Issue at Union Hospital

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello,

I work for a union hospital. I have been there for over a year. a few months ago, a new security supervisor got hired and began harassing me for parking my sprinter van in the parking lot while I worked. After he verified me, I was cleared. Up until now, I haven't had any problems and I even have spoken to management for day to day activities. Yesterday evening, I get approached by another security guard and told I need to leave the property and I am trespassing. Law enforcement was called and I moved my vehicle. Has anyone else had this problem before? Its a sprinter van and I'm only parked there while I'm working. opinions would be appreciated.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I don't understand your connection re a union hosp and your parking woes.

What's a 'sprinter van'? Was there a pre-existing van parking policy in place? And maybe no one ever enforced it before the new security head? I've worked at & parked at facility garages that DID HAVE specific restricted van & SUV parking.

That'd be my first thought. If there is NO pre-existing restriction, then you may have an issue. But if the size of your van is taking up space that makes it hard for the nearby parked cars to fit, then the employing agency does have the right to administer the safety & welfare of its property.

You may not have the proverbial leg to stand on, altho it wasn't nec for a sec guard to get testy (and your attitude would have to be reviewed also). Without a policy in place, you could maybe GRIEVE the restriction.

But there's multiple questions here that would have to be sifted thru.

Any car cam footage favor you?

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Hello,

Thanks for your response. Fortunately, I do have footage from my front and rear cameras. A sprinter van is a Mercedes Benz sprinter van. Same ones you see Amazon prime using. It's a van; a quick Google search will show you what it is. There isn't any restriction on the parking. Actually, the security officer was on my side and couldn't understand. He was getting instruction from the supervisor through company text while I was talking with him.

I asked about the parking policy. He confirmed that policy is restricted to only patients, employees and patient guests. I'm not sure if this is something I bring up to the union or if I need to take this up through the civil courts.

And to answer your other questions. No, I have never taken up more than one spot. In fact, the security guard was even perplexed at the fact that the parking lot is only 20% occupied and I'm at the furthest end of the lot away from everyone. Security understood that I was looking for some sort of paper trail of the encounter. Nothing got escalated between us. he sympathized with me.

Should I move this to another forum?

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

My first question is why did you move the van? If you were working aren't you authorized to have a vehicle there? In accordance case I would elevate this and fast. Like going to head of security, or higher if he was the one who hassled you in the first place. Unless there's a written rule about that kind of vehicle in the parking lot you have every right to park your vehicle there. What do they want you to do, rent another car to go to work? And I would also report the harrassment to your agency, as well as the other issues, perhaps they need to stop sending travelers there.

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Hello,.

Thank you for the response. I moved it in order to not escalate the situation. Security called in a trespassing report to the police department. Police arrived and didn't know what to do (since I was an employee). Head of security wasn't there and was communicating through text to the security officer on site. He wouldn't give any information or provide me any details other than to move the vehicle or get arrested.

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Are you living in the van on hospital property between shifts?

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I would elevate this to management beyond security before I quit. Sounds to me that you are being subjected to some of the bay area snobbery that exists against those who are not of the elite who can afford to pay property taxes. The working class is looked down upon by many, to include their own. I doubt that the security chief owns his own bay area address.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

1). make sure you are not breaking any rules (in some places trucks should use separate part of parking)

2) call your agency and tell them in very bright color with liberal amount of drama added that it will be your LAST. contract with them if they do not contact hospital to fix the situation right away because it is your license at stake (it is, well, a touch of truth)

3). Make meeting with your NM and tell them in clear English that if that won't stop it right now, they can start to prepare to work without help.

In the meanwhile, spread info about facility abusing travel RNs high and wide. Here and on every social media you contact your travel friends. With the name of facility, yes.

I was similarly attacked for parking on employee's lot while working PRN. I just calmly got back in my car, call charge and tell that I am going home now (not accepting assignment - no abandonment- not reportable offence) if they do not fix it immediately. They had a choice between disciplining one power-riding "security ambassador" vs. facing ICU shift with 4 patients assignment for some nurses. Guess what the chose:)

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37 minutes ago, Wuzzie said:

Are you living in the van on hospital property between shifts?

No!

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17 minutes ago, KatieMI said:

1). make sure you are not breaking any rules (in some places trucks should use separate part of parking)

2) call your agency and tell them in very bright color with liberal amount of drama added that it will be your LAST. contract with them if they do not contact hospital to fix the situation right away because it is your license at stake (it is, well, a touch of truth)

3). Make meeting with your NM and tell them in clear English that if that won't stop it right now, they can start to prepare to work without help.

In the meanwhile, spread info about facility abusing travel RNs high and wide. Here and on every social media you contact your travel friends. With the name of facility, yes.

I was similarly attacked for parking on employee's lot while working PRN. I just calmly got back in my car, call charge and tell that I am going home now (not accepting assignment - no abandonment- not reportable offence) if they do not fix it immediately. They had a choice between disciplining one power-riding "security ambassador" vs. facing ICU shift with 4 patients assignment for some nurses. Guess what the chose:)

Thanks for all the great advice. Problem is that the hospital is now facing overstaffing and don't seem to care at the moment. That's how they operate; its an HCA hospital

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26 minutes ago, caliotter3 said:

I would elevate this to management beyond security before I quit. Sounds to me that you are being subjected to some of the bay area snobbery that exists against those who are not of the elite who can afford to pay property taxes. The working class is looked down upon by many, to include their own. I doubt that the security chief owns his own bay area address.

This is definitely true. I pretty much was accused of every stereotype by the new head of security a few months back during our first encounter when he didn't know I worked there

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26 minutes ago, perfectzero01 said:

This is definitely true. I pretty much was accused of every stereotype by the new head of security a few months back during our first encounter when he didn't know I worked there

Why am I not surprised at this? I received regular insulting behavior like this when I lived in the area.

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