Our hospital recently started using a timeclock, they don't call it this but that's what it is. We have to swipe our id badges at the start and end of our shift. It automatically deducts 30 minutes for a meal break, and has a 12 minute "grace period", at both ends of the shift. Therefore you are neither paid for coming early or leaving late unless you document the same on a form that you give to management.
I resent being treated like a factory worker. They say that the grace period is to allow for time spent socializing at the end of your shift, and not intended to penalize you. So if you are working during that "grace period" again you need to document that. Well, I don't stick around unless I'm working, so if I must be demeaned by punching a clock, at least I should be paid accordingly. One manager told me this was just to have better documentation and not a financial thing on the part of the hospital. Previously we had to complete time summaries. Often when completing these you would notice that the charge nurses had neglected to put down when one stayed late or did not have a meal, so you could correct it. With the new system there is no way to access this information. I think it will mean that many people will miss out on time worked. It will take much more effort to decipher on our paychecks and double check our time. I plan to be very conscientious about making sure that I am paid correctly. Previously, I did not always put down when I was five or ten minutes late leaving, but now I plan to do so consistently. I'm sure the hospital will save thousands on this. If they're going to "nickel and dime" me, I'm not going to make it easy for them.
Oh, and if my hospital-required communication badge interupts my lunch with business calls..I plan on being paid for that too...other departments recieve a full non- interrupted meal break, why shouldn't we? If they need to get in touch with us so badly, we deserve to be paid. Also, on our unit, I was once reprimanded when I was at lunch in the breakroom for not getting up and answering the unit phone and call lights (our break room is behind the desk area). As far as I know, our unit is one of few designed this way, so it doesn't happen on other floors. There were other staff members who were covering the floor..and when they ate, I covered all the calls.
I think we deserve to be paid for our work. And after a stressful morning, I deserve a break.
