New HHC- fishy?

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Hi, everyone!

Before I begin my questions, I need to state that I am a brand new HH nurse; although I do have nursing experience. This is a brand new HHC- in business for approximately 3 months. I'm just curious if this is the norm, or if I am too paranoid/hesitant.

1. UNpaid training. I've trained approximately 16 hours with NO PAY. I was understanding because they are a new company- but now I feel that I am being taken advantage of. Is this the norm? They called it "shadowing".

2. UNpaid mandatory weekly staff meetings. Only an hour- but golly, I sure have to have at least gas money to get to the office!

3. We were told today at the UNpaid staff meeting that they were hosting a *Meet and Greet* with the area physicians to help drill up some referrals. No big deal, right? But again, UNpaid, and I have to pretend I'm a cocktail waitress and serve wine and Hors d'œuvre! I didn't become an RN to play waitress on a Friday night that I could be spending with my family!

4. 8 hours this week of work. That's it. But again, they're a new company and have 4 nurses.

5. We were told today that we need to go in to prospective clients homes to arrange their medications WITHOUT PAY-- but they're waiting on the caresource approval and the rationale provided was, "They'll be clients that generate 40 grand a year once the approval hits." I spoke up and said, "Isn't this a HUGE liability issue?" Their remark back was, "we're not going to force you to do anything if you feel your license is in jeapordy- but it looks bad for business."

Is this stuff fishy to you? Am I being too dramatic? I don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face because this is a JOB and things might look up. I just need some opinions!

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Are you serious???? That's absolutely ridiculous!!! Generally people who "shadow" are prospective employees who have not been hired yet and do not do any hands on work. Doesn't sound like the case. Two, any time spent working should be paid. That includes staff meetings. And there is no way on God's green earth I would ever play waitress to a bunch of doctors!!! I went to nursing school so I could stop doing that.

I don't even know what to say about giving prospective clients a "preview" of your services, and for free as well.

Yup, fishy as day old tuna.

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ummm no no no no... check with your state's labor laws but you should be paid for every hour you work, at that pay cannot be below the state minimum wage laws...

i would think a phone call to the labor board would clear things up...

i don't care if you are a new business or not, you get to play by the rules and that is the price of doing business...

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None of this is kosher so to speak. The only one that I might agree with is unpaid training. But I would only count the first hour of orientation when I got hired, if they want to take a few minutes to an hour to give you some blank forms and tell you how they want you to fill them out. That is it. From there on out, pay for every business trip to the office for mandatory anything. Waitressing? Holy, moly. No, no, no. These owners are out in left field with the cows. Start looking. Look far and wide.

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RUN RUN RUN.....this is not only fishy.....its very bad!

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Thanks a million for your responses. I called today and told one of the owners I declined the position and didn't feel comfortable working with them (even though I've been working but not getting paid!). The other owner has been burning up my phone- I think 12 calls today? I wasn't able to answer because I was visiting a family member in the ICU- but it's still creepy. Calling over and over and over again- not even a minute to go by between calls.

I got several texts, too. One stated, "I have no problem u not wanting to work with us. But plz tell me what made you uncomfortable to come back- so that I might can fix it."

I hope they just leave me alone. I hate this!

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If they can't figure out what the problem is, you won't be able to explain it. And be careful in communicating with them again. They would probably use your words against you should you find it necessary to apply for unemployment.

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

Suggest that they log on to the CMS website and read up on Medicare rules and regs, conditions of participation, Chapter 7 of the Medicare benefit policy manual, and the state labor laws.

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