Money saving measures used by employers

[AlsgalRN]

This week all staff at my hospital received notice of changes that the hospital will be making. There will be no pay raises this year. For one year, there will be no matches to our 401k. They will be cutting PTO and evaluating other benefits. For this year, our bonus program that was based on hospital financial status and patient satisfaction has been canceled.

What is happening where you are?

[Carolbknits]

We never got a bonus at Christmas!

[truern]

Our "Christmas bonus" is actually an incentive for employees to charge for items used in patient care, watch out for wasteful use of hospital supplies, etc. Depending on how much the hospital saved during the year we'd get a percentage based on our wages.

I'm wondering how many will be faithful about scanning pt charge items now?

[anononurse]

bonuses cut, staffing cut, LPNs laid off- their rationale is since LPNs work under the RN & are limited in what they can do, it's more cost-effective to keep the RN who can work independently & can do the same duties of an LPN plus RN duties. (we only had 4 LPNs in our dept.) Also, minimal overtime has been in effect for a couple years now. We also voted as a group to do away w/parties & will be doing a holiday potluck instead.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Vacant positions left unfilled, a few lay-offs, no raises, no overtime unless an emergency. More reductions will be announced in the next 2 weeks -- expected to see salary reductions and/or more lay-offs, reductions in benefits, etc.

I'm just hoping I still have a job this time next month.

[goltzilocks]

I'm in Tucson AZ and we were just informed a week ago that there would be no pay raises this year. A nearby hospital is following.....

Our benefits increased very little and no word on matches on 401K's.

As far as supplies.....UGH!!! Yeh, cheaper stuff and they don't order as much so we are constantly running out of things and scavenging other units!

I am very grateful to have a job and make a good wage for being a nurse. HOWEVER, my theory is that if they don't treat nurses well in tough times, when the good times roll many will jump ship for something better. Loyalty begets loyalty.

[Babs0512]

No Christmas bonus last year - we really were depending upon that. 2% raises at the most. 50% tuition reimbursement for full timers only (instead of the 100%) use to be that part timers got tuition reimbursement according to hours worked - not anymore, a change to substandard health insurance - that costs more by the way. No hospital footing the bill for seminars and other educational programs ( unless you're one of the "elite" members of the hospital ie: management).

Use to be that if you were stuck in the hospital for OT (unplanned) that the nursing supervisor would, if asked, order food from the cafeteria for the group stuck in the hospital - it would be charged to the unit you were on. That's no more - oh, we still get stuck sometimes for 18 or more hours, but now we do it on an empty stomach.

The most infamous change it that the hospital is hiring part-timers with the "hope" of getting them full time work, but then working them full time hours. People are so desperate - they are actually "grateful" for this mistreatment. Heck, I'm one of them - I've been part time now for 3 years, no full time in the near future.

Blessings