Not a Nursing Question, but Has to Do with Work, So...

Nurses General Nursing

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I work with two CNAs that don't drive. One (Amy) simply doesn't have a license due to a mental/physical disability since birth. The other (Kim) has a license and a car, but the car is broken down and she can't afford the repairs. Both expect a ride home from coworkers every day.

Amy often goes to a friend's house instead of to her home. Her friend's house is literally two blocks from the facility where we work. She has never even asked me for a ride, she simply waits by my car and gets in when I unlock the doors. Kim lives about three miles away and used to ask for a ride, but now she simply tells me she will be waiting for me. They do the same thing to other coworkers who drive.

It isn't a big deal because it only takes about ten or fifteen minutes to get them both home. I don't think that any of us spend much extra money on gas. I think there is just some frustration with being expected to deliver them to wherever they need to go. Neither has ever offered to pitch in for gas.

Kim is a single mom who leaves her children with her mother while she works. A few days ago, Kim's mother called her while we were on our way to her house. She was concerned because Kim wasn't home yet. I only heard one side of the conversation, but Kim made the comment to her mother, "The nurse who is taking me home didn't manage to get out on time. She really needs to be more considerate of the fact that I have obligations at home." It was a long and lousy night. I was tempted to pull over and tell her to get out (not that I ever would, but it certainly annoyed me).

All of us who take them home have similar issues. We are just seeking some advice on how we can reduce our frustration about this. One of the CNAs that gives them rides has said she is going to start charging them fifty cents every time she gives them a ride.

Also one day when someone was dropping Amy off, her car died in the parking lot of Amy's apartment complex. She ended up having to call her husband to get it moved and eventually restarted. Amy told her that her car is a piece of junk and that she got in trouble with her landlord for having a friend's car in the lot overnight. She said that from now on Amy and Kim can just walk.

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I don't mind doing favours for people but when they start to act entitled and imperious, that's the end. If they even offered to chip in for gas, most people would probably decline the offer and cheerfully drive them home anyway. But no, freeloaders have to push the envelope.

Someone should just be straight up with them that everyone feels taken advantage of, and that their snippy entitled attitudes have rubbed everyone the wrong way. A few molecules of genuine appreciation, and they could have had free rides for life. They blew it.

Are you being completely serious right now? You are telling me that two adults - regardless of the reasons why they can't get to and from work on their own - expect their coworkers to furnish them rides home from work? This bothers me. I like to lend a helping hand, no problem. But these people don't sound the least bit grateful about having their own personal taxi service. Tell them no. It isn't my problem, especially if you act like I have ANY obligation to you whatsoever.

Then again, I see why they're behaving this way - you've permitted this behavior by allowing one into your car without even asking you first, and again when you didn't kick the other one out of your car for making the comment on her cellphone. The amount of entitlement is baffling.

Bottom line is, they are going to keep doing this as long as everyone lays down and lets them. They're adults who obviously GET TO work somehow, so next time they were waiting by my car I would tell them I had things to take care of and didn't have the time. Every time.

Maybe I come from an unfriendly part of the country, but I cannot imagine a coworker just getting into my car at the end of a shift without even asking if they could get a ride. I've never heard of such a thing. Seriously, if I got out to the parking lot, and saw a coworker sitting in my car, I would be only a small step away from calling the police.

Reminds me of a similar situation, the poor CNA, had bummed rides citing she was poor. Never offered to pay a nickel but took a nice trip to Hawaii, then we all stopped giving rides.

I often take home a coworker that does not drive. She always asks and not assume I'm taking her home. If I'm running behind she either waits or find another way home.

There's always room in the budget for a trip to Hawaii!

There's always room in the budget for a trip to Hawaii!

And it's soo much easier to save up that kind of money if transportation to and from work isn't costing you anything. :)

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Umm, time to start saying NO!!!! You are only enabling these two to take advantage of you all, why is anyone allowing this to continue??? Especially if they are throwing insults!

SAY NO, even if they are waiting by your car! You need to cure them of their obvious feelings of entitlement!

Annie

Specializes in Pedi.

Tell them you moved. Only unlock the driver's side door when going out to your car and drive away. Start parking somewhere else. Tell them you have plans after work and aren't going home. Is there a reason why the person who lives 2 blocks from the hospital can't walk? If she's working as a CNA she's presumably able bodied.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
While I am a big fan of carpooling and ridesharing for environmental purposes, it needs to be with the consent and voluntary participation of all involved. :) It is a basic expectation of the CNAs' employment that they will get themselves to and from work. It is not in any way the responsibility of any of their coworkers. Has anyone spoken to the nurse manager about the situation? I would think it would be appropriate for the NM or some other administrative type to speak with the two CNAs and explicitly tell them that they are not allowed to (continually, on a routine basis) solicit coworkers for rides home, just as they would not be permitted to sell Mary Kay or impose on coworkers in any other way inappropriate in the workplace. If they can't get back and forth to work on their own, they need to find some other employment.

I agree with the excellent suggestions already posted of things to say to these individuals to put an end to this.

I really don't think management needs to get involved. The people who are tired of providing free taxi service just need to speak up and say "no." I don't understand why this wasn't done the instant the drivers started to resent being taken advantage of.

Specializes in None yet..
As I pick my jaw up off the floor...WOW. Um, when someone is doing you a favor, the appropriate response is "Thank you."

My suggestion for Kim is, "I respect that you have obligations at home. Therefore, because I cannot guarantee that I will be out on time, it's best you find more reliable transportation." Of course, in the shock of the moment, it would probably sound like "This clearly ain't working." :sarcastic:

As for Amy, "I promise it won't happen again...because my car isn't going by your house."

Such skillful replies... and they are helping me to pick MY jaw up off the floor. I think you are identifying a universal issue: when a kindness gets nudged over the line to an exploitation. It's up to those of us who are giving to let the other person know there is a line and to set the limits. Don't lose track of the fact that you did a kind act for another and now you are able to do a kind act for yourself as well.

Tell them you moved. Only unlock the driver's side door when going out to your car and drive away. Start parking somewhere else. Tell them you have plans after work and aren't going home. Is there a reason why the person who lives 2 blocks from the hospital can't walk? If she's working as a CNA she's presumably able bodied.

I missed that part. That just adds another layer of ridiculousness. Bumming rides when you live two blocks away is seriously weird.

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