Our new boss writing everyone up!

Nurses General Nursing

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Our new PCD, who is only temporary, seems to have taken to writing up half the staff for clocking in like 1-2 minutes past 7 a.m. She's following and tracking those who do it and writing them up for it. I mean -- if you are chronically late, like 15 minutes or so -- whatever. But clocking in one minute past??? Who cares!!

What is up with this? We are chronically short staffed - these are experienced long time nurses -- all very good. There is a hiring freeze -- I mean -- what the HELL are these manager types thinking when they do this stuff? Do they want to run off ALL the nurses? What will they do then when there is no one to take care of patients anymore???

It's as if the world of nursing has just turned upside down lately.:uhoh3:

Specializes in ICU/CCU.

I wish my manager would start writing up nurses for being late. There are two or three nurses I give report to who are always 5-10 minutes late. And there are a few on my shift who stroll in to the unit at 5 minutes past the hour every freaking time. These nurses' casual attitudes toward punctuality throw everyone else's work schedules off. Last week I almost missed my kid's orthodontist appointment because I had to wait 15 minutes to give report to one of these chronic latecomers. It never occurs to any of them to leave the house 10 minutes earlier than they have been? It might if someone started writing them up.

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Totally agree. We are professionals. We should act like it.

and yet, another thing that was drilled into us at school:

that not only should we make it to work, come hell or high water, punctuality was just as critical.

according to the many things i have posted about "when i was in school", obviously a lot of stuff stuck.:lol2:

leslie

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I'd like to hug your manager. If people can't get themselves to work on time they should be written up. 1-2 minutes is more like 5-10 by the time they are ready to take report. Know who else cares? The person who just worked 12 hours. I hope your manager is watching both shifts. If this is done for a few weeks people will start getting there on time.

For those of you with chronic issues have you spoken to the culprits or management to have the situation addressed? That's infuriating.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

A topic like this doesn't have to do with nursing, all people should be at work on time. No matter where you are working you're are leaving someone short. I used to be late all the time when I was younger, not to work but to class or appointments and stuff, my friends always joked to tell me an earlier time to be there so I would get there on time, this was a long time ago. I finally just started making it a habit to always be there 10-15 mins early. I do the same for school, I get so annoyed when lecture starts and people come trailing in. It's distracting and its uncalled for and it's always the same people every time.

It's one thing if life happens once in a great while. But when it's often, there aren't excuses for it. IMO

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Sorry, this may seem unpopular or mean but think about others; those of us waiting to go home are WAITING for those clocking in late to start ----and they are on OUR TIME when they clock in "just a minute or two late". You bet, this annoys me to no end. Get there early, get your water, coffee whatever, use the restroom and be ready to "hit it" ( meaning take report and work) ON TIME. There a lot of people out there needing jobs right now who would be ready and able to be there on time.

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Specializes in ICU.

I agree that punctuality is very important. I was taught that it was disrespectful to keep others waiting by being late.

That being said, at my facility, we are not allowed to clock in until 5 minutes before the shift starts. I even got written up for clocking in and going to work early at the request of the charge nurse due to high workload on the unit! If my employer thinks I am going to hang around (or work!) for 10 minutes off the clock every day, well, it ain't happening. At one time, we did not get in trouble for coming in early. I put my stuff up, *then* clocked in, usually about 20 minutes early, and got to work reading my strips, looking up labs, etc. Now that we are being written up for clocking in early, well, I arrive no earlier than 0639. I do leave extra time if the weather's bad so I don't show up late, but I refuse to arrive 15 minutes early every day and not be paid for it (Note: I never clocked in early without going straight to work. If I am being paid, I am expected to be working, not lounging around.)

Also, I think that the new boss in the OP's situation would have accomplished a lot more without dragging down staff morale by announcing that the attendance policy would be strictly adhered to in the future *before* starting to issue write-ups. If the corporate culture there was to tolerate lapses in the attendance policy, they created that expectation among the staff. There is nothing wrong with wanting to change that, but give people a chance to change their behavior *before* getting punitive. JMHO.

:paw:

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Our new PCD, who is only temporary, seems to have taken to writing up half the staff for clocking in like 1-2 minutes past 7 a.m. She's following and tracking those who do it and writing them up for it. I mean -- if you are chronically late, like 15 minutes or so -- whatever. But clocking in one minute past??? Who cares!!

What is up with this? We are chronically short staffed - these are experienced long time nurses -- all very good. There is a hiring freeze -- I mean -- what the HELL are these manager types thinking when they do this stuff? Do they want to run off ALL the nurses? What will they do then when there is no one to take care of patients anymore???

It's as if the world of nursing has just turned upside down lately.:uhoh3:

You say she is new... so if she is writing up "half the staff", then it does sound like a chronic, serious problem. I have no issue with an occasional occurance, but if staff is clocking in late, (even if it is only a minute or two), then how long does it take them to get ready for work? I guess if they are all ready, but just didn't get around to clocking in, then that would be different.

Anyway, how do you feel when your relief is late? I know I'm tired and WANT TO GO HOME when my shift is over! Your one minute takes one away from me!

I do agree with giving a warning first. That would have been more diplomatic; however, I assume everyone does actually know when their shift begins.

(((Sorry you're not getting much support on this one!)))

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
A topic like this doesn't have to do with nursing, all people should be at work on time. No matter where you are working your are leaving someone short. I used to be late all the time, not to work but to class or appointments and stuff, long time ago I just started making it a habit to always be there 10-15 mins early. I do the same for school, I get so annoyed when lecture starts and people come trailing in. It's distracting and its uncalled for and it's always the same people every time.

It's one thing if life happens once in a great while. But when it's often, there aren't excuses for it. IMO

Couldn't agree more. And when life does happen you have an extra 10-15 minutes to still get there on time.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

who cares if you're late? the nurse waiting to give you report, that's who!

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

What makes me mad is the the nurse who work their 3 12's in a row. They like to come in late because they know 9 times out of 10 they will receiving the same patients. The only thing you have to report them are the changes. When some has to be pulled to another unit the late nurse be the one being pulled because everyone else already in report. Some people taking their jobs for granted because they have worked at the facility a long time feel they cant be fired. I known some worked at a facility for 20 plus years was fired for being sleep on the job. Nurse managers come in a find employees sleep. Your job is not secured the NM knows someone is waiting for it (a new grad) and also get paid cheaper an hour and means a higher bonus check at the end of year for the NM. I agree with everyone elses post.

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For me, personally, if I am not 15 minutes EARLY then I feel like I am LATE!! To each their own, but I get to work 15-20 minutes early, get my coffee, make my chit chat ... all BEFORE my start time!

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I have to agree. There is no excuse for being late on a regular basis. Once in a while things happen, but I work with way to many people that have something happen every day. People who are consistenly late need to figure out why and fix it. Everyone needs to be there and ready to go on time...if you can't survive the shift without coffee, Pop-Tarts, oatmeal, or whatever, show up early enough to fix it before report.

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