Forced retention?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I recently accepted a job offer at another hospital. The manager of the floor on which I'm currently working told me today that he didn't have to let me go at the end of my 2 weeks notice...that if the staffing needs weren't met he could make me work after my resignation date (I gave just over 2 full weeks notice). Has anyone experienced this before? Is it true? I live in TN, my husband said that I couldn't be forced to stay in a job in TN, that it's a "right-to-work" state--and that a person can be hired/fired/quit on a single day's notice unless you're a contract employee... I actually have a good rapport at my current location and I really don't want to leave on a bad note. I'd appreciate anyone's advice/experience with regards to this matter. Thanks...

Specializes in MDS coordinator, hospice, ortho/ neuro.

If you don't have a signed contract, or some kind of agreement to work a certain # of years because they paid your tuition he can't make you stay. You aren't union are you?

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I'm sorry. I misread the original post and therefore responded in a way that didn't match the situation.

llg

Specializes in Emergency.

Not as you state it. I have had and heard of managers asking if you can stay maybe a week or two longer or negotiating a longer period of time. Personally I would ask the HR department at that hospital to see what their opinion of that comment.

Rj:cool:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Last time I checked America was a free country without forced labor.

Good luck.

One question about this situation if you don't mind. Did you give your two week notice to go to another facility that is part of the same healthcare organization for which you already work? The large healthcare organization for which I used to work would permit you to be held up to six weeks by your manager before you transfered to another unit.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Agreed if it is a health care facility managed by your hospital they may very well be able to hold up your "transfer" until their staffing needs are met. If not then the 2 weeks is all you are obligated to do. But,, dont burn bridges, get with HR or find your employee handbook and see what their policy is, and adhere to it.

We have a major hospital that has many outlying facilities they manage, and this kind of thing goes on all the time when people go from one to another. Even though the pay is different at each facility, if someone wants to go from a clinic to the hospital unit for instance, their transfer can be held until the staffing situation is accomodated.

I recently accepted a job offer at another hospital. The manager of the floor on which I'm currently working told me today that he didn't have to let me go at the end of my 2 weeks notice...that if the staffing needs weren't met he could make me work after my resignation date (I gave just over 2 full weeks notice). Has anyone experienced this before? Is it true? I live in TN, my husband said that I couldn't be forced to stay in a job in TN, that it's a "right-to-work" state--and that a person can be hired/fired/quit on a single day's notice unless you're a contract employee... I actually have a good rapport at my current location and I really don't want to leave on a bad note. I'd appreciate anyone's advice/experience with regards to this matter. Thanks...

If you are in a right to work state, you should be able to terminate whenever you want just as your employer can terminate you whenever they want. Did you sign a contract? Did you sign on to work there after school for a certain period of time? If you did, are you leaving before your time is out? Was there something in your employment contract or papers that says how much notice you are required to give?

Unless you have some form of signed contract I don't see where they can keep you beyond your resignation date unless there was some document you signed that gave up that right to actually leave when you resign.

Anyone else know of anything like this? I'm stumped!

I recently accepted a job offer at another hospital. The manager of the floor on which I'm currently working told me today that he didn't have to let me go at the end of my 2 weeks notice...that if the staffing needs weren't met he could make me work after my resignation date (I gave just over 2 full weeks notice). Has anyone experienced this before? Is it true? I live in TN, my husband said that I couldn't be forced to stay in a job in TN, that it's a "right-to-work" state--and that a person can be hired/fired/quit on a single day's notice unless you're a contract employee... I actually have a good rapport at my current location and I really don't want to leave on a bad note. I'd appreciate anyone's advice/experience with regards to this matter. Thanks...

I also agree, though, that if you are leaving one position for another but in a related facility, they may be able to hold up your change which would be a transfer rather than a separation.

I don't know the laws in Tennessee, but the BON and the TN Workforce Commission do. I would ask them - they should be able to advise you as to your rights under the law and your license.

Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Some facilities in Georgia will say that their regular employees only have to give 2 weeks notice, but professional/administrative employees must give a one month notice to leave on "good terms". And they consider RNs (but not LPNs) as professional/administrative staff.

Even so, you can leave immediately but it leaves a bad note on your file.

And if the other facility is part of the same umbrella company they may delay your transfer until the unit you are leaving is staffed (which in some places, could be never).

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