I'm curious- how do you feel about coworkers who refuse to work any overtime? I don't like working overtime--at all. I don't mind the holidays, don't mind every other weekend because I know it comes with the territory, but ask me to work an extra shift? No thanks. 5 nights a week is enough.
But I also understand how helpful it is. At my facility, we're constantly getting call outs and running short. When we get a call out and someone volunteers to do OT, it's such a relief. So this makes me feel bad, because I feel unwilling to make that sacrifice. I've done it a couple of times, and am more willing if I'm asked ahead of time (not the same day) if I can come in 4 hours early, but I rarely do this either.
But on the other hand, I feel it shouldn't be our responsibility. I feel if more people refused OT unless they really wanted it, then it will eventually force the employer to hire enough people, make the schedule better, call in agency, make it more enticing for people to pick up OT/less likely to call out. I don't know, something. Why should it fall on us?
So personally, I try not to feel guilty about it, but truthfully,getting text messages/calls in the middle of my sleep/day off bums me out a bit, because I do feel that bit of guilt for refusing to do it. I also worry that it makes me a much less desirable employee for continuing to refuse. Is this worry valid?
I only wish that an employer offers me overtime because I benefit from working overtime. However, I do not like it when an employer wants me to work overtime and also sign a waiver letter so that they do not have to pay me the legally owed overtime pay. In that circumstance, I am likely to refuse.
One of the keys to staying healthy and effective in all areas of life is to establish healthy boundaries. A healthy boundary with work is choosing to work what they hired you for and not extra. Because trust me, you could work 7 days a week and completely spend yourself for them, but they won't do the same for you. If you quit they'd forget you worked there by next week.
I don't mind people who refuse to work overtime. You were hired for a certain amount of hours, and if there's a constant need for overtime (see: my place of employment) then the hospital needs to hire more nurses instead of rely on the ones they have to work OT.
That being said, one thing I can't stand is nurses who complain about us being short-staffed and no one coming in for extra, but then they NEVER pull extra shifts. We were short staffed one day last week and one of the nurses went on and on "I can't beleive so-and-so said no when they called, I can't believe no one on days stayed or a NOC nurse couldn't come in, why didn't so-and-so pick up". She NEVER works extra! There are only a handful of us on my entire unit that ever pick up extra shifts, most do not- which is fine. But don't complain about how "no one cares enough to come in" when you yourself never come in either.
If it is a "once in a blue moon" request because of an emergency that could not have been reasonably foreseen, then I feel we should all do our fair share. Those who don't are not good teammates.
However, if staff are being asked to work overtime on a semi-regular basis because the administration has not developed a good back-up system ... or because they simply haven't hired enough nurses ... then that's a whole different story. People should not be expected to work overtime in such situations and should be free to say "No" with no recriminations.
I think it's fine if a nurse wants to refuse OT: once a nurse has met their daily/weekly hourly commitment, they are not obligated to do any more than that.
I think it's fine if a nurse wants to refuse OT: once a nurse has met their daily/weekly hourly commitment, they are not obligated to do any more than that.
for sure. I work avg 50 hours a week. I love my job, but when I start cracking into 60 hours I get burned out but I do it before I take trips so I have a light at the end of the tunnel.
tuxedopenguino
51 Posts
wow, they can do that?