We have new edicts about overtime at our hospital that have some up in arms. Me, I do overtime about once a month, it's not really part of my budget though. I don't really like working more than full time, but if I do, I'm glad I get time and a half.
Some of my colleagues are utterly dependent on it. The top earners where I work are making $50 an hr. That means overtime adds up to $75 an hour. Then they are indignant that management wants to have more per diem nurses, wants to give extra shifts to newer nurses, wants people to clock out on time, not get double backs, etc and so forth.
Ironically, many of these nurses are free market advocates, outraged at liberal policies, irate when destitute people abuse the system. Yet they feel totally put out when hospital management is really making rational business decisions to avoid paying top earners big bucks. We are a union contract hospital where there is a step system that rewards longevity.
I'm grateful for it, personally. I'm fairly up there in earnings. But, on the other hand, I do understand that hospital administrations, as much as we loath their outrageous tactics, salaries, arrogance, do have a legitimate goal of reducing expenses.
