Meeting With HR, Manager, Union Rep

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I have worked on a unit at my hospital for 3 years now. I decided to leave the unit I was on, and I have been gone to another unit for about 1 month. 

Yesterday I got a call from the manager of the old unit, stating that I was to have a meeting with HR, the old manager, and a union rep on Tuesday. When I asked what it was about I got a vague answer, “an incident that happened in October”.

I had not been made aware of any incidents, or had any meetings with management about anything I’ve done wrong. Why would they call me into a meeting almost 4 months after said “incident”?

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Specializes in ER.

Maybe they are getting sued. Better think about lawyering up.

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Do you know your union rep? If not, try to find out who it is and contact this person prior to the meeting. Reps usually have experience with these meetings in which management tries to blindside employees.  If possible, let the rep do your talking. If you start talking off the cuff you may say something that they can use against you. Make sure you take notes during the meeting for yourself. Use those notes to craft your written rebuttal. Do not sign anything, no matter what.

Once you know what this is about, save any work emails or texts that pertain to the issue on your personal device. Also record calls if you can. It may sound a bit paranoid, but until the whole situation is resolved, you need to cover all bases.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
11 hours ago, NisterNurse said:

I had not been made aware of any incidents, or had any meetings with management about anything I’ve done wrong. Why would they call me into a meeting almost 4 months after said “incident”?

Had something similar happen to me at Wrongway Regional Medical Center, sans the union rep since they're not union. The incident occurred in July and the meeting didn't happen until October.

Basically, Wrongway had been dinged by some surveying or bulldog entity for safety matter infractions and was proving proactivity in rectifying minor offenses. So I was called to HR along with my supervisor for propping open a nurses station door.

The meeting was like something from the Arlo Guthrie classic, Alice's Restaurant:

"...The 27 eight-by-ten color glossy pictures
With the circles and arrows
And a paragraph on the back of each one...

...This-piece-of-paper's-got-47-words-37-sentences
58-words-we-wanna-know-details-of-the-crime
Time-of-the-crime-and-any-other-kind-of-thing
You-gotta-say-pertaining-to-and-about-the-crime
I-want-to-know-arresting-officer's-name-and
Any-other-kind-of-thing-you-gotta-say..."

There were several full color 8x10's  showing me propping open the NS door with a wastecan, taken from a monitor, and a form I had to sign attesting to the fact that I would never again prop open a NS door lest I be struck dead by the hand of the Administrator.

It could be something big, or it could be something minor, and Emergent and TAKOO01 gave some good advice.

Good luck, NisterNurse, and welcome to allnurses!

 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

Definitely get in touch with your union rep, they may have an idea what it's about, especially if you're not the only nurse involved. Unfortunately, no real way to know until you get there. Hope it all works out okay, good luck!

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

It seems a little strange to me that someone called your union rep, is this policy where you work. I had a union but admin/HR never did this. Either way, I agree that you should talk to the rep prior to the meeting if possible to find out what is happening. I wouldnt totally necessarily agree and do whatever the rep says to do. Protect yourself by just listening (in the meeting) and not signing anything. Just tell them you need to think about the situation and will sign later, then if necessary get a lawyer.

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16 hours ago, Daisy4RN said:

It seems a little strange to me that someone called your union rep, is this policy where you work. 

Yeah, I called the union rep and she said that the meeting won’t continue unless a union rep is present

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Specializes in Critical Care.

As a union employee you have Weingarten rights that entitle you to union representation.  They are there to be your witness and advocate.  You need to be informed of what the meeting is about.  I would ask your mgr for clarification before the meeting so you are not blindsided.  But if they refuse to give it to you, be aware you can pause the meeting at any time to talk with your rep privately.  Read up on Weingarten via Google.  The rights were confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Any time there is a meeting where discipline is possible you can have union representation, but usually you have to ask.  Always use your union rep!  The meeting could be regarding a safety incident or patient complaint.  But not necessarily, depending on your mgr it may simply be a petty way to harass and maybe even try to derail your transfer.  Usually when you transfer you are back on probation for three months or whatever your company policy is.  Let us know how things turn out.

Good luck!

 

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1 hour ago, brandy1017 said:

  But not necessarily, depending on your mgr it may simply be a petty way to harass and maybe even try to derail your transfer.  Usually when you transfer you are back on probation for three months or whatever your company policy is.  Let us know how things turn out.

Good luck!

 

I’m going to ask my union rep that question! 

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