Lottery for holiday shift?

Altra, BSN, RN · May 23, 2012

Regarding your manager's current approach ... it takes more cojones (which she apparently lacks) to be proactive than it does to be punitive.

It's very surprising that there is no policy spelling out how holidays are to be scheduled. Can you all, as a group, agree on some kind of rotation and suggest it to her as a group? Emphasize how much time and stress this approach would save her.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 23, 2012

lottery holiday was once the approach taken by the facility where i presently work, then i came in and heard the loud "roars" of several nurses complaining that the same nurses where pulled to be off time and time again. therefore, to be fair to everyone i went back several years down the list and began a fair list that everyone can benefit. needless to say, the often winners weren't happy with the new method, but then again as i always say... "you can't please everyone every time" :cool:

manager123 · May 23, 2012

Unit manager is clueless and it is a fabulous way to increase staff turnover and new orientation costs. She should create a staff scheduling committee and make sure to include staff that whine about the schedule and those that seem to be on the perfect teacher pet schedule. LEt her lay down the rules for balancing and let staff own it. You are not wrong to be upset by the lack of schedules.

We have different ways on different units to schedule holidays. Regardless of how the schedule is created, the manager is accountable to ensure a balanced schedule across all weeks (including the holiday). Some units do a 3 year rotation and others let staff sign up by listing their preferences. Bottom line is that the schedule comes out balanced. The holiday schedules are done way in advance for winter and summer holidays. Holidays can be traded or given away to someone who wants to work for the premium pay.

Our unit shared governance does the schedules. For those units that allow staff to place their preferences, if it is uneven the previous similar holidays will be reviewed and then they look at seniority. Being off on a holiday does NOT mean you are off for the 3 day weekend and that is clearly spelled out.

If you are hired to a unit that rotates holidays, you know at the time of hire which holidays you will be working.

nursenice1 · May 23, 2012

I was a charge nurse for many years for scheuduling all three shifts.

After Labor day, we would do the schedule for the next three holidays ( thanksgiving, christmas and New Years ( or eve) and after that we would schedule the 3 hoilidays for the summer ( memorial day, 4th of July and Labor day). Everyone signed up for two of the three in each with a first and second preference. Every one received there first preference for one holiday and second choice for the second. If I did not have enough people to sign up, I assigned them then. I knew that if they did not like there schedule choice, they could switch,, but they were responsible. Sometimes staff would ask to work a holiday that I did not sign them up for and I let them change with someone who was scheduled, but they needed to let me know at least 1 month ahead.

Dragonmom · May 23, 2012

I work at a rural LTC, 45 residents when we're full. Our DON fills out our schedule, when she "gets to it". For the last year I worked every holiday. Thought I would have this one off because it falls next to my weekend off. Nope, she has me off for the weekend but working the Monday holiday.

Several of us have asked for a set rotating schedule. No luck there either. She seems to fill out the schedule any old way she wants. The current schedule is made out only as far as the 30th. She will post the new schedule on the 30th, so those that are not working that day will have to call that day to find out when they work next and what their schedule is, which wastes our time answering their questions during med pass and treatments etc. Her scheduling tactics make it impossible to make plans, Dr. appointments, DDS appointments, meetings with our childrens teachers or even a simple plan to hit the grocery store or meet up with friends. The scheduling is also the number one reason we have a high turn over. We have contacted corporate about it but they will do nothing. So we keep loosing good nurses and are constantly training new nurses, and for such a small place that's pretty sad. I am looking for another position.

macckp · May 24, 2012

So, it's 1 week before a holiday and our manager announces today that if she doesn't have the volunteers she needs for the holiday shift we will just have to draw names to decide who works it.
What do you say to a manager that a) doesn't bother posting a schedule until we're almost out of any posted schedule, b) thinks it's fine to wait until the last minute to either get volunteers or force nurses to work a holiday, and c) thinks it's fine to possibly randomly pick nurses who have done holidays versus choosing only from those nurses who have say, not worked a holiday at all in the past 12 months. I'm so angry about this sloppy way of doing things, I want to say something without saying the wrong thing. Help please!!!!!!!

Where I work, we have holiday teams that we are all assigned to. It is a 3 year rotation, so you know when you work. This year I get Christmas off. I already know this, so I already made my plans. Your manager sounds like she needs to be out of management!!!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 31, 2012

Sooo......what happened? Is your manager willing to take a look at any of the options laid out here?