Do you think this is fair?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm in the weekend program at work, and work every single weekened. I only work Sat & Sun, so I am considered part time. We have 4 weekenders on my unit, and as a result, the rest of the regular staff only end up having to work maybe 1 weekend shift every 1.5-2 months.

Since I'm a weekend person, I get the higher weekend rate. If a holiday happens to fall on a weekend, I have to work it, and I do NOT get time and a half like the rest of the staff, because I'm already paid at "a higher rate"- but when you do the math, the regular staff are making more hourly than me on holidays.

Not only do I have to work these holidays at my regular rate, I am not allowed to request vacation time if it's a holiday.

So basically, I don't make any extra working on a holiday, I don't have an extra holiday requirement because I'm part time weekend staff, but I'm denied any requests to take a holiday off because "that's not allowed". Does that seem right to you? It seems to me that since I don't make holiday pay and don't have an extra holiday requirement like the rest of the staff, I should be allowed to take the holiday off if I request it (not to mention I have #2 seniority on this unit). Also, as a result, a lot of regular staff get out of working a weekend holiday because the weekend people have already filled in most of the slots.

I have to admit, I have a "thing" for when a situation seems unfair and get worked up about it- but am open to someone else's input and perspective to tell me I am looking at things incorrectly. My manager does not seem to understand where I'm coming from. It's hard when I have NO family time because I'm working every weekend, and then I miss out on family time during a holiday too because it happens to fall on a weekend. And no, I don't think anyone would willingly switch with me to work on a holiday.

Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Wow, and you call yourself professionals??? I would hope that you wouldn't be my nurse one day with all the negativity and unnecessary remarks!!

I just wonder how "great" your attitude is at work?

Your words will haunt you when you are a nurse. I promise--when a student says the same thing about you.

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I work weekends only. I used to get paid a bit more, don't get benefits and don't get any OT or holiday pay. That was fine by me because I got paid at a higher rate. That's what I signed up for so that is the way it went.

Now...what makes me a bit miffed is that I find out my "premium rate" is the new rate for the pt and ft nurses.

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Different strokes, for different folks. The weekend's only positions where I work are held by the highest seniority staff because:

1) 25% weekend differential

2) Weekends are usually very "kick back" because there are no scheduled surgeries and fewer transports. Teaching rounds are shorter.

People fight for the "weekends only" positions, if and when they open up.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Ruby, thanks for taking this up in defense of people's opinions and saving me from excoriating that stupid--YES--STUPID student.

Another point for experience.

uhm, i am pretty sure that person is no longer a student. Regardless asking for fair pay has no correlation with professionalism. I think it shows professionalism that you are taking the initiative to investigate the circumstances and standing up for what you think is fair :)

Although, im just an RN student.... I worked in a pharmacy as a tech for many years and then in a chiropractic office, it is horrible to feel like you are being stiffed out of money that you work hard for, and that you need.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

although, im just an rn student.... i worked in a pharmacy as a tech for many years and then in a chiropractic office, it is horrible to feel like you are being stiffed out of money that you work hard for, and that you need.

two points:

first, you're not studying for your rn, nor are you an rn student. you are in a program, whether adn, bsn or msn, that will not award you a license upon graduation. no license, you're not a nurse. i don't know why that irritates me so much, but it's like fingernails on chalkboard when someone calls themselves an "rn student." you're a nursing student. when (if) you graduate, you'll have a degree. whether or not you become a nurse depends upon passing the nclex.

second, the op is not being stiffed out of money that she works hard for nor is the situation unfair. she might not like it much right now, with the holidays coming up and being on saturday. but she agreed to the situation when she took the job, and most years christmas and new year's aren't on the weekends. if the situation no longer works for her, she is free to request a change to a more normal schedule where she works more holidays and fewer weekends.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
two points:

first, you're not studying for your rn, nor are you an rn student. you are in a program, whether adn, bsn or msn, that will not award you a license upon graduation. no license, you're not a nurse. i don't know why that irritates me so much, but it's like fingernails on chalkboard when someone calls themselves an "rn student." you're a nursing student. when (if) you graduate, you'll have a degree. whether or not you become a nurse depends upon passing the nclex.

i thought it was just me.

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two points:

first, you're not studying for your rn, nor are you an rn student. you are in a program, whether adn, bsn or msn, that will not award you a license upon graduation. no license, you're not a nurse. i don't know why that irritates me so much, but it's like fingernails on chalkboard when someone calls themselves an "rn student." you're a nursing student. when (if) you graduate, you'll have a degree. whether or not you become a nurse depends upon passing the nclex.

second, the op is not being stiffed out of money that she works hard for nor is the situation unfair. she might not like it much right now, with the holidays coming up and being on saturday. but she agreed to the situation when she took the job, and most years christmas and new year's aren't on the weekends. if the situation no longer works for her, she is free to request a change to a more normal schedule where she works more holidays and fewer weekends.

i just don't get how not getting paid 1.5 for the holiday isn't getting stiffed out of money. it's no different then if the holiday fell during the week, and the people working the week had to work it and not get paid 1.5 the higher weekend pay is to work the weekend, totally separate issue from holidays.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i just don't get how not getting paid 1.5 for the holiday isn't getting stiffed out of money. it's no different then if the holiday fell during the week, and the people working the week had to work it and not get paid 1.5 the higher weekend pay is to work the weekend, totally separate issue from holidays.

unless you believe the op is getting singled out to be "stiffed out of" holiday pay, it's not unfair. presumably all other weekend only employees at that institution are being paid exactly the same way as the op. and presumably she knew how she'd be getting paid before she agreed to work weekends only. if she didn't know, it's unfortunate for her but not unfair.

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unless you believe the op is getting singled out to be "stiffed out of" holiday pay, it's not unfair. presumably all other weekend only employees at that institution are being paid exactly the same way as the op. and presumably she knew how she'd be getting paid before she agreed to work weekends only. if she didn't know, it's unfortunate for her but not unfair.

that makes no sense. it doesn't matter what agreement you make to work certain days, holiday pay is universal, not a pick and choose perk. if the hospital's policy is to pay time and a half for working holidays, they have to pay all employees time and a half.

and that certainly is a whole ton of presuming which is a wonderful synonym of assume.

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That makes no sense. It doesn't matter what agreement you make to work certain days, holiday pay is universal, not a pick and choose perk. if the hospital's policy is to pay time and a half for working holidays, they have to pay all employees time and a half.

actually, i believe holiday pay is a perk for full-time employees only.

leslie

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actually, i believe holiday pay is a perk for full-time employees only.

leslie

really?? Cause every facility I've worked at paid it to all non-exempt employees who work the holiday. As long as hospital policy was to pay time and a half for that holiday, all non-exempt employees are to get time and half. Full time, part time, PRN.
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The hospital where I work does not pay time and a half for holidays to anyone.

Different facilities have different policies. You can't assume that because XYZ Healthcare handled things one way that ABC Health Systems will follow suit. It's important to scope out the details when deciding whether or not to take a new job.

That isn't to say that employees can't try to change policies with which they are unhappy. They can certainly use whatever means they have to lobby for modifications in the status quo. But they will have to make a case for the improvements they want, and it will probably have to be more compelling than saying the "unfair" condition came as a surprise.

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