President Bush is about to finalize changes in the laws governing overtime pay that could take away overtime pay from at least 8 million people --- RNs and LPNs included. His changes will cut paychecks for families, erode the 40-hour workweek and encourage our employers to increase the use of mandatory overtime when they no longer have to pay for it.
Please sign the online petition opposing President Bush's overtime pay take-away by clicking on the link below.
I am an autonomous RN. I market myself to facilities, clinics, private duty, etc. I do not consider myself an agency, I am a nursing service company. Any RN can become autonomous and make what I make. Hundreds are doing it every week. And it takes very little to do it. Nurses need to start thinking out side of the box. Granted there are lots of them that don't want to be independent, they prefer to be employees and be told what to do and then constantly complain about what management is doing to them and how they are being treated. I can't understand why having $5 hour in benefits is better than having $15 hour in cash. It is so nice being my own boss, no mandatory meeting, hospital politics, etc.
As to other professionals, my husband is a contractor; and yes if he goes out at night or on weekends, he may very well charge extra. But the extra charge has nothing to do with how many hours he has already worked. He can charge the extra charge even if he has only worked 6 hours in a day or 20 hours in a week. It has nothing to do with overtime. Comparing apples to oranges does make much of a basis to support the overtime position. If you work off hours, I firmly believe you should make more - regardless of how many hours you work. This is totally separate from overtime. Yes there are some unethical tradesmen that charge overtime - even when they don't work it, but they are generally looked down upon by other in their trade.
Yes other professions such as attorneys and accountants will charge you if they see you after hours, but not at an overtime rate. I called my lawyer today and asked him if he knows any other profession that charge "overtime" if they meet after hours or if they work at home for a client. He knows of none. "But they will charge you their standard hourly rate whether the work is done in the office or at home and whether it is done during the day or after hours." Comparing apples to oranges just doesn't support the overtime position.
Lastly, the new law only applies to those few in supervisor capacity. I don't see that it will affect any LPNs and only a small percentage of RNs that work in a superior capacity on a regular basis. Instead of complaining - take action. Do something to ensure you get what you are worth regardless of the hours you work.
We had to hire a plumber last year. The average price is $60 per hour. Is there anyone here that thinks a nurse - and especially an RN BSN - is not worth at least what a plumber is worth? Are nurses not as valuable as plumbers? And no college decree is required to be a plumber. My husband did a cost comparison when I was starting my business. He found out that in Wyoming, a paralegal makes on average 15%-20% more than an RN; no again, no college is required. But nurses will never make what they are really worth as long as they leave it up to others to decide that for them - be it a union or the health industry.
At one rural hospital, seven nurses quit within a week and went independent. Within three weeks, they all had contracts to provide nursing services for the same hospital at twice what they were making. So two more nurses went independent. Nurses need to think, educate themselves to alternatives and take action. I understand just letting off steam; but do you want to just complain to be complaining, or do you want to solve a problem? I solved the problem - and you can too.
Lastly, I do understand that not all nurses would make good business people. I have such a situation here. If just 35%-40% of nurses went independent nurses would be back in control again.
What would happen if 3 -5 nurses went independent every week or few days at your facility? Facilities still have to staff and they would be contracting with these nurses at the wages they are asking.
Specializes in Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Home Health.
Originally posted by WyomingRN
How would you like it if your CPA charged you time and ½ for doing your taxes since he/she had already put in 8 hours before he got to your taxes? Guess that all professionals should start charging their clients overtime, lets see, that would mean that Doctors, Lawyers, CPAs, Pharmacists, etc. should start charging when they work over 8 hours a day. Know lots of lawyers that take things home to work on at night and weekends. How many hours past 8 do CPA's put in during tax time? [/b]
My husband and I were in extreme financial difficulties and on the recommendations of our minister, went to a CPA. He charged us $75.00 FOR ONE HOUR!!! With charges like that he doesn't need overtime!! Also, consider this, the bill affects him too. ANYONE who makes over $65000.00 can NOT get paid for OT hrs. worked!
Including white collar professionals!!!
Have you ever heard of the phrase "pass it forward"? It means you help someone EVEN if you don't benefit. Some of us are not lucky enough to be able to set our own hr. rate. We live in small towns, or in rural areas. Give a gift that keeps on giving SIGN THE PETITION, PLEASE!! If not for yourself, then for your children who may be reclassified as " Vice-President of French Fries at the local MacDonald's!!
Sign it for people like my husband, who MUST work OT to pay for the NECESSITIES of life. Food, Clothing and Shelter!! He makes $12.40 h. and on 40 hrs. we can't make rent. [$500.00 month + utilities]
Right now, we are raising 4 children on his income alone. He is helping me get through nursing school, and he works his a** off to do it. Shouldn't he be paid time and a half?
Getting off my soapbox now, but PLEASE reconsider signing the petition!
Of course a plumber is worth 60 dollars an hour, your toliet is stopped up and your crossing your legs in pain, you cant waitn for it to be fixed. How do you spell relief PLUMBER, hes worth it.
Now anyone who believes what any shyster of an attorney has to say, lets face it, lawyers are criminals in disguise.
If I dont get overtime pay then I dont do overtime
Does this really surprise you about little Georgie Bushie.
Just Impeach him and be done with it
go back and read the law.
under the OLD law they still did not have to pay you overtime but you get it any way right? how many hospitals would cease to exist if they quit paying overtime any way?
You should really look at this closer instead of just going on hear-say. The proposed law is not that black or white. Besides, Kerry wants to raise our taxes. I already give the government $400.00 out of each paycheck. How much more is he going to take? He couldnt even show up to work at the Senate on a regular basis. How in the **** is he going to run the country.? I agree with the previous poster that said...hospitals arent going to get out of paying overtime because they will lose nurses. The idea of Kerry winning the election really scares me.!! I dont have a problem with a Democratic president - but give me one with some backbone and character.
I TOTALLY agree with you. I'm a Texan too....but that's about the ONLY thing Bush and I have in common. As for the impeachment, that's just what he's asking for by doing all these rediculous things that he's been up to lately. I can't wait until the Presidential election of 2004 to see what's going to happen. But he still has nearly a year to keep screwing us all.
I am also a Texan, and I agree!
Let's get Bush out before he totally ruins the economy.
Here's a quiz to see if you will be at risk for losing your OT pay. Note on the second part of the quiz the question, "Do you perform any work in these professions or in similar fields of science or learning?" RNs are listed there. At the bottom of the page, there is also a link where you can ask an atty questions regarding your own situation.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Thanks for the link......I know it's too late, but I did send the e-mail, which included my own words:
"Please remember, Mr. President, that you too will someday need nursing care. And when that day comes, your nurse may be on her 14th hour of work, half-blind from fatigue, and with too many patients to care for safely.
Do you realize how much of our money is being spent on that ridiculous war in Iraq? Who is going to pay for that? Bush and his cronies should be forced to pay for this huge mistake. No more tax cuts for the wealthy! If I were a business owner and Bush were my manager, he would have been fired a long time ago. He is not a friend of the average American - it's obvious by the environmental, social and foreign relation policies. Our country is in a mess.......:angryfire
Do you realize how much of our money is being spent on that ridiculous war in Iraq? Who is going to pay for that? Bush and his cronies should be forced to pay for this huge mistake. No more tax cuts for the wealthy! If I were a business owner and Bush were my manager, he would have been fired a long time ago. He is not a friend of the average American - it's obvious by the environmental, social and foreign relation policies. Our country is in a mess.......:angryfire
WyomingRN
127 Posts
I am an autonomous RN. I market myself to facilities, clinics, private duty, etc. I do not consider myself an agency, I am a nursing service company. Any RN can become autonomous and make what I make. Hundreds are doing it every week. And it takes very little to do it. Nurses need to start thinking out side of the box. Granted there are lots of them that don't want to be independent, they prefer to be employees and be told what to do and then constantly complain about what management is doing to them and how they are being treated. I can't understand why having $5 hour in benefits is better than having $15 hour in cash. It is so nice being my own boss, no mandatory meeting, hospital politics, etc.
As to other professionals, my husband is a contractor; and yes if he goes out at night or on weekends, he may very well charge extra. But the extra charge has nothing to do with how many hours he has already worked. He can charge the extra charge even if he has only worked 6 hours in a day or 20 hours in a week. It has nothing to do with overtime. Comparing apples to oranges does make much of a basis to support the overtime position. If you work off hours, I firmly believe you should make more - regardless of how many hours you work. This is totally separate from overtime. Yes there are some unethical tradesmen that charge overtime - even when they don't work it, but they are generally looked down upon by other in their trade.
Yes other professions such as attorneys and accountants will charge you if they see you after hours, but not at an overtime rate. I called my lawyer today and asked him if he knows any other profession that charge "overtime" if they meet after hours or if they work at home for a client. He knows of none. "But they will charge you their standard hourly rate whether the work is done in the office or at home and whether it is done during the day or after hours." Comparing apples to oranges just doesn't support the overtime position.
Lastly, the new law only applies to those few in supervisor capacity. I don't see that it will affect any LPNs and only a small percentage of RNs that work in a superior capacity on a regular basis. Instead of complaining - take action. Do something to ensure you get what you are worth regardless of the hours you work.
We had to hire a plumber last year. The average price is $60 per hour. Is there anyone here that thinks a nurse - and especially an RN BSN - is not worth at least what a plumber is worth? Are nurses not as valuable as plumbers? And no college decree is required to be a plumber. My husband did a cost comparison when I was starting my business. He found out that in Wyoming, a paralegal makes on average 15%-20% more than an RN; no again, no college is required. But nurses will never make what they are really worth as long as they leave it up to others to decide that for them - be it a union or the health industry.
At one rural hospital, seven nurses quit within a week and went independent. Within three weeks, they all had contracts to provide nursing services for the same hospital at twice what they were making. So two more nurses went independent. Nurses need to think, educate themselves to alternatives and take action. I understand just letting off steam; but do you want to just complain to be complaining, or do you want to solve a problem? I solved the problem - and you can too.
Lastly, I do understand that not all nurses would make good business people. I have such a situation here. If just 35%-40% of nurses went independent nurses would be back in control again.
What would happen if 3 -5 nurses went independent every week or few days at your facility? Facilities still have to staff and they would be contracting with these nurses at the wages they are asking.