Discrimination for being a new mom?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  1. I should:

    • 17
      Talk to your manager first
    • 3
      Go to HR
    • 33
      Suck it up

53 members have participated

I'm a new RN mommy who is expecting to return to work from my FMLA and I need advice. I recently saw my upcoming work schedule and I noticed that another nurse with less seniority than me was changed to days.. there's 10 nurses on day shift and 8 at night on our unit-so my manager can't say there's a shortage during a time I was unavailable-our company policy also states that nurses do not lose seniority when they are on approved leave. It may be worth it to mention that I always felt the nurse that switched was always a favorite-they are always texting and praising each other on social media... Should I talk to my manager about this? Or Do I have a valid complaint to HR to ask for a transfer?

I have asked about being changed to day shift even during my pregnancy and my manager simply said "I don't have enough experienced night nurses since I hired a bunch of new grads, so you can't switch"- I figured at least she knew after that conversation that I wanted To switch. I was 2nd in line in terms of seniority and the nurse before me had no interest, so I should be next (the nurse she switched was after me(. At the time, I was kind of flattered she considered me "experienced" since I have been with the company about 6 months as a new grad" However, she went on to hire 3 new grads for day shift on our unit...

I felt discriminated for being pregnant and now I feel discriminated for being a new mom. I am uncomfortable talking to my manager about this. She seems to be very close to the RN she chose to switch to days instead of me. I am afraid of retaliation. I feel hopeless and am even considering leaving the company because I am so miserable on my unit. If I complain where and how do I start? Any advice is appreciated.

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If you are going to talk to your manager, suggest you look up the definition of discrimination because what you have written doesn't support your claim that you were discriminated against. It seems there was a vacancy for a day position while you were off and you did not apply for it, another nurse did and received the position.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Your statement does not indicate preference or discrimination

They are not obligated to contact you on leave when a position comes up. If you have sufficient tenure and experience then apply for a transfer

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Favoritism is a form of not discrimination? I have asked for day shift last year. There was no job posting because it was done discreetly within the unit.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

No. Favoritism is NOT discrimination. Look up the definitions. You can't claim both favoritism AND discrimination because you had a baby. How on earth would that even work? It makes no sense. "My manager is friends with and favors Nurse XYZ because she doesn't have a baby". Huh? If it is favoritism then likely they had a good working relationship prior to you even getting pregnant. They aren't connected.

You may have a beef due to seniority issues, but you were not discriminated against. Waving that flag isn't going to earn you any favors within your facility, so tread lightly if you decide to pursue this and do not try to insinuate it is discrimination. It isn't and trying to tilt it that way is going to do nothing to help you and lots to hurt you. Facts are, the position came open, that person jumped on it and you were not there to do so. You may have asked a year ago, but trust me, management isn't reflecting on requests that came in a year ago or even a month ago. They needed the slot filled and that person was able to seamlessly step into that role. Boom. From a management perspective, problem solved. That is all. Move on if you want to. I would not blame you. But no...it is not discrimination. It has nothing to do with your baby.

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How on earth does your pregnancy and now new baby have anything to do with this? I'm not seeing the link and I'm not sure anybody else is.

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But they don't call it favoritism. They call it rewarding their best performers, and that is the trend business has been taking for a while now. Seniority might be fairer, but I sense it is in decline in this new business climate.

Do you really want to work this job long-term? Places that hire a lot of new grads are a red-flag warning of something.

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Managers and favoritism is very common in nursing, thats just how it is. I suggest that you make it know to your manager AGAIN and any other direct higher ups that you want to do day shift. This is not discrimination from pregnancy. Because at your work there is no set seniority path, like officially written, you need to make your preferences known. If a day shift position ever opens on your job board, go ahead and apply for it if it is publicly posted (internal or external posts). After you applied, tell your manager you have applied and the steps you can take to make it a reality. It seems like most positions for day shift may be done informally at your hospital so this is not possible, but if a spot opens up give a friendly reminder to manager that you would be willing to fill it. I would even tell your coworkers too keep a look out for you.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

It stinks to not have the shift you want, but why not just take it as it is and talk to your manager about a dayshift job in the future? I agree with PP that asking a year ago is not recent enough to make an argument that you were passed over. You could be 100% correct that this is favoritism, but I don't think proving that point is going to help you at all. Especially if that was the only dayshift open, because now it's filled.

You can always play hardball and look for another job and tell your manager it's dayshift or bust, but that's a big risk too.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

The above posts say it well. You will have no success in claiming discrimination. I suggest you keep trying, so I voted "suck it up".

Been there, done it. Had kids, which slowed my progression in my career in many ways. Day shift positions came and went d/t my parenting circumstances, even though I was clear I wanted to go to days. I found the opportunity, and the timing was right and I took it.

Really, suck it up, take care of yourself and your baby and realize NO ONE can "have it all" at once. Another opportunity will arise when the timing is better.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Congratulations on the new baby! As others have said, it sounds like the position opened up during your leave. FMLA obligates them to hold your current position; it does not obligate them to keep another position empty until you return.

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Specializes in PICU.

It sounds like a position opened up while you were out. Your position is still there for you when you come back from FMLA.

There does have to be a skill mix on the shifts.

There doesn't seem to be any discrimination from what you described.

Something may open up later.

Senority doesn't always have a role in shifts especially if they need to balance out levels of experience. It does have a role for other things though

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