Group One Blacklisting in Texas

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

You say that you were terminated because you were a whistleblower - what reason did the facility give for your termination/blacklist?p.s. There really is no nursing shortage, so there is no incentive (from that perspective) to end Group One.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 12, 2012

have you sought the advice of an attorney? There is a whistleblower act for nurses in Texas.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

There is no nursing shortage right now and that is why employers get to get away with this kind of behavior. HR department do this everywhere just not so openly. I would seek legal advice...if you don't sign here you' be reported here..... Isn't it Texas that won't hire overweight nurses??? I thought everything's bigger in Texas. :rolleyes: It an employer's market they can pretty much do as they wish......this is just another shinning example of why I am more convinced that nurses nationwide need to join together like police/firefighters and teachers.

Has the Nursing Shortage Disappeared?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

there is no nursing shortage right now and that is why employers get to get away with this kind of behavior. hr department do this everywhere just not so openly. i would seek legal advice...if you don't sign here you' be reported here..... isn't it texas that won't hire overweight nurses??? i thought everything's bigger in texas. it an employer's market they can pretty much do as they wish......this is just another shinning example of why i am more convinced that nurses nationwide need to join together like police/firefighters and teachers.
has the nursing shortage disappeared?
has the nursing shortage disappeared?

it's not "texas" which won't hire overweight nurses, it's one hospital in texas which won't hire a nurse with a bmi at or over 35.

you are right, there is no nursing shortage in texas in general, though i can't speak to rural areas or some of the smaller towns which may have more difficulty attracting qualified candidates.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 12, 2012

Hold on there Skippy - Group One participation is confined to the DFW area, so it's doubtful that nurses in any other part of the state would be interested. I'm certainly not in support of it - it just feels shady to me; like it should be illegal from a restraint of trade standpoint or something. If I have been accurately informed, Group One is used for all health care employees - not just nursing staff, so it may be a good idea to garner wider support from everyone who could potentially be affected.

Texas has very strong legislative support for health care whistle-blowers as a result of the Winkler County case - which was ultimately decided in favor of the nurses in question. So - if the OP's termination was in retaliation for justifiable whistle-blowing, there is ample legal recourse... which it seems that is already in progress since there is already a lawsuit in effect.

Esme, HR departments don't fire people, Managers and supervisors do. HR is only there to manage the process and make sure the paperwork is taken care of. Question- what makes you think that teachers, firefighters and police officers have a nationwide labor organization??? If they are employed in an organized labor (union) environment, the contract is always locally negotiated. If you are referring to a professional organization, nurses already have one.... its called the ANA. Are you a member?

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

Can you give some more information about Group 1? Who owns them? Are they private, public? What is their purpose? Thanks!

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

Can you give some more information about Group 1? Who owns them? Are they private, public? What is their purpose? Thanks!

OK I did a quick search, they appear to be background check company that focuses in health care. Therefore they would have a financial interest your reason for being fired so they can sell that information. I'm guessing that if a company uses their services they would also be required to report on terminations, but that's just a guess. Otherwise, what incentive would your employer have to tell them? Maybe they get a fee for doing so. Let's hope this company doesn't go national. Have you contacted them? I'll bet they would be required to tell you what they have in your file. That way, if it was incorrect, you could apply to amend the information. I would grip my teeth and give them a call and see what your options are. I agree that this sucks, good luck.

EstherMichael · Apr 13, 2012

thanks for all the replies. at this point group one is a dfw metroplex nightmare . it's not just nurses, but healthcare employees across the board...so that is correct. good advice about trying to reach more healthcare employees and not just nurses.

the following is just a little info from their web-site:

[color=#c0504d]topic: group one services[color=#c0504d]http://www.gp1.com/

[color=#c0504d]"group one services is a consumer reporting agency" operating under the legal authority ofthe federal fair credit reporting act ([color=#c0504d]fcra[color=#c0504d])."

this provides employers the ability to share information on former employees through a third party reporting agency such as group one." blackballing!

[color=#c0504d]"founded by the dallas-fort worth hospital council in 1988 to meet the healthcare providers' - and only the healthcare providers' - constantly changing needs in the areas of criminal background checks, salary surveys and employee termination data." blackballing!

[color=#c0504d]1. [color=#c0504d]we serve healthcare employers exclusively.

[color=#c0504d]2. get instant access to applicant work history information provided by other clients upon termination and accumulated through primary verification." blackballing!

"do i have to give termination information? no, but it is important that facilities receiving termination information participate in a reciprocal relationship with our other employer clients."

and this is their (the employer's) smoking gun! do what we say or else we will put whatever we want to on your group one report!

i still can't believe how many nurses in texas have not heard of this entity??

hca healthcare employers are the main offenders without a doubt. if an employer wants to "get rid of you", they give you two options:

:thankya:1. if you resign, we will not "group one" you. :up:

2. if we have to terminate you, then we will "group one" you. :down:

the phrase "we will group one you," is one that employer's use in a threatening manner to intimidate the employee into a resignation. if the employee does not comply with the resignation process/suggestion then the employer will seek vengeance to ruin the employees' career via group one services. the healthcare employers can submit any retaliatory comments/statements regarding the reasons for the employees' termination. it is within their power and judgment to provide this data whether it is true or false. therefore, if your manager does not like you, he or she can blacklist you . this is an abuse of authority, unjust, and career suicide for a healthcare employee . i do not believe that ruining the careers of healthcare workers was the original intent of group one services. what i do believe is that healthcare employers have found a loophole via this particular system that has enabled them to hold their employees hostage to administrative and political bullying tactics.

i have researched this quite thoroughly and if you have any questions just "holler" :w00t: as we say in texas!

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 13, 2012

I'm still wondering what the official cause of termination was, as given by your employer.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2012

It's not "Texas" which won't hire overweight nurses, it's one hospital in Texas which won't hire a nurse with a BMI at or over 35.
You are right, there is no nursing shortage in Texas in general, though I can't speak to rural areas or some of the smaller towns which may have more difficulty attracting qualified candidates.

You are right....I misspoke. I meant to say "isn't it in Texas". Nationwide there is a surplus with some areas less effected than others.

allnurses Guide · Apr 14, 2012

Too many smilies. Can't read that.