Does an employer have to have staff phone numbers?

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 24, 2011

I considered changing my number and not giving work the new one when my manager was calling 2-3 times per day on issues that could have waited for a week (or more). They DO need your number because emergencies are bound to come up. Turn off the ringer, turn on the voicemail. You can also tell them that you're easier to reach via email, and try to answer emails in a timely fashion so they get trained to use it.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2011

I don't about any legalities of not giving your number however I prefer if my job have my number. If I made a med error or any other mistake and they have a question about a patient I would want to provide any information I can for the well being of the patient. I had made an error at work one day and my boss was able to reach me to question me about a resident.

Caller ID and voicemail is the best !!! whenever my job calls I look at the caller ID and send them to voicemail. If they want me to come in on my day off, guess what they get no call back !

sharpeimom · Mar 24, 2011

i was very tired following one overnight psych shift and did something i had always sworn i'd never do.

took the keys home with me. the hospital had a spare set, but they were at home with another rn, and not coming back until the next day. they called my cellphone, i turned right around and went back and handed them over.

caliotter3 · Mar 24, 2011

I can think of at least two instances when I was called for something important having to do with something that had happened at work. They weren't calling to ask me to come in to work extra. I can see the necessity. But I have also told them my number is unpublished so I would appreciate it not showing up on a roster for anyone to see. They will comply with that reasonable request.

MoLee228 · Mar 24, 2011

Go in sometimes if they call, it shows that you're dependable, you don't want to look like a slacker...even tho it is your day off.

Personally, I pick up a lot of overtime because I want the extra money. However, there are LOTS of nurses in my unit who NEVER work an hour of overtime and that is just fine. Nobody looks at them like they are slackers. It's hard enough to do your scheduled time! There is absolutely no reason any nurse should feel obligated to come in and work overtime when they were not scheduled to do so (except for maybe a major local disaster with lots of injured/ill...that changes things a little). If the unit is understaffed, that is management's problem, not the staff nurse. Heck, would it REALLY kill the nurse managers to get their hands dirty and jump into staffing every now and then? I think not.

But my main point to the OP is this: DO NOT feel guilty not coming in extra. You signed up for however many hours a week, and that is the number of hours you are obligated to work. If you don't want them calling you, don't give them your phone number. Or you can always just not answer and you know they will leave a voicemail if it is something urgent, then you can call back if you wish. Don't feel guilty though. You're not a slacker.

MoLee228 · Mar 24, 2011

however, remember...there is NO longer a nursing shortage. Just something to keep in mind. If you are NOT willing to go the extra mile, there are MANY others who will. And, IMO, when you pick up an extra shift, your thanks is your time and half on your paycheck.

As I've already said, I work tons of overtime, so I'm not defending myself here but the many fantastic nurses I work with who do their required hours and not a minute more.

First, as a nurse you do not have to work overtime to "go the extra mile." In my opinion, quality trumps quantity when it comes to nursing. My performance and attitude severely deteriorates when I'm nearing the end of my fifth twelve hour shift in a row. I'm still safe, and I choose to work the overtime so I'm not complaining, but nurses who choose to "go the extra mile" by providing exceptional care are more valuable IMO than those who will do the bare minimum but are willing to pick up extra shifts.

The threatening tone of your post is very disturbing to me. If a quality nurse got fired because he/she was unwilling to work overtime, sounds like a serious issue and possibly a legal one. If you signed up for a job that required 40 hours/week, and you do a darn good job for those 40 hours/week, I don't see the problem. Any legal people on here know if an employer can fire an employee exclusively for not working overtime (assuming it was not part of the original terms of employment)?

Lastly, time and a half is why I pick up extra shifts. It sounds like you are a nurse manager, so let me ask you this: would it really kill you to say "Thank you," to the nurse who came in on their day off when your unit was short? I'm so glad you are not my NM. A simple thank you goes a long way, and I don't understand why it's so hard to say for some people. Sure, we're making more for those hours, but if we did not come in you might have to (GASP) pick up an assignment for the shift! Just think about that next time. Say thank you for Christ's sake.

AKA_Glamour_Pearl · Mar 24, 2011

I actually think it's very important that your employer has your number. It could be beneficial to you.

For example, right now I'm precepting at a hospital that is almost 2hours from my home. Last night my preceptor called to let me know that she had become ill and that she would not be in this morning. Now, if she didn't have my number I would have put a million dollars of gas into my car at 4am, driven the nearly 2 hours only to be sent back home for the day. That makes for a really bad day.

In your situation, the same thing could occur. Your job could be calling to tell you that census is low or some event occurred and you don't have to come in that day, or that you needed to come in later. You'd probably be really upset when you got there and they sent you home or you had to wait around until you could clock in, or you took the "normal" route to work and you were stuck in that 5-mile long traffic jam because an 18wheeler was overturned.... and you were in some remote location and had to "tinkle". :0

If your employer had your number they could have told you all of that. There's a lot of ways that you could look at the situation. It's not always your employer calling you to ask you to come in. If that is the case, you could always have something to do. You don't even have to answer your phone if you feel like that's the issue. Just listen to the voicemail afterwards and then decide if you want to call them back, but they SHOULD have a valid number for you. Just my opinion.

Emergency RN · Mar 24, 2011

Providing your employer a valid point of contact is considered part and parcel of being a professional. Suppose the shoe was on the other foot, that you had no way to reach your boss except to see him or her at work; would you consider that to be a professionally responsible arrangement? Professionalism really is a two way street.

Granted, one may not want overtime or even want to be called on a day off, but one can always just decline the overtime. Additionally, like many others have already stated, you can always screen the calls with voice mail or an answering machine. The point is, that an employer can officially reach a worker whenever they need to, and that in and of itself is a part of the unspoken mark of a professional that doesn't need to be said. In this day and age, we're all expected to remain in contact with the job.

The ED I work for has working numbers and emails for all staff (doctors, nurses, all the way down to clerks and housekeepers) as a part of their emergency preparedness posture. They have to have a way to reach staff during disasters in order to call in as much help as possible, and usually on very short notice. Not having a number or being given a fake or non working one is simply not an option. IMHO, such antics, if willful, is not only childishly unprofessional of the employee, it is ultimately counterproductive to both parties.

David13, MSN, RN · Mar 24, 2011

There are certainly reasons why your employer needs a method to get in touch with you, whether that be a telephone number, email, etc.

However, unless you are being paid to be on call, no employer has the right to demand to have 24 hour/7 days per week access to an employee. How do they know that you didn't go out of town on your day off or are unavailable for some other reason?

Unless you are on call (and being compensated for it), use your discretion in answering any work related calls during your time away from work. If the matter is urgent, your employer should leave a message and you can return the call on an as needed basis.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 25, 2011

Not having a number or being given a fake or non working one ... is not only childishly unprofessional of the employee, it is ultimately counterproductive to both parties.

So is

-maintaining only bare minimum staff

-expecting full time employees to cover sick calls regularly

-guilt tripping anyone that will answer the phone

-not thanking the employees that work extra time at the employer's request

-making multiple calls for the same issue, just in case someone changes their mind

-mandating overtime to the unlucky person who happens to pick up

Laboratorian · Mar 25, 2011

Don't be afraid to answer the phone.

They may try and trick you and call from a different number.

I aways say I'm at work or I don't have a baby sitter, or I'm out of town.

Emergency RN · Mar 25, 2011

Not having a number or being given a fake or non working one ... is not only childishly unprofessional of the employee, it is ultimately counterproductive to both parties.
So is
-maintaining only bare minimum staff
-expecting full time employees to cover sick calls regularly
-guilt tripping anyone that will answer the phone
-not thanking the employees that work extra time at the employer's request
-making multiple calls for the same issue, just in case someone changes their mind
-mandating overtime to the unlucky person who happens to pick up

Just because an employer acts unfairly is not any reason for one to act unprofessionally; if it comes to the point where employer and employee have to resort to such confrontational gamesmanship methods against one another, then IMHO, one really should seek employment elsewhere.

BTW, this is exactly why Nursing Unions are needed.