Is Favoritism in workplace a form of Discrimmination?

Published

I am a nurse working in our unit for almost 2 years. I have been a nurse for 16 years, has MSN and because I am new in the unit, I hold a CN II position. Last year I applied for CN III position but did not get it. My manager said he was disappointed because I did well in the interview. He tells me that he will train me as a charge nurse together with 2 other nurses and then open up the CN III position again. 2 weeks ago he did open up the position. I applied. 2 other nurses applied who are younger than me in working in the unit. Only one position was posted. Last week, my manager told me he cannot give the job to me because he picked someone else. He did not only picked one but two when the opening was for one person only. He chose 2 because the two younger nurses( barely less than 7 years of experience as RN) are friends with him. I called our union but the rep. will not entertain me saying I need to talk to the nurses union rep in my hospital first. I don't want to go to the Human Resources because of fear my manager has connections in the labor department and may cause problems to me if I complain. Any suggestions for what I need to do?

Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Yes, that is true in what you said. There are sets of policy on how a manager should hire, yet I can see clearly now because of what happened to me that even though there are policies layed out by the government regarding discrimmination in workplace, the manager still has the right to choose who he wants, right?

If I pursue reporting my incidence my chance of promotion is over even possibly not getting anything at all. Do you really need to be a "suck up" to rise in position ?(sorry for the terminology, but I think that is how it looks like). How can one impress or show to the manager their hard work and be respected when you know the manager does not even look into your work, although he always tells me "you are a good contribution to this unit..and yes I want you to grow". There seem to be some hypocrisy in his words. I feel I am being played around only. What do you think? Thanks.

I would be looking for a new job if it was me in your position. He's just feeding you fluff everytime he says something like that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You say you have an MSN, what's the specialty? What position are you trying to apply for?[/quote

Maternal-Child Nursing/Nursing Administration. I applied for a CN III position on our floor, it's role is mainly an educator in the unit, preceptor to new employees and relief charge nursing work. The job requires only a BSN graduate. I have been a preceptor in my unit on occassions only, because my boss prefers one of his friends to do it. I do charge nursing work too in our unit.

I cannot even get a administrative position because I earned the degree in a foreign country and my experience is in the foreign country also. I wanted to get experience here in US yet there seemed to be no opening. Do you have any idea?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Sweetheart, at the rate things are going, you might not ever be promoted. I would consider looking for alternative employment. I don't know what else to tell you to do besides that. I certainly wouldn't stay just to prove to the manager that I can "grow".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Sweetheart, at the rate things are going, you might not ever be promoted. I would consider looking for alternative employment. I don't know what else to tell you to do besides that. I certainly wouldn't stay just to prove to the manager that I can "grow".

Thanks for the input.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Since this manager has made negative remarks regarding your religious affiliation, you can probably conclude that those comments are the tip of the iceberg to his anti-Christian views. There's a good chance that he holds a prejudice and that it is a factor in his decision-making process.

My feeling is that you are a victim of discrimination here, and also that you probably can't do much about it other than offer it up for Christ, then start looking for a friendlier and less biased workplace.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Since this manager has made negative remarks regarding your religious affiliation, you can probably conclude that those comments are the tip of the iceberg to his anti-Christian views. There's a good chance that he holds a prejudice and that it is a factor in his decision-making process.

My feeling is that you are a victim of discrimination here, and also that you probably can't do much about it other than offer it up for Christ, then start looking for a friendlier and less biased workplace.

I disagree. That is what anti discrimination laws are for. I would contact the EEOC and fill out their questionairre. Contact the EEOC with a complaint, and someone will contact you for a phone interview to discuss what happened. If they agree that there has been discrimination, they will have you file a formal complaint against the company and or person. I would not let this go. Too many nurses let things like this go, when they need to be encouraged to file complaints. This passive behavior allows this conduct to continue. Nurses are not taught to stick up for themselves, and this has let to the abuse that pemeats the nursing profession. Think and act outside the box! JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Since this manager has made negative remarks regarding your religious affiliation, you can probably conclude that those comments are the tip of the iceberg to his anti-Christian views. There's a good chance that he holds a prejudice and that it is a factor in his decision-making process.

My feeling is that you are a victim of discrimination here, and also that you probably can't do much about it other than offer it up for Christ, then start looking for a friendlier and less biased workplace.

You have a good point in there. I would like to move to another unit but so far there is no opening but I need to find one out. I am just worried that he may say things to the other manager. I already tried applying to another hospital but no openings and no response for me. And yes, it is rough when being discrimminated. I am stuck in my workplace for now. I was told by a co-worker of mine who has a case with him (she is no longer with us but on medical leave) that he mentioned to her that he can do anything to win if she tries to complain. And I can see that she is right (she is suing also for discrimmination but I think it didn't go far). He has connections on every department. So you can see why I am not comfortable in reporting to the Human Resources Dept.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I disagree. That is what anti discrimination laws are for. I would contact the EEOC and fill out their questionairre. Contact the EEOC with a complaint, and someone will contact you for a phone interview to discuss what happened. If they agree that there has been discrimination, they will have you file a formal complaint against the company and or person. I would not let this go. Too many nurses let things like this go, when they need to be encouraged to file complaints. This passive behavior allows this conduct to continue. Nurses are not taught to stick up for themselves, and this has let to the abuse that pemeats the nursing profession. Think and act outside the box! JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Thanks for your input too. I called EEOC and my schedule appointment is January 13,2009 due to back logged in work. I read that I need to submit report within 45 days of the incident. That means my scheduled one is already too late, or hire a lawyer.... The problem with that, if you sue for discrimmation it makes a mark in your resume. Which is not good if a new employer will look at my resume, because it would look like I am a liability to them. That is why I feel that the system has loop holes and no matter what you do even though you are doing the right thing it still makes a bad mark on you. Then it would be hard for me to find a job. Right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
i feel like this is a dead-end-job. i am fearful of what he may do to me. you are right, those nurses he promoted earn little than me. my rate is a little higher on them. question: i have a family to feed, to leave my job without any replacement will be hard on them. if i stay in my unit, what will your suggestion my actions to show? still show my manager i am interested in growing? thanks.

i was in your same position and i was not a nurse. i was a social worker. to answer your question, you need to stop thinking that if you give your employer one more chance, he/she will change. it is similar to an abusive relationship: you continue to get battered, then he/she will tell you "sorry... it won't happen again.... hang in there... give me time... you are special... i would hate to lose you..." i could go on but the reality is that you cannot waste any more of your valuable time! life is too short. this employer has exhausted all of their chances.. after every encounter he/she blows you off and moves on to something else. in the meantime you are waiting for something that will never happen. stop the cycle of abuse and move on! :twocents:

to land another job take your director, supervisor, manager, and anyone else on that floor off of your reference list!! when i was first attempting to find another job i put my director down as a reference. well, guess what? he did not say anything bad about me because it is against the law. however, he dropped bad hints...

i found out through another co-worker after many good interviews turned into rejections that he will torpedo transfers or job searches of his employees. he will *sigh* hard over the phone or talk in very monotone voice about his employee to an interested employer. once i figured out his game (i had been suspicious), i took him off of my reference list and referred all calls through hr. soon afterwards i landed a dream job. he was shocked!

in fact, he yelled at me in front of my co-workers for betraying his department when i put in my two week notice. as if employment there was a professional sport and i was making lots of money from our fan base! i allowed him to vent but afterwards i responded coldly, "i do not understand why you are so angry or surprised. you knew i wanted to expand in my career. i told you more then once. since i obviously cannot do so here, i took a job somewhere else." he said nothing more to me but shouted angrily as he walked off. i went back to my work and happily left two weeks later without speaking to him the rest of the time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i was in your same position and i was not a nurse. i was a social worker. to answer your question, you need to stop thinking that if you give your employer one more chance, he/she will change. it is similar to an abusive relationship: you continue to get battered, then he/she will tell you "sorry... it won't happen again.... hang in there... give me time... you are special... i would hate to lose you..." i could go on but the reality is that you cannot waste any more of your valuable time! life is too short. this employer has exhausted all of their chances.. after every encounter he/she blows you off and moves on to something else. in the meantime you are waiting for something that will never happen. stop the cycle of abuse and move on! :twocents:

your story is an encouragement to me. and you are right, this is a cycle of abuse if he keeps on giving me false hopes. i happened to go back to work, i sensed everyone knew what happened but won't say anything to me. my charge nurse pulled me aside, started telling me her story of applying so many times for a position until she got this position as assistant manager in our unit. she told me, "just keep applying again and again, this may not be the time for you but don't give up". i feel that this is just a joke...because you are right, if i apply again....what's going to happen? i am not his favorite..so chances are i will be rejected again.

next incidence, the clinical nurse iii, comes up to me and asks me "are you ok?...just don't mind our manager". but yet, she is one of the "suck ups"!

and you know what? i did put him as a reference to my other job application previously, and no wonder i am not getting a job offer. but how would you direct it to hr? and whose name do you have to put down?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
and you know what? i did put him as a reference to my other job application previously, and no wonder i am not getting a job offer. but how would you direct it to hr? and whose name do you have to put down?

on many job applications it is required to write down your former supervisor, so do it. they also ask, "may we contact this employer?" write "no!" i only had one interviewer ask me why i wrote "no" about contacting my current employer and they hired me anyway. during the interviews i always gave prospective employers permission to contact hr because i was and am a good employee so there is nothing to hide.

as time goes on, your current employer will be a distant former employer on your list and the "no" will no longer be such a big deal to interested employers. in fact, your current employer may turn into a "yes" contact. my former employer that was a "no" contact is now a "yes" because my former director and supervisor were fired almost a year after i left.:yeah: both lost their jobs because they lost too much money for the department. all of the money makers left around the time i left and there was no one to train/motivate others to become a money maker.

by the way, do not say anything bad about your prior employer during your job interviews... focus on your objective. you want to expand your career and you have the skills, experience, talents, and education to do so. gl! :up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This message board has been especially helpful in my decision making. I have endured so much discrimination on my unit. Though I've grown stronger for it my endurance has been pushed to the limit and I've grown weary and tired. I thought I would out last the evil within my unit, but it's been over 4 years now, and lately I've just been feeling like I need to walk away and let them have it. There's so much opportunity for growth within this institution that it's literally mouth watering. Everything's cutting edge and exciting, and the experiences and knowledge derived from the new technologies would be invaluable.

However, just like the OP of this message board, my opportunities for growth have been blocked time and time again by the one of the most wicked people on the face of the planet. She and her handful of cronies.

Yet and still, there's been this lingering fear to move forward. Like if I just keep enduring, my chance, my oportunities will come. That said, lately i've been having this gnawing feeling, this little voice, that keeps whispering to me, "Not in this place. It's time to move on and let the demons have it."

Reading this message board, even though it appears to be 2 years old, has solidified in me the fact that I MUST LET GO. If I'm to survive and grow I have to move on. The unknown is scary though. But I have to let go of this little tug boat and swim out to sea. Find my opportunity over the horizon. And find my peace of mind. So thank you guys for this forum.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion