new job description every day, unpaid on call

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in LTC.

It seems like every day I get a new job description.

Can you do this. and oh today, I need you to do this. And focus on this today..

And today beat all.

I was informed after being in my position for several weeks, that I will be having to take on call responsibility every 4th week

I am really irritated. Part of the reason that I left my last job is because I really HATE being on call. And I am certain that I expressed this in my initial interview, and taking call was not part of the job description that I agreed to.

I have a sleep disorder and I take medication. I take medication in order to SLEEP. I don't sleep without it. At all. NONE. ZERO.

And I really can't be on call, if I am on sleep aids.

Is there anything I can do about this? Do I have any rights as far as this is concerned? Other than the right to quit?

And another thing, I am an hourly paid worker, and there is no "on call" pay. I know that the on call rate is only $2/hr or something like that...but don't they have to pay it?

VERY FRUSTRATED!

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

yea if your on call you have to be paid. I would fight them on the issue, it was not in the original job description that you signed up for. Tough situation.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

If on call was not discussed in your interview, I would decline. Perhaps that's a signal to look for another job. I'd be outta there. And yes, if you're on call, they must pay you. Who would do it otherwise?

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Specializes in FNP.

Do you have a contract?

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I really like my current job, but the call time is a deal breaker. The original amount was one call a pay period which I agreed to without hesitation. They now require 2 or 3 a pay period. Sounds like you may need to start looking elsewhere. I hate to start over in a new clinical area, but the call is so disruptive to my life and distructive to my health. You need to take care of yourself. Your employer will not do it for you. You can try to discuss the job description and recent changes with your employer, but they can make decisions for their business which results in changes in your job description. It is all very frustrating. I hope things work out in your favor.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

Just say no. If it wasn't in your original job description then you didn't agree to it. I left management primarily because of the on call. I HATED it with a passion to be called and woken up in the middle of the night because a CNA called in. Or worse, a nurse and I'd have to drag myself out of bed and go work a shift. Also unpaid. I don't blame you one bit for not wanting it.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I hear ya, on call is a deal breaker for me to. My last day at work is in two days and im leaving because they started mandatory on call....on the night shift...that is jut not really fair .

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Read the employment laws for your state it will have all the information you need regarding oncall.

Find your policies and procedure manuals and that will also have all the rules and regs. Most facilities have them on the intranet nowerdays

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Specializes in Home Health.

I have learned in my career that policies change depending on needs of the company and that they can change several times in several ways depending on which way the wind is blowing!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
It seems like every day I get a new job description.

Can you do this. and oh today, I need you to do this. And focus on this today..

And today beat all.

I was informed after being in my position for several weeks, that I will be having to take on call responsibility every 4th week

I am really irritated. Part of the reason that I left my last job is because I really HATE being on call. And I am certain that I expressed this in my initial interview, and taking call was not part of the job description that I agreed to.

I have a sleep disorder and I take medication. I take medication in order to SLEEP. I don't sleep without it. At all. NONE. ZERO.

And I really can't be on call, if I am on sleep aids.

Is there anything I can do about this? Do I have any rights as far as this is concerned? Other than the right to quit?

And another thing, I am an hourly paid worker, and there is no "on call" pay. I know that the on call rate is only $2/hr or something like that...but don't they have to pay it?

VERY FRUSTRATED!

It depends on whether you are in a "right to work" state or an "at will state". I once worked at a hospital the claimed I was an "hourly exempt" employee as a supervisor and refused to pay regardless how long I worked when they regularly would dock my pay IF I was late......which is a joke of course If I'm hourly one way I'm hourly the other way which means I'm no longer "exempt" It depends on your individual state and how it covers "on call". Check your individual state labor laws and call them or the Attorney General and ask! Technically your employer has the "right" to do whatever they wish as long as they don't violate any labor laws. You can however, claim a reasonable accommodation for your sleep disorder based on how disabling sleep disorders can be.

http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/regulations/

https://askjan.org/media/Sleep.html

http://www.dol.gov/

http://www.ada.gov/

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/

:)

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Specializes in LTC.

no contract

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
no contract

Management like supervisor....is this like administrative call?

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