Nurses selling at work?

[Emergent, RN]

What do you think of nursing soliciting at work for things like Mary Kay, and other businesses like that? Is it appropriate to do so during work time?

We have a per diem nurse in our department. Her main gig is Mary Kay and she supplements her income with nursing. She has recruited people at work, and is constantly promoting May Kay while working, hopefully not with patients, but most certainly at the nurses station.

Some people are annoyed by it, others like it and have signed on. What do you think?

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I think it's annoying. I don't mind fund raisers for school kids, though.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

Had a coworker decide it was a good idea to spam everyone's cell phones once or twice a day to become avon sellers. I was so angry at the breach of trust that I blocked her and refused to ever cover or switch shifts with her again.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

Our company has a no no policy. I do mind the school fund raisers. I don't like being put on the spot for expensive items that seem to be the norm. Not many selling the nominally priced candy bar much anymore.

[Emergent, RN]

I added a poll.

I personally have mixed feelings. I like a free marketplace, but on the other hand, it can be a distraction and unprofessional.

[T-Bird78]

Our company has a no no policy. I do mind the school fund raisers. I don't like being put on the spot for expensive items that seem to be the norm. Not many selling the nominally priced candy bar much anymore.

Then say "No, thank you" and go about your business. Both my kids have had several fund raisers for school and I'll leave the stuff on the table in the break room with a note explaining what/whom it's for. If you want to buy a $1 candy bar, thank you. If you don't want to buy a $1 candy bar, then don't. The cheap crap that's sold in the catalog every year for Christmas--that's optional too. Schools are so under-funded, especially in my area, that they need all the help they can get. There's two of us at work with kids so we don't push our stuff on the others, we just let people know what we're selling if anyone is interested. Our kids don't even have books in their classrooms, they glue pages into a spiral notebook as their textbook. As far as Mary Kay and Avon, I'll buy a $8 tube of lipstick if I need one, but I'll laugh if you try to recruit me to sell it also.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Our facility has a "no solicitation" policy, which, as far as I know, also includes fundraisers, Girl Scout Cookies, etc. However, people are doing the fundraisers and whatnot all the time and I have never heard of anyone being told it is inappropriate. How it usually happens, the parent leaves the order form for their child's fundraiser/sale in the break room. I don't need a $12 tub of cookie dough or a $9.50 candle, so I just don't sign up for anything and I have never felt pressured to buy something. I don't have a problem with that.

People have tried to sell "for profit" stuff before (Mary Kay type stuff). I find this a bit distasteful. Again, I have never been pressured (and would probably report the seller for violation of policy if that person went with the hard sell), but, in my mind, there is a bit of a difference between the fundraiser and this. On the other hand, I really don't care all that much if I'm not pressured into the sale since I would never buy anything anyway.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

I personally have mixed feelings. I like a free marketplace, but on the other hand, it can be a distraction and unprofessional.

it's not a free marketplace if you are a captive audience, being hit by sales pitches, or otherwise being pressured, (however subtlety) to buy.

If someone leaves a box of candy, or an Avon catalog, in the break room, that's one thing. But that's as far as it should go.

most organizations have strict no solicitation policies.

[Nursetastic]

It is out of line, inappropriate and borderline harassing in my hospital right now. No Mary Kay or Avon. But this pyramid travel thing. I'm sick of these, on FB and at work. But when upper management is in on it...well, let's just say it's over the top inappropriate at my hospital right now. And if you are missing work to participate in these things then you should really be able to quit nursing and sell your crap full time. Your coworkers are sick of covering for you so you can network with the other pyramid believers. I'm all for a good deal but I refuse to spend money to save money. And I don't like Kool Aid so I won't be drinking any of yours! Rant over.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

If they are gonna allow the incessant Girl Scout/Boy Scout/Band/whatever fundraiser soliciting at work, I guess you have to let the adults peddle their stuff too.

That being said, I buy Girl Scout cookies every year. One coworker brings all three of her kids in and they pull a wagon loaded with cookies all over the joint. It's not even fair.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

That being said, I buy Girl Scout cookies every year. One coworker brings all three of her kids in and they pull a wagon loaded with cookies all over the joint. It's not even fair.

No pressure there, eh?

if they showed up on my unit, mom would be told that she had 30 seconds before cookies, kids, and wagon would all be seized as contraband and disposed of in accordance with hospital policy.

[trishmsn]

I think there is large difference between Girl Scout cookies and school fundraiser items being laid on a table in the break room for a few day, and active solicitation of ADULT marketing. I am not a work to be pressured into these get rich quick schemes, and would protest very loudly if I was approached....or worse, saw a "meeker" nurse being pressured. Not only did we lose I good "couple" friend from church over this, he also lost his job AND they moved out of state after he used church enrollment information to solict (he worked part time at the church).

Multi level marketing (PONZI schemes) are the absolute worst!!