Is this a common attendace policy?

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Is it common to get an automatic write-up for calling out for a weekend shift, regardless if you have a work excuse or death in the family? I have a co-worker who has never been written up (until this incident), has perfect attendance, and just an awesome nurse that goes above and beyond for anyone. Around 10 pm on a Saturday night, her son was killed in a car accident. Of course she called out for the following morning. I was the charge nurse that night and did the procedure for the call out to get a replacement. Monday morning, I had to be present while management gave her a write-up for the call out. (Policy requires the charge nurse to be present if management writes someone up that called out on your shift).

My main issue with this policy is that we are not allowed to transfer anywhere within the facility for an entire year if we are written up, no matter the offense. So many people have been complaining about being "stuck" lately because of this unit rule. I know they are trying to prevent people from calling out on the weekend because it's harder to find replacement staffing but sometimes LIFE happens. I am not an emotional person but I had a good cry with my coworker that day who kept asking our manager why was she being punished for her son dying. She was in the process of transferring to a different unit that gave her better hours to spend time with her family, but due to the write up she could not transfer.

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Specializes in Trauma | Surgical ICU.

Definitely not common in places I've worked. But they are heartless if they did that after knowing what tragedy happened to her and her family... I'd start looking for another place to work if they did that to me.

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Specializes in long term care Alzheimers Patients.

I agree with Nurse.

I would definitely be looking for another job. How Heartless. Please give my condolences to your co worker

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

While there are consequences for calling out on the weekend. Exceptions are made...like the death of your son. That is crazy.

I'd be buffing my resume.

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I am speechless. That policy seems overly strict and in the case of your co-worker it was implemented in a horrendously insensitive way. If my job told me to come in two days after my son died in order to receive a write up, I would no longer have a job because I would have a freak out on them! I can't believe that!

My heart goes out to your friend. I can't even imagine the pain she is going through. So sorry for her that her managers are being total butts at a time when they should be doing everything to make her life easier.

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Specializes in ICU.

OK, I am confused. Her son died on Saturday night, and she was back at the hospital Monday morning, being written up? She didn't take time off to grieve and make funeral arrangements?

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Thanks for the responses. It's good to know this is not "common". I am currently looking for a new job. Recently I sprained my ankle by assisting an overweight patient, of course on a weekend shift. We did not have enough staff. Only 3 people to help, usually have at least 5 staff members. I had a doctor's excuse and I could not even put pressure on my leg. Guess who was written up? My other write up had just expired. I had a miscarried and was written up for calling out that day. Jeez. I'll never be able to transfer if I stay here so I'm looking elsewhere. And they wonder why they have THE highest turnover in the hospital and lowest unit morale.

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OK, I am confused. Her son died on Saturday night, and she was back at the hospital Monday morning, being written up? She didn't take time off to grieve and make funeral arrangements?

Management contacted her and told her she needed to come in that day to sign the write-up.

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Some people just do not use good sense, if they even possess it. My condolences to your coworker.

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Specializes in critical care.
Management contacted her and told her she needed to come in that day to sign the write-up.

God this makes it even worse. With all of my heart, I am so sorry for this nurse's loss.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Thanks for the responses. It's good to know this is not "common". I am currently looking for a new job. Recently I sprained my ankle by assisting an overweight patient, of course on a weekend shift. We did not have enough staff. Only 3 people to help, usually have at least 5 staff members. I had a doctor's excuse and I could not even put pressure on my leg. Guess who was written up? My other write up had just expired. I had a miscarried and was written up for calling out that day. Jeez. I'll never be able to transfer if I stay here so I'm looking elsewhere. And they wonder why they have THE highest turnover in the hospital and lowest unit morale.

Did you fill out an incident report? They should be paying for all medical expenses for work-related injuries, especially when it's something like lack of staff. My husband is permanently disabled because of something like this.

It sounds like you work for a horrible company that needs to be reported. That just can't even be LEGAL.

I'm just absolutely flabbergasted. I hope your friend is able to find some peace. I can't imagine such a devastating loss.

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Did you fill out an incident report? They should be paying for all medical expenses for work-related injuries, especially when it's something like lack of staff. My husband is permanently disabled because of something like this.

It sounds like you work for a horrible company that needs to be reported. That just can't even be LEGAL.

I'm just absolutely flabbergasted. I hope your friend is able to find some peace. I can't imagine such a devastating loss.

Incident report filled out, everything handled as far as workman's compensation goes. Still an automatic write up because it happened on the weekend.

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