How crazy is this??...no contract

[Michellex1013]

I have agreed to start a position in Nevada in less than 2 weeks. All my paperwork was supposed to be in this past Tuesday. I have not seen my contract at all. I have spoken with my recruiter. She keeps telling me "that it was mailed out late." "Don't worry, you can start your job without the contract, you are on the schedule, just fax your stuff in" She told me she would email my contract to me yesturday. Well I still dont have it. I wouldn't dare start to work with out seeing my contract but I don't know how niave I am for still wanting to this to work out. I would have to leave my state in less than one week. This is also the place that offered me a job without an interview (though I did call and speak with the nurse manager), and the recruiter told me "verbal contract is legal and binding." Anyone have an opinion that has been down this bumpy road.

Michelle

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Forgive me if I sound crazy, but what is a non-compete clause? I sounds like you won't deal with any other company except them? Am I right? I have never heard of this clause

There are several versions. Most dictate the time period of a year.

- Say I take a travel position w/NYP with AM. I like NYP alot, they like me alot and want to re-sign for another contract. But I hate AM. Or Fastaff pays more and I want to work at NYP through them. I would not be able for at least 1 year to because AM has a noncompete clause.

Once you go with AM, you are supposed to stay with them at that same locale, if you work there again within a year of having left the facility. Unless the agency contract with the facility is voided/expires.

- Or say I like NYP soooo much that I want to take a permanent position. AM has a clause that for at least 1 year after I have worked for NYP through AM, if I take a permanent position, they get "credit (read money)" for the placement.

- And in some contracts, they have rules that while on assignment,you cannot work for another agency in the area/facility. This one gets broken ALOT.

Some contracts have this spelled out in the contract specifically (AM does). Others have a note in the contract, saying that you have read the agency rule book and agree to abide by its' contents. Thus many travelers sign non compete clauses, without even realizing what they have done.

Of course it occasionally backfires in the recruiter's face. Say a nameless traveler that hates AM finds out that NYP cancelled/expired their contract with AM, and will only contract with TC. Traveler negotiates with TC and is told that since NYP has voided/expired contract with AM, the noncompete clause is null & void. Lawyer friend confirms this. TC treats former AM traveler really well. And traveler's recruiter lies about the voiding/expiring of the noncompete clause, ticking traveler off. AM personally loses several really good travelers as a result of the lie.

[LadyNASDAQ]

Next time you may want to work without a contract and do your own thing with per diem work. Lots of hospitals are busy and when they know you are there for "x" amount of weeks, you can pick and choose how long you want to be there with little to no cancellations.

I love local agency work. I would prefer to be doing this and just tell them when I am available to start and when I will be leaving. I would get that on paper and it will serve as a pseudo contract good enough to use for write offs of business expenses as long as you work 2 days minimum per week according to my tax preparer. You may for ex. want to work in NY. That's a busy as heck place to be. Work a local agency like Gotham or White Glove, find suitable housing and get them to type a letter stating they know you will be from this date to that date in the City and keep your lodging, transportation receipts for ex. logged among other things you can write against your taxes. Lots of things well worth looking into and not being trapped in a contract the usual way.

[Divern808]

I just got off the phone with the Big EE company, and they tried the same things with me, threats, "I have to reimburse them for housing",which BTW I havent even been in because I refused the assignment(and quit the company)The reason I quit?, because they tried to smoke me with an email contract, which didn't have agreed language re: car rental reimbursement.they never got me the written contract in time,I got tired of waiting, and refused and quit. I have been screwed by this company before, insurance,bonus money and minor details like deducting my child support payments. And I have been traveling for a while and been a nurse for 28 years