New Policy

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Hello all,

I'm a CNA at a LTC facility. Recently there's been a policy change stating that nursing staff can be fired whenever for whatever reason. We have to sign a paper stating that we acknowledge this. Is this something that is common or normal? I did not sign the paper but I'm sure management will be on my back sooner or later.

Thank you for all responses.

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Do you have a union? If so, I would discuss this with them. Unfortunately, there are policies/laws that are specific to "at will" employment. Basically that at any time, for any reason, (except for protected class reasons ie: orientation, sex, age.... )an employer can discharge you with or without cause.

Termination -- Labor Standards; Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

I find this interesting, because one wonders what the motivation of management is. If you don't have , get it. Then ask them (if you don't have a union, or even if you do I would anyways) A thought process could be unemployment related? I don't know, but ask the questions.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.
Do you have a union? If so, I would discuss this with them. Unfortunately, there are policies/laws that are specific to "at will" employment. Basically that at any time, for any reason, (except for protected class reasons ie: orientation, sex, age.... )an employer can discharge you with or without cause.

Termination -- Labor Standards; Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

I find this interesting, because one wonders what the motivation of management is. If you don't have malpractice insurance, get it. Then ask them (if you don't have a union, or even if you do I would anyways) A thought process could be unemployment related? I don't know, but ask the questions.

Best wishes!

While that's true that you can be terminated at any time in an "at will" state, you can also collect unemployment easily unless they have "just cause" for the termination.

At will states typically charge the employer a percentage of wages paid for employment insurance based on how many unemployment claims they have charged against their account. Businesses either typically make sure every claim is just so they pay as little as possible into their account or terminate whenever they please and pay the maximum. With the cost of high turnover, smart businesses will make sure every termination is for just cause.

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Here in Michigan as a at will state those papers are very common for us to sign. It protects you as well really because it gives you the right as an employee that you have the option to quit at any time and the employer can not hold you to the job for a certain time period and penalize you if you don't. they might like if you give them a 2 to 4 week notice as a courtesy they can't hold you to it though.

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So some people sign papers affirming the law?

That's weird.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I was just so confused because it seems so random but then again with it being summer and having an influx of students working, they've been cutting shifts. So I suppose they're getting ready to fire people they don't need? Whatever the reason, it makes me nervous, ha. So if I were to be fired "without cause" would I be eligible for unemployment? Would it look bad to other employers?

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
Do you have a union? If so, I would discuss this with them. Unfortunately, there are policies/laws that are specific to "at will" employment. Basically that at any time, for any reason, (except for protected class reasons ie: orientation, sex, age.... )an employer can discharge you with or without cause.

Termination -- Labor Standards; Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

I find this interesting, because one wonders what the motivation of management is. If you don't have malpractice insurance, get it. Then ask them (if you don't have a union, or even if you do I would anyways) A thought process could be unemployment related? I don't know, but ask the questions.

Best wishes!

Thank you :) I will definitely look into

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I'd not jump to conclusions that they are going to be firing people. It might be that they just are wanting this in their employees files. Kind of like we have to sign HIPAA papers every year to have in our charts in Dr. Offices. I'm sure that any new hirees will have to sign this paper as well.

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