tried to go back to work after surgery and they said, Oh no work for you

[bebop1]

Hey....well...I am a about ready to file for the big "B"...cause I have no money. I had surgery in December...thinking my case load would be given back to me, or I would go back to work in a month after I healed. well I got ok'd to go back to work yesterday, and they informed me...they really don't have a case load for me, and it would really be but a few patients a week. so I went from 30-40 visits a week to maybe a few patients a week.

but is there anything wrong with them not having anything workwise for me to do now that I am able to return? I thought they had to have my job still there for me? just wondering? thanks!

[Jolie, BSN]

The answer to your question depends on whether your leave was taken in accordance with FMLA.

Did you file FMLA paperwork in advance of your leave, or as soon as you were able if your leave was an unexpected emergency? Have you provided your employer with updates during your leave as required by company policy? Did you give your employer notice of your intent to return to work (2 weeks is the norm)?

If so, please schedule a meeting with your supervisor and/or HR to determine when your position will be available to you. Are you ordinarily guaranteed a certain caseload or number of hours of work per week? Is the agency low in census overall, or are you being singled out for lack of work? If you didn't take steps to protect your job via FMLA, you may have to accept whatever hours they offer you.

Best of luck! I hope you are feeling better.

[bebop1]

I guess I didn't get to do the FLMA because I was not working with this company more than 12 months, and I am per diem, even though I was working more than a full time nurse. I work per diem because I am a military wife, so I don't need health insurance. I have been married to my husband for 7 years, have had 3 surg, and 2 babies and never one hosptial bill...so I don't get the health insurance. so with this home health company, they see me as per diem. So I had a note two weeks ago to come back to work with light duty, they didn't want me to work, they wanted me to come back only when I had no restrictions. so yesterday I was released. and now they have no work. or I could come back, but only like a few patients, and they couldn't guarantee, because they have hired benefited people and they need to fill them up.

I don't know I am resigning, I don't want to, but I have been unhappy with them. I love home health, but I don't like the drama in the office. I am going to school right now to become a WOC nurse. so they will lose out on that. I have applied everywhere, and have gotten nothing yet. My husband is military, so I have to be picky with my hours due to our young kids. so this is very hard. My home health company has put me in a very hard place, and I am very angry.

I don't know if I can apply for unemployment until I find a job since I have been out of work since Dec 15th. but I don't know since they don't have work for me so I choose to resign?

thanks.....but broke!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

You don't get unemployment if you resign and, unfortunately, I don't believe that you are covered as a per diem employee.

Well, at leat you're better, and now you can find a better job.

:)