Money in your pocket for gas??

Specialties Home Health

Published

Here's another question. Do you keep a envelope or something in your vehicle for gas money and other misc things? I should and normally do. I had to make a bill payment a week ago and have been struggling since. I was told when I was hired we could get daily pay. I submitted all forms thursday and asked friday if I could get something paid so I wouldn't be flat broke over the weekend since I was on call. They said yes and then turned around and couldn't or wouldn't help me out. Needless to say I saw one patient today and had to come home. I ran out of gas on the way home.

Just wondering what you all do or what your agency"s policy was regarding this situation. I would think they want the field nurses to be able to get paid when needed. I also explained this to my DON today. Monday starts a new week and ... well... you get the picture.

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When my agency didn't give me fill-in work for when my client was hospitalized, I received another eviction notice, my phone was turned off, etc. and I did not have money to put gas in the car to go back to work or anywhere else. My client's family adopted their usual attitude toward me. Holier than thou. After all, their rent is paid, a relatively new car is driven, there is always food in the home, there is internet, satellite TV, you know. Makes you really want to work there. Same agency saw fit to tell the unemployment people it was my fault for not working during a previous layoff period. Home health agencies do not care. When I worked for people that cared, or acted like it, it was for only a very short time, in another city, for another agency. When those people were gone, the caring attitude went with them. Don't ever expect anything from the agency. If the DON is paid, s/he is happy. End of story.

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They're usually good about giving me something. But this past week, when I ask for $ it's a pitiful little thing. For instance, I asked for something since the holiday was coming. They gave me 1 mileage reimbursement check worth a whopping $48! This was not going to last my family and I 3 days of living. I think the payroll fella was just a tad lazy to do it on Friday. He was more concerned with the private duty folks wanting a daily pay. And your right, their morgage was paid, dirving a fancy BMW, and buying tags and cars for kids.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I have never heard of "daily pay". I get paid biweekly in home health just as I did in hospital nursing and in school nursing as well. If I need gas, I pull into the nearest gas station. My company has not nor would they ever give me cash to pay for gas. I use my car to go many non-work related places, why would I expect them to pay for those miles? I get paid $0.40/mile for miles driven while working. That is reimbursed in my every other week check pre-tax. It basically just cancels out the cost of my benefits.

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When you have gone a month without working, there is no check, weekly or biweekly, until you earn the next one. I did not ask my employer to "give" me any thing, including "daily" pay. I had already earned the pay. I had the information from the Labor Board that substantiated them paying me already earned pay, not a 'handout', 'pay in advance', or a 'loan', or anything else, other than someone getting off their rear end and cutting my check. You know they had to take the same steps to cut that check no matter what. In one case, they withheld the pay that was already due to me, and for which I could have filed a claim with the Labor Board. I do not understand why anyone would construe the OP to be a person asking for something that they were not entitled to. Daily pay is daily pay. I have worked for agencies that provide daily pay. If you say you are providing it, then, provide it. Don't adopt a policy of denigrating an employee who needs their pay in order to put gas in their car or pay their rent or buy some food.

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Right, I didn't ask for a loan or anything. I was just asking for pay from that week. I had $30 to my name on Friday. i used it for milk, gas, oil for the truck, and other essentials to make supper this weekend. I have a 18 month old, 4 yo, and 6yo at home. I was on call this weekend and had to come home early b/c i was out of gas and money. I missed 4 visits on saturday. Sitting here now wondering when or possibly how much I might get paid tomorrow to start my week.

The payroll guy had all my work for the week up to Friday. His reasoning was "it just takes longer for me to put your stuff in the system." I told him what the situation was and his response was "well if that happens just call us over the weekend". I had completed visits and mileage for the week. I was flat broke. If they had said they could not do daily pay then I would understood that up front. I already feel shameful to have to explain why I need my pay. I guarantee this, I don't care what happens next time. I will not ever give my last dime to pay a bill. And this will start a "gas only" fund in my pocket from now on. I think its a good idea since I don't get a direct check weekly or biweekly.

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