each only loses a few hours that way, versus a whole shift. I also am lucky in that I am regularly scheduled a weekend night every week. So I work every week, at least one shift, unless there is a low census situation and it's my turn to go.

In return, I am very willing to cover sick calls, vacations, and switch with people who need nights off for various reasons. I guess this is why they work with me and treat me so well. I feel very fortunate. I stay on as "per diem" also, because, like you said, I do gain seniority along with the FTE's. It's a good deal I have.

Look around and see, maybe you can take another perdiem job (and keep this one). Nothing saying you can't have two of them, if you are not getting enough hours where you are now. I had to do that for a while when things were extremely slow and I was getting called off constantly. I think they saw I was able and willing to work elsewhere and I was. I had no qualms about taking care of myself. I give and I get a little. I have a very good working relationship with the people at my unit. They will work with me and that is a real plus.

And it does not hurt me that I work for a unionized hospital, so no rules are changed without notice for us.