Mandating to work on days off

JZ_RN · Jul 5, 2012

Nope. My days off are important and I will not be forced to come in if I don't want to and didn't agree to it. I agreed to a full-time schedule, I agree to certain days, I don't agree to just come in all the time to cover for them and their poor staffing!

I'd say F that as well. Find a new job, 5 years experience you could find better. Good luck.

Andy Droid · Jul 5, 2012

I started a new position where they mandate you to work about a week in advance if they cannot get anyone to fill the hole.

So... they give you a weeks notice when they need you to cover a shift, and this is a problem?

When's the last time you scheduled an illness or car accident (or whatever keeps you away from work) 6 months ahead?

I am the new person who will be most likely mandated to work.

The new person gets the garbage nobody else wants.... isn't that how seniority is suposed to work?

I have been an RN for over 5 years and have never worked at a place that does this.

What have all the other places done.... compeltely shut down because none of the staff felt like showing up?

Really not trying to sound argumentitive.... I work with folks who have the same "attitude" and will NOT work a minute more than their "normally" scheduled time, but expect the world to drop what it's doing to cover their shifts when they have something come up.... I never really "got" that mentality.

morte, LPN, LVN · Jul 5, 2012

I truly do not understand YOUR attitude......how is anyone supposed to make plans? as some one mentioned in a prior post, what about doc appts, kids events, parents stuff?? nope, no extra work without my prior consent. Especially because this is an ongoing issue that the employer is NOT addressing.

So... they give you a weeks notice when they need you to cover a shift, and this is a problem?
When's the last time you scheduled an illness or car accident (or whatever keeps you away from work) 6 months ahead?
The new person gets the garbage nobody else wants.... isn't that how seniority is suposed to work?
What have all the other places done.... compeltely shut down because none of the staff felt like showing up?
Really not trying to sound argumentitive.... I work with folks who have the same "attitude" and will NOT work a minute more than their "normally" scheduled time, but expect the world to drop what it's doing to cover their shifts when they have something come up.... I never really "got" that mentality.

Andy Droid · Jul 5, 2012

I truly do not understand YOUR attitude......how is anyone supposed to make plans? as some one mentioned in a prior post, what about doc appts, kids events, parents stuff?? nope, no extra work without my prior consent. Especially because this is an ongoing issue that the employer is NOT addressing.

The orriginal post doesn't give any kind of a time frame for how long this has been going on, and to the contrary, says that people are quiting (in the proccess of it) and in the UPCOMING months there will be some huge gaps.

Prior to this we have no way of knowing if it was a "one shift every 3 or 4 months" kind of thing or not.

Nor do we know what kind of facility it is or the circumstances around the facility that may hinder hiring new people. ( a major hospital in a major city is a tad easier to staff than a rural small town clinic that takes a 4 hour dog sled trip to get to...)

So, really... without a tad bit more info we ca't lump all the blame on the facility and just assume it's some kind of business model they're experimenting with.

As for the "how is anyone supposed to make plans? as some one mentioned in a prior post, what about doc appts, kids events, parents stuff??"...

wow... really?

I get the whole "me time" thing, but to refuse to cover a shift or two simply because it's not scheduled several months out? or to contemplate quitting over it?

If you're suddenly booked to cover a shift, and have some valid excuse why you can't, bring it up to the person who does the schedule.

Besides... how impressed would you be if you went to your docs appt... or took your kid to their docs appt, and when you got there the door was locked with a note on it saying "a couple people were off sick, and nobody "felt like" working today.... sorry about your luck" ?

morte, LPN, LVN · Jul 5, 2012

Oh Puhlease!

The orriginal post doesn't give any kind of a time frame for how long this has been going on, and to the contrary, says that people are quiting (in the proccess of it) and in the UPCOMING months there will be some huge gaps.
Prior to this we have no way of knowing if it was a "one shift every 3 or 4 months" kind of thing or not.
Nor do we know what kind of facility it is or the circumstances around the facility that may hinder hiring new people. ( a major hospital in a major city is a tad easier to staff than a rural small town clinic that takes a 4 hour dog sled trip to get to...)
So, really... without a tad bit more info we ca't lump all the blame on the facility and just assume it's some kind of business model they're experimenting with.
As for the "how is anyone supposed to make plans? as some one mentioned in a prior post, what about doc appts, kids events, parents stuff??"...
wow... really?
I get the whole "me time" thing, but to refuse to cover a shift or two simply because it's not scheduled several months out? or to contemplate quitting over it?
If you're suddenly booked to cover a shift, and have some valid excuse why you can't, bring it up to the person who does the schedule.
Besides... how impressed would you be if you went to your docs appt... or took your kid to their docs appt, and when you got there the door was locked with a note on it saying "a couple people were off sick, and nobody "felt like" working today.... sorry about your luck" ?

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jul 5, 2012

Really not trying to sound argumentitive.... I work with folks who have the same "attitude" and will NOT work a minute more than their "normally" scheduled time, but expect the world to drop what it's doing to cover their shifts when they have something come up.... I never really "got" that mentality.

We have the same issue. The same people call off over and over again and don't care if we work short. Those of course are the same people who won't cover for others or who cannot possibly work short when someone else calls off. I wish we had the policy that there was always coverage. I am sick and tired of working short.

morte, LPN, LVN · Jul 5, 2012

But it is managements problem to solve. You see, it is cheaper to pay some OT than hire enough staff to cover. So you are being used, big time.

We have the same issue. The same people call off over and over again and don't care if we work short. Those of course are the same people who won't cover for others or who cannot possibly work short when someone else calls off. I wish we had the policy that there was always coverage. I am sick and tired of working short.

DizzyLizzyNurse · Jul 5, 2012

We have the same issue. The same people call off over and over again and don't care if we work short. Those of course are the same people who won't cover for others or who cannot possibly work short when someone else calls off. I wish we had the policy that there was always coverage. I am sick and tired of working short.

So people who show up for work and are reliable should be punished for the people who never come in?

But it is managements problem to solve. You see, it is cheaper to pay some OT than hire enough staff to cover. So you are being used, big time.

Yup! People should be fired if their attendance is that much of a problem. Especially in this economy when so many nurses can't find jobs! They would be easily replaced and replaced by people who might actually show up. Then that might scare everyone else into coming to work as schedule.

I actually do pick up OT but the hell if I'm gonna be forced to. I enjoy my non work time too much.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 5, 2012

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xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jul 5, 2012

So people who show up for work and are reliable should be punished for the people who never come in?
Yup! People should be fired if their attendance is that much of a problem. Especially in this economy when so many nurses can't find jobs! They would be easily replaced and replaced by people who might actually show up. Then that might scare everyone else into coming to work as schedule.
I actually do pick up OT but the hell if I'm gonna be forced to. I enjoy my non work time too much.

Hey I wish management would take care of the issue of chronic call offers. I agree it shouldn't be our problem. I also am one of those who is punished for being a reliable employee. I would rather work when we are short, than have the other nurses work without the help. All we ever here is "due to the economy" we cannot afford X,Y, or Z.

carrie_c · Jul 6, 2012

My job makes us take call every other week. So it is basically mandatory overtime. That is bad enough. I would look for something else ASAP.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2012

if they need to do this on a short-term basis (actual, if they do it at all) they should maintain a list of the staff with the date of last mandate for each...and the one that was the longest-ago gets the next one. it's the only fair way.

you can't be the only person being screwed by this system. get at least two others to speak out with you at a staff meeting to insist on a new way to manage this problem. what's the worst that can happen? they fire you...and then there are more holes to fill. and you get a well-deserved vacation. but i'm betting they won't fire all of you, or even one of you, if they're that short. compulsory ot is also subject to state and federal rules on overtime pay-- look into it at your state department of wages and employment. i'll bet it's costing them more to pay you ot (and they do have to pay extra for that) than to hire somebody new.