I have worked at the same facility since August of last year in the capacity of a tech (pca III) while in school. I recently became licensed as an RN and went straight to work in that same facility.
Last pay period, I worked 1 week as a tech, had the weekend off, then came back on Monday as an RN and did my 40. When I got my check, ALL of it was at the tech rate. Went to HR for a resolution, was told that corporate needs to approve my new wage and it may take up to 3 pay periods (6wks.).
Now here's the funny part--the recruiter was all excited when she told me this--*BUT* you'll get it all (what they owe me--hours worked x diff between old and new wage) in a LUMP SUM!
Oh sure lady, that may sound real nice to every other 22 year old guy getting a nice raise, but NO. I am going to get SLAYED on the taxes accrued on that check.
I feel like my wage should have been changed and begun accruing at hour ONE of my work as an RN and should have been so reflected on my last check.
What to do? Thinking about labor board, corporate compliance, etc. I am ****** and I would hate to have to go bench press everyone on mahogany row to get my money. Trying to keep my cool and my job.
Philosophically speaking, you are correct. But when it's a difference of a few hundred dollars (or less in some cases) and you need the money now, it matters.
Well, I meant it doesn't matter for the amount of taxes you'll end up paying.
But I can definitely understand being anxious for getting that check. (Especially as I've got some money coming to me that I can DEFINITELY use. And keep anxiously checking the mailbox every single day.
Six weeks seems excessive,..however it's common where I work for there to be a delay,..and then you get the lump sum. My coworkers in this situation go to HR and change there with holdings for that pay check only. Good luck to you!
You guys are great, really. I didn't expect such a rapid and informative response. All of your contributions have helped put me at ease.
I am reading every single post and digesting it all. Sounds like I'm not getting screwed, not in the sense of what my annual taxation will be at least.
What IS screwy though is that I absolutely positively would like to have that money in my pocket, NOW!
I wholeheartedly wish I was writing you to say "yes! I finally got paid!," but this is not the case. It has been two pay periods with no evidence of a wage adjustment (e.g., bigger paycheck!) thus far. After taking into account ALL of the great feedback I received from everyone with a hand in this thread, I decided to give my employer a "deadline" to pay me before I started taking this matter into my own hands. Two pay periods have elapsed thus far, this Saturday marking the end of the third with that check coming next Friday. This third paycheck is the "deadline" I speak of. I continue to maintain that there is simply no excuse as to why my wage increase was not reflected on my FIRST check, so this third paycheck is really pushing it in my opinion.
Today I met with my director to discuss the progress of my development as a critical care nurse since beginning this awesome internship I was so fortunately afforded. She is aware of my situation (not having undergone a wage change) and lamented, "corporate approvals from a few months back are starting to come in so you should have your money just in time for Christmas." I never, ever shoot the messenger. Besides, I love my director and she isn't to blame for this situation. I remained virtuous and didn't comment much, just agreeing and saying "okay." All the while I'm thinking, "what the ****? It's the first week of September. CHRISTMAS?!?!"
What really has me ticking this time is the fact that I was told 2-3 pay periods, now I'm being told Christmas. I think they should give me interest if they're gonna back pay me 4 months after I should have seen an increase, for-*******-real. I am so heated about it inside, but I have remained calm thus far. I turned 23 this past weekend and went to Miami beach. Instead of being able to do whatever I wanted I had to budget on my PCAIII wage and was forced to not take part in things that I wanted to do--things I can afford to do per my stated wage, but can't afford to do per the bottom line on my paychecks.
If that check isn't correct on Friday, I'm calling corporate compliance and then the U.S. Dept. of Labor's wage and hour division.
What do you think? Give them more time or call them out via CC and a gov't office?
I think you've handled yourself well so far. If you don't have your wage adjusted by the next paycheck then I think you should go the next step. Just remember to keep your cool and remain professional when dealing with CC, and the Dept of Labor if it goes that far. Good luck and keep us posted!
Hope that you standing up for yourself doesn't come with long term negative consequences. We all know how employers don't like to be called out when they are in the wrong and how they can make it miserable for us for any reason or no reason at all. Good luck.
Absolutely, I think you should pursue this. I would.
Just be aware that it is not out of the question that it could cost you this job if you get the wrong person ticked off. It wouldn't stop me ... but your mileage may vary.
Hope that you standing up for yourself doesn't come with long term negative consequences. We all know how employers don't like to be called out when they are in the wrong and how they can make it miserable for us for any reason or no reason at all. Good luck.
Well, if this is the case--I shall go elsewhere. Do you want to be paid $13/hr as an RN? In the ICU? Who's sometimes tripled?
No thanks dude.
Had to edit this because I sound arrogant and I hate the generational stigma that those from my cohort have an unrealistic sense of entitlement.
Put yourself in my shoes for a minute--a second: Your employer tells you they're going to knock you down from your current wage to $13 for 4 months. What're YOU going to do about this? $13 is nothing. It was nice to a 20-year-old kid and I certainly worked my ass off for it, but now I am entitled to more. I worked full time as a tech while becoming educated as a registered nurse, now I just work my ass off and get fu*ked every other Friday.
I simply can't afford it anymore. Nowhere did I sign or give verbal consent to be paid 50% of my true wage for 4 months. It's not fair to me, man.
Well, if this is the case--I shall go elsewhere. Do you want to be paid $13/hr as an RN? In the ICU? Who's sometimes tripled?
No thanks dude.
Had to edit this because I sound arrogant and I hate the generational stigma that those from my cohort have an unrealistic sense of entitlement.
Put yourself in my shoes for a minute--a second: Your employer tells you they're going to knock you down from your current wage to $13 for 4 months. What're YOU going to do about this? $13 is nothing. It was nice to a 20-year-old kid and I certainly worked my ass off for it, but now I am entitled to more. I worked full time as a tech while becoming educated as a registered nurse, now I just work my ass off and get fu*ked every other Friday.
I simply can't afford it anymore. Nowhere did I sign or give verbal consent to be paid 50% of my true wage for 4 months. It's not fair to me, man.
I'm totally with you on this, and I'm a full generation ahead of you. This is not a case of whining or feeling unrealistically entitled.
What is happening is totally unacceptable. Bottom line -- let's say some nightmare scenario happens -- this hospital is going to have a hard time explaining why a PCA III is titrating drips -- ya know?
You're a new grad, who appears to like your manager, and you got a job in your chosen specialty. There's crap at every job. I'd rather have to wait to get my pay for a few months, than work somewhere with a crappy boss in a specialty I don't want to work in.
Does it suck? Yes. I've had similar happen to me at 2 different jobs. But you need to think about the possibility that you'll lose the war to win this particular battle.
Say you quit. In this job market, you may not get another job for a while paying anything. If you can't afford to live on your tech pay with the knowledge that you've got a big check coming, can you live on NOTHING?
Say you do find a job, there's no guarantee that you'll find one as a new grad in an ICU. Especially after quitting this one. It costs lots of money to train a new nurse. If I'm hiring for my unit, I'm not sure I want to hire the hothead that couldn't deal with a bit of bureaucratic disorganization. What's he going to do when the inevitable snafu happens while working for me?
You get hired, maybe even in your chosen specialty, there's absolutely no guarantee you'll like that manager or the environment created by those coworkers.
And I guarantee, it doesn't matter where you work, eventually, you'll have to deal with some irritating, shouldn't happen but does, bureaucratic mess at some point in time.
So keep in mind. Your choice is NOT:
This wonderful job making you wait on your money longer than you should have to wait (And I agree, that is ridiculous, I'd fix it for you if I could, but it is what it is.)
vs:
Wonderful job where everything will come up roses and giant paychecks.
Your choice is job you like with a temporary but eventually fixed problem
vs.
Maybe no job for months. Maybe a job, but not in your specialty. Maybe a job in your chosen specialty but with a crappy boss and/or lousy coworkers.
If you really like this job, and like your boss and coworkers, then as legitimate as your problem is, it may very well be worth sucking it up and dealing with it.
wooh, BSN, RN
1 Article; 4,383 Posts
Well, I meant it doesn't matter for the amount of taxes you'll end up paying.
But I can definitely understand being anxious for getting that check.
(Especially as I've got some money coming to me that I can DEFINITELY use. And keep anxiously checking the mailbox every single day. 