Holiday Pay, Working Holidays

Specialties Agency

Published

Hello all!

Since September I have been working for a agency part-time as I am going back to school for my BSN. My schedule is M, W, F. This year Christmas and New Year's Day both fall on a Wednesday. I requested both holidays off and was only able to get off Christmas Day. According to my agency they claim that the hospital requires nurses to work at least one holiday. I think this is a bunch of crap, frankly. The beauty of working as a agency nurse is to have that flexibility. And what's even worse, I will not get holiday pay. I would expect not to get holiday pay, but who is getting that extra time and a half on my behalf, the agency? Is that why they told me that I couldn't have off? Are they pulling my leg?

Any experienced feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

When I did agency work, it didn't matter what the holiday was, there was no holiday pay! I can kind of see their point though as far as scheduling---there are still nursing needs no matter what day it is

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I got paid one hour of holiday pay one time when I worked eight hours on a holiday. Another agency never told us what their policy was about holiday pay, so I got a rude awakening with that one. I had thought that all employers paid holiday pay for at least the federal holidays. That is when I found out that such is not necessarily the case. Afterward, I just decided that the way to get out of feeling taken advantage of, is to not work the holidays. You can tell which agency pays for which holiday; one agency would cancel my shifts on certain holidays and give the shift to other nurses so that they would get the holiday pay and I got absolutely nothing! I just don't care to play roulette over whether or not I will be paid for my trouble on holidays. It isn't worth the strife to me.

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Specializes in Pedi.

The reason that you don't get holiday pay is probably because the cut that the hospital gives the agency doesn't change. I highly doubt the hospital is paying the agency 150% of the negotiated rate for you working on your contracted day. Holiday pay is a courtesy. It's not a law that nurses receive extra pay for working on holidays.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I would review the employment contract that you signed with the agency to see if it mentioned a holiday requirement. If it did, then you have an obligation to meet. If it didn't, then you can tell them that you are under no obligation to work a holiday...though doing that may or make not make your relationship with the agency--and their schedulers--a little frosty for a while.

As far as holiday pay goes...again, check your employment agreement to see what the pay is for holiday work, as whatever is in there is essentially what you agreed to when you signed it.

My agency does not mandate I work any federal holidays. If I choose to work a federal holiday, I get time and a half.

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I think your leg was.. indeed pulled.

The agency signs your paycheck.. the hospital cannot call the shots regarding holiday requirements.

Find another agency that doen't play that game with you.

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I think your leg was.. indeed pulled. The agency signs your paycheck.. the hospital cannot call the shots regarding holiday requirements. Find another agency that doen't play that game with you.

Thank you!

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