Harrassment on the Job

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Pedi/ICU/Tele/Onc.

Ok. Long story short. 3 RNs, including myself, got into big trouble and where dragged down to HR several months ago now. We were told to shape up or ship out. So...we all did. However, my good friend and one of the other nurses seems to be constantly harassed and her job performance questioned. Employees are being asked to come to meeting in HR to see how the unit is doing, but there are questions about my friend always coming up. Question such as how her job performance is, is she on the internet, is she helpful and so on. This is stressing my friend totally out because she has made the change they asked for and she feels that she being harassed! Is this harassment or their right as an employer? Thing is that she's really a good nurse and doesn't deserve any of this! They are just focusing on her for whatever reason when there are so many dead weight, crazy, lazy people on the shift! What's your opinion?

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Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

Your in Texas ,for goodness sake ( This comment aimed at Tx Labor laws only, nothing else ), enough said ! .

Jump ship before you are pushed out . If your targeted by managment you could be a saint but there is nothing to stop managment getting rid of you .

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Your in Texas ,for goodness sake ( This comment aimed at Tx Labor laws only, nothing else ), enough said ! .

Jump ship before you are pushed out . If your targeted by managment you could be a saint but there is nothing to stop managment getting rid of you .

Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with Texas labour laws?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Pedi/ICU/Tele/Onc.

Actually...I don't know about the labor law either. CAn you break it down for me?

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Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

Texas is an "at will employment state" , I beleive its called "right to work" there.Which boils down to if your employer doesn't like you they can fire you, without any reason being given .

Whilst some argue that this allows employers to get rid of employees who deserve to be fired , it also allows the employer to hold the threat of loss of employment over employees from taking any action they don't like eg. complaining about staffing levels , managment making false claims for reimbursement.etc..

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there are internet lawyers that will investigate or write a letter for her, but she will have to pay for the letter and/ or put money down on a retainer. it would be worth it to me, just to see them sweat. i had a friend do this in tn.

or else, have her get co-workers she can trust write a good reference before she leaves. once she leaves, she may not be able to get a good reference, as the new company will call hr. hr does not want co-workers involved in writing a reference in general, some hr require all references, after a person leaves a job, to go through them. its good to always have an updated reference in your purse.

its unusual for hr to ask other staff to rat her out. hr can request info on all internet access on her (or anyone else) at anytime by requesting a report from information’s department. the report will tell when a person logged on to the computer, what sites they went too, and how long she was on each site. hr is being real stupid or the nurses questioned are not reporting back with the true facts.

tell her to keep a journal of her abuse by documenting, who said what and what time they said it. it will help her attorney locate the problem, if she chooses this route.

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oi... This is why I'm pro-union.

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Specializes in ICU.

You're a RN for goodness sake!! You and your friend should have no problem finding another job...and you would get to start with a clean slate. Get out of there!

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I work in HR and "At Will" is not as cut and dry as most believe. See if this article is helpful at all in explaining what "At Will" is and how your friend may be protected.

Most folks in HR don't know or understand most employment law. Intimidation is what they rely on b/c they know you don't know it either. It's to your friends advantage to know more than HR.

http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/pg/1/objectId/AAD74992-4C86-44DA-8102A340BCEC520A/catId/D348BE73-C552-4D58-B00586C0C0909EFA/104/150/269/ART/

I hope your friend fights this and wins!

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Im the employee the OP is referring to.

I am sick about all of this. I handed in my resignation yesterday. One of the people that HR questioned about me said that the unit manager told her that she was going to "make an example out of someone."

My manager has not said one word to me about my resignation. I dont expect her to.

I dont understand this...how does HR justify questioning my coworkers about me and my job performance?

I feel like I have been backed into a corner. I feel intimidated. My thoughts are just one big mess and I cant think straight.

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Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

2Shihtzus

Sorry you felt you had to resign , but from what has been portrayed in this thread , your position was untenable and you have done the best thing . Hopefully getting through this set back will present an opportunity for your future .

Good luck

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Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.

Sounds like the mobbing thread. The wicked can't rest till they see someone fall. Good move............. leaving. Fighting this behavior is draining and frankly is a stinky cloud that never really goes away.

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