Mandatory Holidays????

babynurselsa, RN · Jun 14, 2006

Unfortunately that is the way it is pretty much anywhere. As far as the patients and the staffing goes we cannot shut down because it is a holiday. Not one of the better parts of the job but just a harsh reality.

I do not believe that anywhere that I worked I got holiday pay. A couple of places paid a pathetic differential.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jun 14, 2006

Yep, that's what they do where I work (and the last couple of places I've worked as well). I think we get holiday pay (25% diff) for 4th of July but none of the other summer holidays.

Just remember, any holiday you want off likely a lot of other folks also want off and census doesn't typically drop (at least not for summer holidays; sometimes at Christmas) but the hospital must still be staffed.

Sorry; just noticed you list having experience, so I'm sure you know about staffing during holidays. I wrongly assumed the OP was a new nurse, sorry.

gwlillith · Jun 14, 2006

Appreciate all the posts.

The facility I previously worked in paid for ALL pertinent holidays, including summer.

I am more than aware of the "harsh realities" in staff nursing, more than once I have been informed by managment that the hospital must be staffed 24/7.

Just wondered what you all though about it, that's all.:balloons:

catlady, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2006

The mandatory holidays aren't surprising. The lack of holiday pay is surprising. Do the non-clinical office types get the day off? If so, they owe you something, don't they?

gwlillith · Jun 14, 2006

The mandatory holidays aren't surprising. The lack of holiday pay is surprising. Do the non-clinical office types get the day off? If so, they owe you something, don't they?

All non clinical officers have the day off. :angryfire

But I bet if they came in on a holiday, they would be compensated for it!

Aside from them, I certainly don't think things will change for us here anytime soon when it comes to fair wages in nursing.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2006

In some states, there is no extra pay for working holidays, in others there is. It is one of those regional differences at times.

elkpark · Jun 14, 2006

Every hospital I've ever worked has expected/required the full-time staff (and, often, part-time) to work a "fair share" of holidays in order to staff the hospital adequately, and I've only worked at a couple that paid anything extra for "holiday pay." What I've gotten in most places was a paid day off that could be used another time.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jun 14, 2006

Ahhhhhhhh the perk of agency! LOL! They tried pulling that on me at my last job...see that I am agency now!~

I really took a deep look at myself and what I wanted as part of my career...flexibility with my schedule was A #1, and holidays off if I wished. I was missing too much with my kids and my hubby..and it was taking it toll on the family and any planned events! I wanted to be a nurse, but not to the point I lost out on being mommy!

So that mandatory vacation and other inflexibility with my employer had me packing! And soooooo glad I did.

Yeah sure some times I miss a few days of work by being cancled...but my family finds a way to deal with the minus on income somehow...having mommy around was worth that!

I am so glad..I was so tired of telling my kids that I told Santa to wait a few days so that my hubby and I could be there to see them open gifts...or my kids opening gifts with hubby without me. Or missing my kids plays, band concerts, birthdays, fourth of july (we do that one big!), and other events!

catlady, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2006

I worked in a couple of places where holidays worked were paid at double time and a half. Time and a half for the holiday itself, and straight time for the day off that was not taken.

Always surprised me thereafter when other facilities didn't do that. :)

jetscreamer101 · Jun 15, 2006

In the facility I am at now, we get 12 holidays per year. If you work the holiday, you can get double time or an extra day off (you use it just like vacation time). My DON tries to split up the holidays so if you work a holiday one year, you get the same holiday next year off. She is really flexible with the schedule. She lets me choose whether I want to work a holiday or take it off.

fergus51 · Jun 15, 2006

I've never not been compensated extra for working holidays as a staff member. I wouldn't be so keen on working it at straight time when my manager has the day off with her family. Now that I'm on a travel assignment of course I don't get any extra money.