Contagious CNA showing up for work!!!!

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What a crazy place I work in.:madface::angryfire The night CNA told me that she has a doctor's excuse to not work. She has a temp of 102, has the flu and is contagious and her doctor told her to not go to work. She told the RN supervisor what the doctor said. She told the newly hired CNA to show up for work and to wear a "mask." She strongly hinted to the CNA that she would lose her job if she didn't show up for work. What to do?:madface::madface::madface:

I called in sick to an ALF I worked at as a CNA. I had chills, coughing up nasty green sputum, fever of 102-103. The night nurse told me that I HAD to come in. I told her that it clearly stated in the handbook that sick employees were not to come in and expose the frail residents to illness. She told me that didn't matter, they needed me to work and I absolutely had to come in. Basically insinuating that I would lose my job if I didn't. So I came in almost passed out mid way through the day, the RN supervisor saw me and promptly sent me home. I was so sick I had to pull over on the way home to rest. That was 10 years ago. I am a person who rarely misses school or work due to illness, but now that I am older, I know how to stand up for myself. It's going to be a lot harder for someone to pressure me into coming in to work when I am truly ill.

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its asinine thinking. Why make your patients sick? I don't want people coming to work sick. I would rather that they stay home for a day to sleep off the bug than come in and make everyone else sick for a week. Does anyone really like code brown?

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I called in sick to an ALF I worked at as a CNA. I had chills, coughing up nasty green sputum, fever of 102-103. The night nurse told me that I HAD to come in. I told her that it clearly stated in the handbook that sick employees were not to come in and expose the frail residents to illness. She told me that didn't matter, they needed me to work and I absolutely had to come in. Basically insinuating that I would lose my job if I didn't. So I came in almost passed out mid way through the day, the RN supervisor saw me and promptly sent me home. I was so sick I had to pull over on the way home to rest. That was 10 years ago. I am a person who rarely misses school or work due to illness, but now that I am older, I know how to stand up for myself. It's going to be a lot harder for someone to pressure me into coming in to work when I am truly ill.

Maybe that is the difference with me . . .I'm older and wiser and won't put up with being treated badly.

How to teach that though?

steph

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I agree about the union. I had a supervisor bring up hints in my evaluation I should be considered lucky to have a job after I called in for 3 weeks with 3rd degree burns on my hands and needed silvadine, bandages, and PT. She also commented on my political choice for president.

Grant it never tell co-workers who you are gonna vote for and never try to haul a flaming frypan to the backdoor when you have an oven one foot down...sigh.

Crap happens.

I would have reported that conversation to her boss and made a consultation visit with an attorney.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
I would have reported that conversation to her boss and made a consultation visit with an attorney.

I don't mean to jump off my fence rail on the union issue, but even at will employees aren't without remedies when threatened with wrongful termination, beginning with the most simple of all--standing up for yourself. If memory serves, the CNA in the OP received an implied threat, which is to say, a bluff. If they intended to fire her, they'd have said so.

Granted, not every employer has the brains to value its employees, but most are aware of the investment they've made in a new hire, and they won't toss that out over trivia. And I doubt many healthcare facilities can withstand much publicity over coercing employees to come to work contagious.

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I don't mean to jump off my fence rail on the union issue, but even at will employees aren't without remedies when threatened with wrongful termination, beginning with the most simple of all--standing up for yourself. If memory serves, the CNA in the OP received an implied threat, which is to say, a bluff. If they intended to fire her, they'd have said so.

Granted, not every employer has the brains to value its employees, but most are aware of the investment they've made in a new hire, and they won't toss that out over trivia. And I doubt many healthcare facilities can withstand much publicity over coercing employees to come to work contagious.

I agree with this . .. especially with the nursing "shortage". It is a big investment to hire a new employee (orientation, preceptors, etc.).

Years ago someone once accused me of something that wasn't true and I went to the CEO, who said "There is a line of people outside waiting to get your job" and I stood up and said "fine, start interviewing". She backed down and I kept my job.

Not a union job either. I too don't want to make this into a union vs. nonunion thread . . . I just wish people had more self esteem and didn't put up with being treated so disrespectfully.

steph

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
I agree with this . .. especially with the nursing "shortage". It is a big investment to hire a new employee (orientation, preceptors, etc.).

Years ago someone once accused me of something that wasn't true and I went to the CEO, who said "There is a line of people outside waiting to get your job" and I stood up and said "fine, start interviewing". She backed down and I kept my job.

Not a union job either. I too don't want to make this into a union vs. nonunion thread . . . I just wish people had more self esteem and didn't put up with being treated so disrespectfully

Been there and done that, too.

There are days when we really think alike, Steph. (don't we have the same BD?)

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

It's apparently a universal problem. I don't work in a Assisted Living Facility but in acute care. It is always assumed that you are faking it when you call off. Our discipline policy is based on 3% of hours scheduled. The first counseling for excessive sick time is to sign a form that says you will get healthier-it gets worse from there. It's no wonder so many staff (about 15%) have sought ongoing FMLA protection for every ailment no matter how minor. Our union advises staff to take FMLA forms to thier doctor with every call off of over 2 days. I have to feel sory for the staff member that came in sick. I'm sure she didn't want to transmit her illness to patients and coworkers but the stigma and possible job consequences force us to make choices we otherwise wouldn't make.

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Good info in your post suanna. I will note it for future reference. There is a big difference between someone who is calling off because they are genuinely ill and don't want to transmit disease which could possibly lead to the death of immunucompromised patients, and the shirker who calls off because of a "hot date". Sometimes admin does not, or cares not, to make the distinction.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

As far as people having more self-esteem, I'd like to say that I respectfully went to work for 4 months with the whooping cough, wore a mask, continued to be misdiagnosed and finally went into respiratory distress at work. My Supervisor posted my job without telling me, or talking to me.

When we had "our" disscusion, I had no self-esteem problems, or a problem standing up for myself, I spoke to her in terms of the legality she just placed herself in. I had mandatory union dues. I chose to work there knowing full and well that I was working with a contract. It just so happens the union stewards did not have self esteem issues either and fined the facility.

Please do not lump those of us that have chosen a job (union or not) as having low self esteem issues. I believe that was a consenus in the "know" about knowing what you are getting into by accepting the job. Yes, we all get sick, some of us have experienced near-death situations, and it isn't funny, and it should not be degrading. All of this post is in my opinion and if I have offended anyone, please reread the previous posts and let's stop this nonsense.

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I just wish people had more self esteem and didn't put up with being treated so disrespectfully.

steph

My issue here is that some of the posters on this thread seem to think that an employer cannot fire you for failing or refusing to work when you are sick. A few notes ago, I even saw the phrase "wrongful termination" used.

It is not illegal for an employer to fire you for failing to work when you are sick. In fact, it's perfectly legal. (Documented disabilities are another issue.) Will a court ultimately side with you? Maybe -- but you've got to fight a heck of a legal battle to find out.

As for the claim that you have "a contract" because you have an understanding of your working conditions when you accept a job as verbally described, you do not have a contract. I truly hope you don't learn this the hard way.

As Abraham Lincoln once said, a verbal contract is not worth the paper it is written on.

I'm done.

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Been there and done that, too.

There are days when we really think alike, Steph. (don't we have the same BD?)

Yep, we do have the same birthday, I'm just a few years older. ;)

Regarding self-esteem . . . I don't mean to lump everyone into that category. Just the ones who don't have self-esteem.

As to the contract, I signed a paper contract, stating my wages, benefits, raises, pay increases for additional certification and education, etc.

Of course, there are still people in this world who lie and cheat . . . . I just dealt with one this morning in relation to my COBRA insurance. :madface:

steph

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