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.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Um, no. Those little microbes that make us sick don't care that it's the weekend, and if this RN is sick on a weekend, she's calling off. But the death of a child?? HELL no. Your colleague needs to refuse to sign that write-up.

I agree with KelRN; I'd too be willing to burn that bridge. Heck I'd be willing to stand upwind and throw gas on the fire.

[Katie71275]

Wow that is horrible. That is definitely NOT common where I am. If you call in, then you call in. You get I think 3x to call in before you might be given a warning. I am so sorry for her loss. Personally, if it was me, I would have handed in my resignation at that meeting.

[suanna]

What else is new. Nurses aren't dedicated, educated, committed health care professionals. They are "laborers" like the kid on the grill at McDs' or selling beer and cigs at the local drive through. If they call off- they are obviously lying, and since they know all the doctors- they are going to lie for them as well and fill out an excuse- they have no professional ethics. So since we know that- just wright them up for every call off- esp. on the weekend- that is when all the partying goes on. I've seen this attitude become more pervasive every year. Although yours is an extreme case- it dosen't surprise me at all.

[T-Bird78]

Prayers for your coworker. Talk to HR and tell them how stupid the policy is for that unit. I hope she sues them for everything they've got because that could be viewed as harassment--death of a child and being subjected to disciplinary action because of it. Also, you're being punished for a work-related injury--that's flirting with illegal because worker's comp is nothing to mess with. The higher-ups at the facility need to be made aware of that unit's policy and get it changed NOW before the hospital itself faces legal/civil action.

[trishmsn]

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

I would be on the phone in a New York minute. I am an occupational health nurse and handle workers comp and OSHA recordable injuries, and it is ILLEGAL under FEDERAL LAW to write up or otherwise punish an employee for a work related injury.

(Only later can a claim be disputed if the employee was clearly defying policy, but even then the employer usually loses. A guy on drugs still got his payments..)

[nightbreak]

Your facility needs a union.

Your manager needs a public shaming (and, apparently, a soul).

Prayers and love to your coworker.

[autumnmom]

I work as a school nurse and I was written up for taking 3 days off for my sisters out of state funeral because it was during the school year. Not even I'm sorry for your loss from supervisors.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

Uh no, that's Draconian. I only work weekends so that would mean any call out for me would be a write up. Absolutely not the case.

[elemenRN]

Ironically, a lot of hospitals will tell you to absolutely call in if you have a fever or severe sickness in order to protect the patients. Damned if you do, damned if you don't! I just don't get it. Also, it seems like your manager wants to retain the staff she deems "unreliable" with her policy. Why would she want to do that? What's really happening is that she probably doesn't want to look bad for having a high staff turn-over so she came up with that ridiculous policy to hold you hostage. She sounds pretty heartless. You should absolutely complain or look for a different job. Is she the type of manager who would ever even recommend her staff to other managers if they wanted to switch units in the hospital or would she sabotage that, too? I'm sorry you're going through this. Sounds like you might have strength in numbers though! Best of luck and condolences to your coworker!

[~PedsRN~, BSN, RN]

We employ weekenders in my hospital, and up until very recently - that was our policy. However, it was just rewritten to provide a little more flexibility. I believe our policy was first call out = verbal, second = write up, third = write up, fourth = termination. We had a weekender who's child was literally SICK AND ADMITTED TO OUR FLOOR - and she was written up for calling out. It was ridiculous. HR told her she could have worked and then visited her child during breaks. Oh yeah, because if something went wrong with my kid I wouldn't abandon all my patients in a hot second..... that's just ridiculous. I am so glad that they listened to their staff and rewrote the policy. It's great when management listens.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Sounds like yet another stellar example of policy being upheld over simple common sense....and decency!

Every rule has to have an exception, one that a manager or administrator can apply with discretion.

Has NO ONE in these positions got a brain anymore??

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Some employers are heartless.

One night I was working I saw a nurse who I didn't expect to see. I asked what she was doing at work. She had to work that night even though her mother passed away earlier in then day....so she could take off for the funeral.

Heartless.

I don't think you see such heartless rules in many other professions.