I hate my phone

[coolpeach]

I need advice. I have grown to hate my phone, not my work phone, but my personal phone. I have a cell phone which is both my cell, and home phone. My boss is constantly changing my schedule at the last minute, and she will call and leave a message that I need to come in at such and such time to call her back, and let her know I understand. This is not a question (can you work), but a demand. The other night I went to bed early, and woke up to find she had called the night before, and I had to be in within the hour. Another time I had turned to phone off to spend the weekend with my family. I turned it on to find a ton of messages that I was a no show, no call because I wasn't aware of the change to my schedule on a message that she called and left, and I didn't get. It makes me feel stressed on my days off, afraid to check my phone, afraid not to check my phone, afraid to make plans or set appointments on my days off. I am even afraid to stay up late playing board games with the kids, or going out for the evening as an adult because you never know when I may have to suddenly be in early without warning. If I am asleep, or unavailable she will repeatedly leave voice mails, text me, and even have coworkers leave messages as proof that a message was left. I am NOT on call. I have a schedule and these are changes that she makes to my schedule, and she is calling me on my days/times off. And apparently if a message is left I am responsible just the same as if I had talked to her, and agreed to the change. She is unreasonable so it will do no good to try to discuss it in an adult fashion. Has anyone else had this problem? I am considering either getting a seperate phone for work without voice mail or text. This way you can call and if I am available to answer good otherwise you can call back, and I will answer when I am. This way I will be able to enjoy my time off, sleep when I want, and spend time with my family doing things without worrying of missing a work call. I have even thought of just chucking my phone all together because I honestly would rather not have one at this point...Any thoughts?

[Overland1, RN]

Is your name at the top of the alphabetically arranged staff list? They may be "calling the list" from top to bottom when they need to fill a staffing "hole" or a "call-in". Either way, the suggestion to call HR is valid, but maybe talking with the person who calls you and expects you to be available 24/7/365 would be in order first.

As you know the management situation there better than the rest of us (although we are getting a rough idea of it already ), you should also consider what is coming along in the future, near and distant. For example, if your discussing this rationally with the scheduler/manager/whatever and HR will jeopardize your employment there, it may be time to move on.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I would read what your employee handbook says about scheduling and then go from there.

[K.P.A.]

I suggest you obtain a copy of the scheduling policy from personnel.Then, email your supervisor asking for an appointment to review the scheduling policy Bring your copy to the meeting...in case your supervisor can't find her copy. .

Dear XYZ,

I'd like to meet with you, at the earliest mutually convenient time, to review zzz'z employee scheduling policy. I am available.....(do not leave open ended!)

Thank you.

Sincerely,

ABC

IMO your best approach at the meeting is to ask for clarification of the policy. You want to understand the policy because you don't want to be unavailable when you are required to be available. If your supervisor is unable or unwilling to review the policy with you, make the same appointment with the personnel department.

I would not be surprised if your supervisor has never read the policy and is probably in over his/her head when it comes to management. If that's the case and you've got some skill and time...offer to help him/her out with scheduling!

[coolpeach]

I am new employee, and a new RN so I am in low ranking on the who is important here list. I get the impression that everyone is aware of the employment situation, and pretty well does whatever has to be done in order to keep the peace and their job. Quitting is something I have thought about often (more a fantasy) because I do like eating LOL. I am keeping my eyes open for a better situation. I am not talking about not having a phone or a phone number, but just not an answering machine/Text message system. They can still call me all they want, and if I am available I will answer the phone and talk to them. If I am out, asleep, or have plans then NOT. Am I obligated to have voice mail?

[island40]

You signed a contract when you were hired and got a job description. You should also have received a copy of the policies of the company. I would refer to these documents when talking with my boss, HR and putting an immediate stop to this crap - unless of course you agreed to this and didn't comprehend the documents that you signed when you were hired. In that case - I would definitely find another job and give no notice. Do other employees - nurses - go along with this?? I am sure that you can get some support from your coworkers on this.

[island40]

As a scheduled employee you are not obligated to have a phone and unless it is stipulated in your job description (I am on call for my employer so I have to have a phone and am required to maintain a 30 minute recall to the facility when on call) you are not obligated to answer your door (you own or rent the house it is yours to decide if you want a visitor or not) you are not obligated to answer your phone (it is owned by you, for you and at your discretion as it it's use). I just can't believe that RN jobs are that scarce that people are willing to work like this. Read the Fair Standards Labor Act. Good Grief.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If you called her and left a message that you were sick, would that count?

This is probably on my top ten of intolerable work situations, second only to sniping coworkers. If you have to stay, write the letter stating you are not on call until you get oncall pay per Section X, Subsection G of state law, and you will not show up for shifts you haven't agreed to in advance. Send a registered copy to her, and to yourself (you'll be able to prove the date she got notice. Send an inquiring letter about your situation to the state BON, just to clarify their position in writing, and so you can say you already checked with them if she threatens you with abandonment. Turn the phone off, check messages the day before you go back to work, so you are up to date on her little psychosis, and get another phone for family/real life.

Really though, wouldn't it be easier to get a job for half the pay and a sane boss? Send out your resumes, you never know when you'll stumble on a great opportunity.

[caliotter3]

As for the leaving of messages: I use a cell phone as my phone service also. I learned years ago that the cell phone itself and the voicemail are not reliable. On many occasions I have received a voicemail message more than 24 hours after it was made. Sometimes I have not received a voicemail message at all and sometimes a call had not come through. In some instances I am certain that the person stated they called and/or left a message when such was not the case. They are lying about the situation. But in other cases, I know that indeed, they did call, especially when the voicemail magically shows up more than a day later. One time a voicemail took four days to appear on my phone. I had a very intense conversation with one employer about the reliability of my cell phone. I told them in no uncertain terms that was why I called in on a regular basis to keep in touch. Too bad it has to be that way. It is inconvenient to me. But no employer can say that I am not keeping up the communication lines.

[coolpeach]

Caliottor,

This is so true...they are very undependable. I have also gotten messages 24/48 hours after they were sent (not from employer, but personal friends). I have also had someone tell me they left a message that I never received, and generally one message I believe. I did have someone who claimed they left several messges over a few days, and I think they were telling a bit of a fib. One I believe, but many over multiple days when other peoples messages are coming through not so much (This was my employer). I don't think they get the unreliability of cell phones, and they really don't care. If they say they left a message then it's my responsibility to have gotten it. When I am off I would like to not be tied to my phone, sleep in, stay up late, not feel the need to check it if I don't want to, take a drive or a trip out of the area, drink a few mixed drinks or whatever and not worry about work. Isn't that what time off is supposed to be about relaxing, and not thinking about work? To clarify I have not be written up YET, but I don't enjoy the multiple messages when I turn my phone back on, the having to call and apologize and explain myself (when I shouldn't have to), the on the spot (omg I promised my kid we would do xyz, and we are about to walk out the door, and now heres a message that I need to come in today). Even a message on my day off that hey you were scheduled off for three days, and we need you to come in a day early is bad when you already have an appointment or other obligations. What would work say if I asked to leave in the middle of the day for a hair cut, take my kid to the Dr, go shopping at the mall or take a nap in the middle of my shift? What if I had friends and family come up to hang out, or my daughter came up for help with her homework, or maybe I could just chat on the phone for a few hours with my best friend? I don't expect work to allow me to do personal business on their time, and I would appreicate them not to invade in on my time.

[Guest 360983]

but I don't enjoy the multiple messages when I turn my phone back on, the having to call and apologize and explain myself (when I shouldn't have to), the on the spot (omg I promised my kid we would do xyz, and we are about to walk out the door, and now heres a message that I need to come in today). Even a message on my day off that hey you were scheduled off for three days, and we need you to come in a day early is bad when you already have an appointment or other obligations.

Your job won't stop doing this until you stop letting them. Don't apologize, don't explain yourself, don't go in early or on your days off unless you want to. "I am not available to come in today." If they ask why, you don't have to say anything. If you really want to say something, "I have previously scheduled obligations."

If you miss their message: "I was unable to answer my phone. I just got your message about coming in early/working . I am unable to do so. I will see you at/on ." Be polite, but firm. Don't give any extra information, because it's noone's business what you have planned, whether it is attending your child's graduation or staying at home, getting drunk, and watching bad movies. Do not allow them to control your life.

I would also go to HR, get a copy of your company's scheduling/call in policy, talk to your manager--any (or many) of the awesome suggestions other people have made.

[Rnandsoccermom]

Ok, I work in supervision and what they are doing is not legal unless you signed a contract stating this is what you agreed to. I guarantee your states labor laws will not support this either. I would get a copy of your phone records and start a paper trail.

[coolpeach]

Canoehead...Maybe I will try that...leave dissappearing messages that I am sick. What do you mean I didn't call in...I left a message on your cell 3 days ago...you should have got it. I told you to call back if you had any questions. Ha, bet they would love that. I think maybe I will leave a calling in on vacation message too.