Mandated cancellations

[kellycinalli]

My work just told us that they are now doing mandated cancellations. We were all hired for 40 hours and are now working 32 or less. The problem is , the census is at its all time low. Some are afraid of losing their jobs. Have any of you ever heard of mandated cancelations? And can you apply for temporary unemployment?

[Mulan]

What area of the country are you in?

They claim the economy is getting better but I just see it getting worse and worse.

I've done PRN for years so am pretty much always the first canceled.

Even full time get canceled, due to low census, that is nothing new.

As far as unemployment goes, I'd check with your state, they probably have a website.

[kellycinalli]

I live in New Jersey. We never had to be mandated before. I feel as though is a problem between the company. They opened up two other facilities in pretty much the same location. We're competing with ourselves. I've never saw it this bad and I've been with the company for 15 years

[Mulan]

I'm in the south east but have seen cancellations due to low census for at least the same amount of time.

[PediLove2147, BSN, RN]

I am in a "flex" position where they can cancel you down to (I think) 28 hours. They offer vacation time first so the chances of you having to take the time is slim but it does occasionally happen. Just this past week I asked not to be cancelled because I had a student but because no one else would take the time I was told to stay home. It happens rarely so I wouldn't need to collect unemployment. Can you use PTO time? Were you hired knowing this was a possibility? Most new nurses at my facility are hired into a flex position and after three years you can leave.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

This happens all the time in our PICU - usually winter is our busy season with RSV, but we had a prolonged period of low census. We are offered float opportunities to peds and NICU, but if we're not needed there, you just get cancelled.

It's just the nature of the beast, and in my 30+ years of experience, I'm not aware of ANY nurse who has EVER collected unemployment for ANY reason.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

When census drops at my workplace, peoples' shifts are cancelled all the time. There's no way that most for-profit, nonunion entities will keep excess employees on the clock when there are not enough patients in the building to support high staffing levels.

At the hospital where I work, PRN employees are cancelled first, then the part-time workers are cancelled, then the full-time people are cancelled.

[salvadordolly]

This happened occasionally at the hospital unit I worked at. However, in OB, they were getting VTO'd (voluntary time off, LOL) at least twice a week. All of them just found other jobs and the unit had to be temporarily closed.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Being cancelled is normal.

A facility can either plan it's staffing based on a full census, or or on average (or other less than full number) census. If they staff towards average, they will be short staffed when it's a full house. If they schedule for a full staff, they must cancel staff as needed, because if there aren't enough patients, the revenue won't be there to pay salaries and keep the doors open.

Common priority to cancel is agency, registry, then everybody else on a rotating basis. If someone requests to be low-censused, that is generally given as long as its not abused, and others get their opportunity to be flexed too. If the employee has PTO, they can use it if they choose, or simply be unpaid.

I know it's rough, but necessary to achieve the balance between good, safe patient care and having the dollars to continue operations.

And yes, in some states you may be able to claim unemployment if your salary drops below a certain level in a week.

[kellycinalli]

Like I said ,I've been with this company for 15 years. I've never saw it this bad. I have PTO time and accrued sick time as well as 4 weeks vacation. I'm grandfathered in!One would think I would not get cancelled because of seniority but apparently that isn't the case.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Like I said ,I've been with this company for 15 years. I've never saw it this bad. I have PTO time and accrued sick time as well as 4 weeks vacation. I'm grandfathered in!One would think I would not get cancelled because of seniority but apparently that isn't the case.

Cancellation is the norm now in a majority of places. You have been very fortunate to avoid this up until now.

If your facility canceled only the newer staff.....why would anyone stay at the facility of want to be hired there......there are some union facilities that cancel (IF they cancel RN's) by seniority but that is by house seniority and you WILL float. If they don't have mandatory cancellation...all the assistive personel are canceled like unit secretaries/CNA's/phlebotomy and RN's work in those positions.

It is the reality of today's market.

Cancellation started in the 90's. They were called Low Activity time and you still accrued your vacation. You were not mandated to use your vacation/PTO. Then they were considered NO pay days....where it didn't hurt you insurance benefits. Now they want you to use up all your PTO in lieu of waiting so they can deduct you insurance premiums. (See what no representation has done for nurses?)

I am curious........What were you grandfathered into that you feel your seniority should preclude you from taking your turn with everyone else?

By the way......I agree that I don't see this improved economy....this might have information for you.

Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Think how horrendous it would be if you were a less senior employee, or you worked with a couple of 20+ year lifers, and you were the one being cancelled much more frequently than your peers. All the newer employees would quickly jump ship.

Rotation is really the fairest solution to a difficult situation.