Employer's negative response to Reserves

[tahoe77]

3 years ICU/CCU experience. CCRN.

I started work at teaching/research hospital in the CCU one month ago. I am

super happy here, loving the job. I have been interested in the Air Force

and joining as a reservist at some point in the future. I haven't even

talked to a recruiter only looked up about it on the internet. Well

I emailed my new manager and asked her what she thought about

my joining the reserves in the future and that I had not joined and that

I just wanted to "test the waters" with her and see what she thought.

Her response was very negative. I was surprised that a teaching facililty

would not recognize the clear advantage of having military nurses among

their staff.

She said that I should have told her about this when I interviewed

and that if I wasn't committed to (hospital) I needed to come see her

immediately. She inferred that I was not committed to my new position

simply because I had expressed interest in the reserves!

Also she said the vacation leave was already granted for 2011 and

that I didn't have enough PTO anyway.

I emailed her back saying that all I had done was to research

the idea, hadn't even TALKED to a recruiter and that I would

revisit the idea in 2012, next year given her response.

I am worried she might now let me go as I am in the first 90

days of my employment, the probationary period because I

have expressed interest in the reserves. It's really

ashame that she would react so negatively when all I did

was ask what she thought to get her feed back about the

subject?. I was very nice about it.

As much as I like this job, I find the lack of support for the

military making me rethink my position there. It's a shame

more hospitals don't support the members of the military.

Military nurses are tough and having one on your civilian

unit is a total privilege.

Any one have any similar experience? Thoughts on this?

[79Tango]

I would encourage you to go for it.. Go find a recruiter and submit your packet! You will not regret your decsion.

What youve encountered is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the discrimination and stereo typing that happens to many Veterans & Prior Service Military.

Many think we are still crazy from the war and are just waiting to "Freak Out" on someone. Others will say "your not going to kick my butt, if I schedule you this weekend?" Others will hang on everything you say waiting to catch you up on some BS sexual harrassment or inapropriate language.. They assume we go home and night to clean weapons and sharpen our knives.

The nice thing about the Reserves is when the s*** gets thick at work you can volunteer for active duty assignments anywhere from 2weeks to 2months depending on the mission. You slap those orders on your boss and tell them to keep your seat warm.

[Cursed Irishman]

The standard is this: do not tell them you are a member of the reserve until you have started work. While it is legislatively incorrect to not choose someone due to service, the easy way out of it is to say "there are more qualified applicants". Just tell them after you've already started, then if any negative consequences result, you have a fair discrimination suit, which tend to be resolved quickly.

[tahoe77]

I would probably win a suit but I still would have lost my job. Neither of which are appealing.

I gotta decide what I want to deal with.

I guess if my supervisor is gonna react this way

its not really a place I want to be in the long term anyway so I am probably

leaning towards joining anyway. Plus it will probably take about 9 months to

get through the application process if I started it now, if I am accepted, which would be 2012 and more easy for my supervisor to stomach.

[AndyRN]

Tahoe77-

I say go for it. Never know... you may be that one to get in. A Critical Care nurse with a CCRN (in my opinion) has a greater chance than one without those qualifications. Consider Flight nursing or CCAT (Critical Care Air Transport) nursing… it may make your chances to get in even greater.

Research ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve), it should give you plenty information about your rights on the job. There may be a number to call for more info. Your employer CANNOT make anyone use PTO time for military days. It’s your choice.

During my interview, I did mention that I was a reservist (it’s on my resume) and the fact that I do more than a weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. Often times, I’m away from my job 4-5 days a month. I was told it was not a problem and they would work with me. I was offered the position the very next day. I immediately gave my Nurse Manager my schedule for the year with details of the extra days I would need to travel because my home unit is 12 hours away (I’d relocated to another state and hadn’t found a closer unit). Her comment to me was…. “You need to find a closer unit” and her tone was VERY negative. I held my tongue….

For the first few months, my NM used my PTO for the days I was away on military duty without my permission and scheduled me to work on my weekends off. When I asked her to stop using my PTO… I was told that anytime missed from work required PTO and since my weekend to work fell on my drill weekend, I had to make that up. Yeah…. I was livid. I did my research and printed all the information from ESGR and gave it to her, needless to say, I haven’t had any other problems since.

[tahoe77]

Tahoe77-

I say go for it. Never know... you may be that one to get in. A Critical Care nurse with a CCRN (in my opinion) has a greater chance than one without those qualifications. Consider Flight nursing or CCAT (Critical Care Air Transport) nursing... it may make your chances to get in even greater.

Research ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve), it should give you plenty information about your rights on the job. There may be a number to call for more info. Your employer CANNOT make anyone use PTO time for military days. It's your choice.

During my interview, I did mention that I was a reservist (it's on my resume) and the fact that I do more than a weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. Often times, I'm away from my job 4-5 days a month. I was told it was not a problem and they would work with me. I was offered the position the very next day. I immediately gave my Nurse Manager my schedule for the year with details of the extra days I would need to travel because my home unit is 12 hours away (I'd relocated to another state and hadn't found a closer unit). Her comment to me was.... "You need to find a closer unit" and her tone was VERY negative. I held my tongue....

For the first few months, my NM used my PTO for the days I was away on military duty without my permission and scheduled me to work on my weekends off. When I asked her to stop using my PTO... I was told that anytime missed from work required PTO and since my weekend to work fell on my drill weekend, I had to make that up. Yeah.... I was livid. I did my research and printed all the information from ESGR and gave it to her, needless to say, I haven't had any other problems since.

I didnt know that about the PTO and the reserves. I am not very happy with the management at my new job and still in the 90 day beginning period of my position and they can let me go at any time.

I want to join and will look more into it after the 90 day period. ARe you sure they can't use one of your

off weekends at your hospital job for your one weekend a month duty? That would mean only working

one weekend a month at the hospital and sounds great to me! Its seems like your off weekend is your off weekend and they can't use your PTO for that. With the way my management reacted I am not surprised at all by their negative response to you. It seems like they will try to get away with whatever they can. I will look into the ESGR.

CCAT looks so awesome! that's what I want to do. What branch are you in?

Thanks for the positive. Am often surprised by the negative things people say here without even knowing me.

[AndyRN]

Tahoe77-

The hospital has a policy that any weekend that is missed has to be made up (thus me working on my off weekend). Military time shouldn't have to be made up... in my opinion, that's penalizing me for time I need off for military duty/training. I did call HR and was told it was up to my NM. I spoke with my NM about changing my rotation/weekends because I would've always been on the job versus enjoying adequate time off (it never happen). I didn't make a stink about it... but everything worked out in my favor. Often times, I did work only one weekend a month and then there were times when my drill weekend fell on the 2nd weekend which was my off weekend so it worked out.

Good Luck with everything and I'm in the Air Force Reserves.