Is it normal for an employer to manage your off time?

[eBrekke]

I have been an RN for over a decade, and worked several jobs in many different areas. I am currently preparing to move across state and am applying to several jobs.

Now I am fairly familiar with most requirements and policies, however a job I have applied for has a different requirement, and I'm not sure how normal it is. I should mention that this caveat put a bad taste in my mouth and I'm not taking the position, I'm just curious to see if it's a common thing.

The position is only 3 days a week, and the pay is fairly low. The week is the same 3 days every single week (Tues-Thurs). I was informed that although I would only be working those three days, I would have to make it my priority job, would only be allowed to pick up a PRN job if desired, and it would need to be approved by them. I would also be required to clear any shifts I take prior to taking them.

I can honestly say I've neve encountered a job that monopolized all of your time, especially without compensation. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

[chare]

I've worked with nurses in the past that worked multiple jobs, with occasional scheduling conflicts.  I suspect this is their approach in ensuring these nurses know where their priority should be.

As for approval of other shifts.  Both my current and previous employer restricted hours worked, regarding of location or employer, to 60 hours in a rolling 7 day period.

Best wishes.

[Rionoir, ADN, RN]

Having a policy on moonlighting isn't that unusual. However, if someone thought I was going to run all my shifts at another job past them before taking them they can... do things I won't write here. ?

 

[klone, MSN, RN]

Agree with Rionoir that policies on moonlighting are not uncommon, although I feel like  it used to be more of a thing 20+ years ago. In the past multiple nursing jobs I've had, I've never seen an organization that had a policy on it. 

Like Chare mentioned, I'm guessing this is their way of ensuring that this job is the person's top priority, and they also don't want someone working two full-time jobs and either being too tired, sleep-deprived and unsafe, or calling out sick a lot as a result. 

If I were single and money-hungry (now I'm just middle-aged and tired) I could see how tempting it would be, knowing that you will ALWAYS be working the same 3 days in a row, to get a second job. Honestly, if I were inclined to do that, I would simply not share the information with my employer because my thoughts are what I'm doing on my days off does not affect them and is frankly none of their business. And if you get fired, you get fired. As you said, pay is low, and I'm sure you can easily find a new job.

[klone, MSN, RN]

More thoughts...I feel like in today's gig economy, it's super out-of-touch and tone deaf for any organization to have a moonlighting policy (except for maybe certain industries that would then have a non-compete agreement, and a person could get a second job in a completely different industry). Also, out of curiosity, I looked it up. California, at least, has a law prohibiting companies from punishing employees for moonlighting. I'm sure other states probably have similar worker protection laws.

 

[eBrekke]

I can see the concern about wanting to ensure you were well rested and prepared for the job, but the amount of control they want seems excessive.

 Nursing doesn't pay what it should. Pay rates for a lot of other jobs increased by $5-$10, and nursing didn't. Rent, mortgage, gas, groceries all went up drastically as well, but the pay didn't. 

I absolutely plan to get a second job, and if I know I will only be working the same 3 days a week, it makes it easier for me to do something else on my days off. 

[Emergent, RN]

I worked with a gal in the ER who got a leave of absence for personal/health  reasons. She went and worked a lucrative nursing contract while collecting her sick time. Her biggest mistake was posting stuff on facebook about it, so of course it got back to management and she was fired. Lesson learned.

Other than that, I have heard of things like this. Obviously they've been burned in the past and so had to readjust their policy. You voted with your feet, and I'm sure you'll get a job that can accommodate you better.

[JKL33]

It seems like moonlighting policies are mostly about trying to get away with controlling things. They don't address the 1,001 other reasons that people call in, don't show up, are tired and/or don't work too hard and in other ways don't make the job the most important thing in their life.

It would have to be a pretty big ($$$$) job, not an entry-level nursing job, for me to even remotely consider a position with these stipulations.

[Nursemateo, RN, EMT-B]

As a flight nurse I work in a more dangerous role than most nursing specialties. We have a policy on picking up shifts at other jobs but it's not even that crazy! We're required to have a minimum of 8hrs of rest prior to the start of our shift. This is a fair policy imo as you're not only a nurse but also a crew member on a helicopter. 
 

But running all my shifts past them prior to picking up? Crazy! Do they also want to approve all my other personal time activities?

[nolongeranurse]

You need to Run as fast as you can away from that place.