Is this a common attendace policy?

[Dazglue]

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.

[Mulan]

Yeah, after we are written up we have to make it up by working a 2 day weekend or a holiday, usually she picks the 2 day weekend to make up. I understand that there has to be a punishment, especially if it is repetitive behavior. There have been times I'm "called off" so a nurse on the other rotation can make up his or her call out. So I get shorted days and have to use my ETO/PTO for this to happen. It's just a big mess!

So in other words, two people are getting paid for the same day, the person who is working is getting paid and you are getting paid to stay home, while being forced to use your PTO time.

I would definitely be looking into what the official policies are and asking questions if I was involved.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

May I suggest contacting the press or local news. ]

This calls for public shaming.

[TriciaJ, RN]

May I suggest contacting the press or local news. ]

This calls for public shaming.

Big time! Can you give us the name of the hospital so we can all send them hate mail? (Just kidding.) (Or not.) I take it you have no union. And the hospital has no shame. They are despicable. Can you drop a dime to the local paper? Might make a great human interest story. I'd lay awake at night thinking up ways to expose their utter rottenness.

And many condolences to your coworker. God bless.

[toomuchbaloney]

I would recommend that the OP review the company/facility policy regarding absences and deaths.

If it is true that these are simply "unit" policies and not HR policies, it is important to know that the HR policy will supersede any silliness that this callous and ignorant manager has established.

It is unbelievable that a nurse was called to the unit for a warning less than 72 hours from the death of a child specifically for missing work BECAUSE of the death. This needs to be reported to the HR department immediately.

[mama.RN]

This is disgusting. Go over that manager's head. Unbelievable. I was fired once for having to call out and miss my shift to go to the ER due to a major illness on a weekend, and I thought that was bad. This is the worst I've ever heard.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Yeah, after we are written up we have to make it up by working a 2 day weekend or a holiday, usually she picks the 2 day weekend to make up. I understand that there has to be a punishment, especially if it is repetitive behavior. There have been times I'm "called off" so a nurse on the other rotation can make up his or her call out. So I get shorted days and have to use my ETO/PTO for this to happen. It's just a big mess!

Your company wouldn't have just started enforcing the write up rule by chance? Ours recently did because the company felt too many nurses were calling off on the weekend.

[edimo]

I am shocked and appalled that such a unit rule exists in the first place with no resistance. I don't even know your friend (my condolences to her and her family) and I'm getting angry. The shock and overwhelming grief of losing a loved one suddenly is horrible enough but to be written up for missing work because of it? Absolutely absurd and heartless!

Is there a union present? If so, contact them immediately. If not, HR should be contacted. And while we're add it, why not contact the Nursing Director to see if this rule about having "ONE write up in a year = no transfer" changed. It's doing nothing for morale.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

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

At this point, I would be willing to burn my bridges with the hospital and would tell management to take their write up and shove it where the sun don't shine.

[mge9450]

This is terrible...my heart goes out to your co-worker and her family. I would be looking for a new place to work.

[mouseynurse]

I was fired recently when I called in after being in a car accident on my way to work. It was considered a late call in and put me over my "points" limit. While it's not fair, if that's the way the policy is written it is legal.

My condolences to your co-worker. I cannot imagine losing a child like that.

[livefully]

I'm shocked that this happened, my heart goes out to your co-worker

[Aurora77]

That's horrible. I can't imagine my boss doing that even if it were policy. Way to kick her when she's down.