I can't use sick time I've earned??

Nurses General Nursing

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New job. Still on orientation..and just found out that I cannot use any of my accrued sick time until I have 90 hrs in my bank??? Seems So stupid!

Specializes in Critical Care.
We were given our birthdays (or a day in lieu of) off and one time I used that.

whaaaaat? i haven't had a day off on my birthday since i played hookey my senior yr of high school! lucky

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
The wonderful world of nursing! Of all employers, why is it hospitals are the least understanding of the fact that people get sick?

I've got a bit of an issue with this statement. You mean to tell me that in a competitive law firm, they will be understanding if a new associate says "oh, I was really sick. That is why I don't have the brief done?" No, they won't be. A hospital is not going to fire you for a day here or there when you are sick. My guess, though, is that the law firm will not keep that associate around. It is a shame that hospitals are not more understanding, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking that hospitals are the only ones that have such policies.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
That seems So wrong. I did call out...had the flu. I'm Not one of theses nurses that works Sick!

If you had the flu, that's a very legitimate call off. You have to make the decision for what other ailments your are going to call off. However, I think you need to be careful with the last statement. It can be read as "I will not work with the sniffles." I know it sounds harsh, but that may be one of the reasons for such a policy by employers.

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

It's just *not* a crazy policy. It's an industry norm... And believe me, I have seen some crazy policies. I am a weekender... meaning, I work Saturday and Sunday every week. I earn a slightly higher pay rate on those days as a result. A weekender at my place of employment can NOT call out. If I am sick on a Saturday and call out - then I get a verbal warning. Second call out within a year of the first and I get a WRITTEN warning - which makes me ineligible for company wide bonuses, etc. In my opinion - THAT is a crazy policy. But I choose to be a weekender (and I LOVE it), so I accept the policy. If it meant that much to me, I could get another job. ;)

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It's just *not* a crazy policy. It's an industry norm... And believe me, I have seen some crazy policies. I am a weekender... meaning, I work Saturday and Sunday every week. I earn a slightly higher pay rate on those days as a result. A weekender at my place of employment can NOT call out. If I am sick on a Saturday and call out - then I get a verbal warning. Second call out within a year of the first and I get a WRITTEN warning - which makes me ineligible for company wide bonuses, etc. In my opinion - THAT is a crazy policy. But I choose to be a weekender (and I LOVE it), so I accept the policy. If it meant that much to me, I could get another job. ;)
You could. Or you could try to change the policy. Or unionize. I don't get why we are so quick to just accept rules set down by a bunch of money grubbing executives. If you work for a company, you are PART of the company and deserve to have a say in how it's ran. That's how unions level the playing field, by collective bargaining.
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You didn't check the P&P before you accepted the job? Maybe next time you will.

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Specializes in L&D.

No I didn't check. But I have to work and took the job. But yeah I don't understand the shrugging of shoulders and the oh well that's how it goes attitude either. There is nothing wrong with questioning.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

The OP's situation sounds very typical. It is what it is.

My oldest child was clerking at a law firm over the winter holiday. He wasn't entitled to PTO, but did take note of the policy. Support staff could call in and see if sick time was available that day. Meaning, only so many PTO hours were allotted for the whole office each day. If there were already being used for vacation, or if someone else had already called in sick, thereby using all the available PTO hours, then your call in would not be accepted. If you still wanted to stay out, you could, but you would have to stay out unpaid, because they would only pay out x number of PTO hours a day, period. Most people apparently called in sick at least 12-16 hours early! It's brutal out there folks.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Along with so many other things all wage earners should be fighting tooth and nail for. Remember: all the legal rights we do have now were once merely privligies. Overtime pay and safe working conditions were just privileges once upon a time....

Actually, for RNs, OT pay IS a privilege/benefit, not a right in many states.

Per federal legislation, signed during the Bush administration, RNs are an "exempt" classification of employee, like management, etc. that are NOT entitled by law to time and a half pay for OT. Now some states, with stricter employment laws do require extra pay for OT for RNs, but most do not. Thus, an employer offering time and a half for RNs is doing as a benefit, or a privilege, NOT because it is legally required.

Though they would be hard pressed to get anyone to work OT without the extra pay.

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