Contacted multiple times for same empty shift

They seem to want you to work. Have you given it a second thought? That's probably them calling right now.

If they are demanding that you call them back it is in your best interests to do so. Obviously once you are on the phone they plan to try and guilt/ pressure you into accepting the shift. Be ready to politely and firm restate "I am unavailable".

If they are demanding that you call them back it is in your best interests to do so..

I completely disagree. IMO, my personal time is my own and I owe my employer nothing when I'm off the clock.

Why tell them you 'cant' come in? That already implies that you feel guilty, which gives them something to grab onto.

Tell them you 'don't want' to come in.

If they are demanding that you call them back it is in your best interests to do so.

Over time it is often in one's best interest to maintain appropriate boundaries with regard to this. It can be very difficult to prioritize family and other obligations when constantly faced with the guilt routine. Having to say, "No, I can't help" repeatedly doesn't feel good (in and of itself). Feeling pressured to explain your personal plans and/or give a rationale for why you need to say no - which someone will undoubtedly make a judgment about...none of this is good. This is a pretty common occurrence in the ED; daily or even more than daily in some places.

The kind and professional thing is to let them know one is unavailable - which the OP has already done.

If they are demanding that you call them back it is in your best interests to do so. Obviously once you are on the phone they plan to try and guilt/ pressure you into accepting the shift. Be ready to politely and firm restate "I am unavailable".

I really don't think OP should feel obligated to do that unless OP was on call. If you're not on call, employers should respect time off. OP could always say something like "I was unable to return your call because I was sleeping....or at a movie....or just don't have my phone by me at every waking moment." Or if OP is as snarky as I can sometimes be, say something like "oh I didn't know I had signed paperwork indicated I was accepting an on call position!"

this was how it was for me at a previous facility. They would send out texts-which is fine. but then charge would start personally calling people individually. Asking questions like WHY cant you come in etc??

I'm on vacation. I left a note on the schedule not to call me between date A &B. They called two days into my vacation. I contacted a coworker to put the note BACK on the schedule that someone had removed, because, obviously, they didn't get my point!

Don't ever feel guilty about not calling back, or for not answering when they call. I tell people all the time "This is my job, not my life."

Also, I get mad when people call me in the middle of the day if I'm sleeping; how about I call you in the middle of the night to see if you want to work? OH WAIT, you're already on the schedule, SORRY to wake you!