Can You Be Fired....

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Can you be fired for not taking a lunch break during an 8 hour shift? I know it is the law that you need to take a 30 minute break. My employer has recently cut back on staffing causing the nurses to be extremely overwhelmed. There is only one nurse on per shift and the day shift nurses very often do not get a lunch break. I have been told by my supervisor that I need to take a break but the work load is just to much! Some things just can't be put on hold. I have never been written up for not taking a break but fear that I may get fired at some point if I continue to not make time. I do have very good time management skills the work is just to much for one person. Is this cause for termination??

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Depends on their HR policy. If they have a policy that states you have to they can choose to write you up and then eventually fire you. Check your policy book. They just don't want to pay extra hours even if that means poorer care. Sad.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

If you stop charging them the time trust me they will leave you alone. It's about compliance with labor laws and budget. They can claim it "ineffective use of time" and time management issues and say that you are not performing to standard.

A real lousy tactic but one they do use.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

My hospital management are fanatics about this. If I clock out for 29 minutes instead of 30, I get a nasty-gram. It's all because of a lawsuit that was filed a couple years ago by nurses that claimed they were required to work through their lunch break, didn't get a break, or were interrupted during their break. The hospital was required to pay out quite a sum in back pay because they were deducting the "lunch time" from all employees whether they were taking the lunch or working through it.

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Specializes in Pedi.

A hospital can fire you for pretty much any reason they please, save for a few reasons that are prohibited by law. If you regularly work through lunch, they may ding you for "unauthorized overtime" or "poor time management" or whatever they choose to call it.

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Specializes in PCCN.

I'd like someone to explain to me how pt care is "poor time management" ????

Since pts are whats holding me up. :madface:

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Specializes in Pedi.
I'd like someone to explain to me how pt care is "poor time management" ????

Since pts are whats holding me up. :madface:

I don't think anyone here is saying that it is but that that's what management will call it. Everything is about the all-mighty dollar, remember.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I'd like someone to explain to me how pt care is "poor time management" ????

Since pts are whats holding me up. :madface:

and I quote..."If you managed your time appropriately you could care for your patient AND get your lunch"
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Even if you do get fired, would it be such a loss? If the staffing is cut to where lunch is cut, maybe it is time to update your resume and do some looking around.

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If your supervisor says it again, would you be able to say something along the lines of with the recent staff cuts I've been very busy taking care of my extra patients, would you be able to help me learn different/better time management? Come up with a plan to work on, it makes it look like youre working on it (even if it's a ridiculous proposition) instead of blowing off your manager

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Are you the only nurse on your unit? If so, do you get someone to relieve you so you can leave the floor? Can you get someone scheduled from the front office to cover while you leave? That might shake up some dust.

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Specializes in Ortho/trauma acute care/med surg.

I ask my manager to cover for me if I'm too busy to take a lunch! If you start doing that maybe they will find someone to cover for you!

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