Preventing call-ins

[Brandi,RN]

How do you (attempt) to prevent call ins at work? It's becoming a real problem where I work (CNAs more than nurses), what is everyone out there doing to prevent that? Attendance bonuses, having to work another shift, etc

[Flo., BSN, RN]

If you are sick and can't come to work I get it, but this is something that only happens like once a year. And there is a difference between not feeling well and being sick. You might not feel well but you still need to go to work. There are people relying on you. 90+% of call ins are not because somebody is too sick to work anyways..

I legit get sick more than once a year. I would think working in healthcare, you would be more understanding regarding illness.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Our facility has a pretty lenient policy, yet I think it weeds out the people who are habitual caller-offers. In a rolling 12-month period, if you have 5, it's a verbal; 8 is a written; 10 is suspension; 11 is termination. Multiple shifts in a row is counted as one absence. After 3, you need to get a doctor's note before returning to work.

You need to enforce it. A lot of managers don't.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

One time I was next to someone going on and on about how "I've never been this sick!" Cough cough cough...two days later I came down with it, it was awful, spread to my ears, etc etc...please just stay home. If you have to pop meds all shift plus cough drops plus you're sniffling everywhere....I don't want it. I was so sick in October I couldn't lift my head off of the pillow. I stayed home.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Here is an older thread on the topic of call-ins. It attracted 50+ enlightening responses that shed light on why the call-ins occur. Click on the link below if you have time to burn reading through the thread.

https://allnurses.com/geriatric-nurses-ltc/calling-in-sick-788115.html

Here is one of my responses from that thread...

I wish that more LTC facilities in my area would offer 12-hour shifts.

I worked in LTC on and off for six years and could not handle a schedule of five 8-hour shifts per week for an extended period of time. Being forced to work the floor in a nursing home for five 8-hour shifts caused me to feel as if I was always at the workplace, and to be honest, it drained my soul.

Imagine five days per week of dealing with verbally abusive visitors, family members with unrealistic expectations, a massive patient load, heaps of paperwork, and the occasional resident emergency that pops up. To be honest, I would not want to put up with it for five days per week. I salute all the nurses who fight the battle in LTC on a daily basis.

I was able to survive in LTC by working weekend shifts only. I worked weekend doubles for a couple of years at one facility, then worked two 12-hour weekend shifts per week at another facility. Since the weekend shifts enabled me to have Monday through Friday off, I felt rejuvenated and was able to cope better.

Calling off once a month? Only once a month? I am surprised that the nurses are not calling in sick much more often. The nursing home industry can chew people up, spit them out, and steamroll the best of us.

[shedevilprincss]

Well that escalated quickly.

In my old job (pre-nursing days but still in a clinic), I went in on day 2.5 of being sick and ended up going home with strep throat. My coworkers weren't happy I came in at all.

taking a MH day used to be my favorite call in excuse (when I worked 8 hr days--now I just schedule extended days off). Sometimes you just need them.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Thank you. I am hard to offend and easy to amuse, luckily.

It's horrible to have days off, but not be able to enjoy them because you're half dead.

Sorry you are so sick & I hope you recover soon.

[caffeinatednurse, BSN, RN]

At our facility, when they start to abuse the call-ins (no doctor's note or evidence for their reason, etc.)...our DON assists them with finding the door.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Nobody has to justify why they are calling in. Paid time off is something they have earned. It is theirs to use as they see fit. If you have a policy regarding absenteeism that you are not enforcing then you have no reason to be asking this question here. Enforce the policy. End of story.

However, the attitude that someone needs to work if they merely "don't feel well" because, after all, that doesn't qualify as being sick....pffft. What nonsense. I get to determine what constitutes the need for a day off. Not you. Your employees have earned their PTO and are entitled to use it. Enforce the rules or get good with the status quo.

[One-Basic-Girl]

I agree with not.done.yet - if the time is there because it is part of the compensation package then it is there to be used as they see fit. I will occasionally take a day I feel something coming on to call out and rest - less exposure to others and less likely to get really sick. I also schedule periodic days off as a pick-me-up. Maybe you could encourage staff to schedule a day or two off before the schedule is set so they have something to look forward to and to break up their schedule. But be sure to cover with extra staff so there is no guilt or stress involved.

I know some staff call in because they try to schedule an important day off 3 weeks out but are told to swap with someone. When they can't, they call in as sick. Sometimes they don't bother requesting because they know the answer, and don't want to look bad if they can't switch on their own then they call in. Having per diem's available to schedule for days staff need off is helpful with this.

But, if you've been there, you know all this. Good Luck.

[Jules A, MSN]

If you are sick and can't come to work I get it, but this is something that only happens like once a year. And there is a difference between not feeling well and being sick. You might not feel well but you still need to go to work. There are people relying on you. 90+% of call ins are not because somebody is too sick to work anyways. .

I hear you and am someone who values work ethic above most all else and rarely get so sick that I cant work knock wood. I am thankful for this and do get frustrated by those who call in because they have something that a few ACTM won't take care of as well as the Mommies who can't come in once a month because Little Susie has a tummy ache. This annoys me on a professional level however the bottom line is it is a part of life, it will never change and there are very likely other things in play at your facility as has been suggested such as poor morale. It would be nice if you posted a thanks for the proactive suggestions you have received, some of the things you have tried or a bit of insight into the extraneous issues that might be contributing to absenteeism at your facility.

[Jules A, MSN]

Something I just posted in another thread made me think and although not something NMs have control over or that could be changed easily but I wonder if more places offered PTO instead of sick time if the call offs would be less? Personally I have called out a couple of times in the past decade when I was totally disgusted and planning to quit a job because I wanted to burn through some of my many sick hours but if I could have cashed out when I resigned like with PTO I wouldn't have taken off.

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

There is no attack on anyone. (Seriously? LOL.) If you are sick and can't come to work I get it, but this is something that only happens like once a year. And there is a difference between not feeling well and being sick. You might not feel well but you still need to go to work. There are people relying on you. 90+% of call ins are not because somebody is too sick to work anyways. I'm reaching out to a community of nurses to see what their policies and procedures are on call ins. What have they initiated to stop/prevent them, etc. So if you can't/won't answer or just want to post something pointless just move on. If you're truly nurses I don't get why you'd waste not only my time but yours.

Here are some statements that stuck out at me:

" ... but this is something that only happens like once a year"

"90+% of call ins are not because somebody is too sick to work anyways."

"There is a difference between not feeling well and being sick"

It is absolutely none of your damn business why I would call out of work, and I could see why there would be a problem at your place of employment. Whether I call out because of the flu, because of one of my children being ill, because I'm tired, or because I want to chill at home with my dog ... you don't need to know that.

Your general attitude on this board is telling. I truly hope that it isn't the same as on the floor.

A lot of people on this thread have given good advice. Look at morale in particular, OP. Again, your attitude is telling; if morale is low, well ...