Nurses General Nursing
Updated: Feb 1, 2020 Published Nov 8, 2019
My manager informed us recently that we cannot use our PTO for the rest of the year due to a budget issue. Is this a common policy / problem?
Nunya, BSN
771 Posts
11 hours ago, galaxygirl17 said:We have a use it or lose it for over 160 hrs. And we also had a major software change where we couldn’t use PTO. This new period of time falls between that and the holiday blackout period
We have a use it or lose it for over 160 hrs. And we also had a major software change where we couldn’t use PTO. This new period of time falls between that and the holiday blackout period
Huge software change...cuz it's too hard for someone to actually look at a paper schedule and decide if you can take vacation....what a crock of lazy-a** crap.
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
My opinion is that it is better to lose PTO than to lose one’s job because of budget cutbacks. We have had decreases in pay rates, also better than losing the job altogether.
Horseshoe, BSN, RN
5,879 Posts
QuoteMy opinion is that it is better to lose PTO than to lose one’s job because of budget cutbacks. We have had decreases in pay rates, also better than losing the job altogether.
And this is why facilities get away with treating their nurses like crap. Because they know the nurses will just take it- because they need the work that bad.
Nurses are entitled to their PTO, particularly when it's spelled out in writing as policy.
I'd rather flip burgers than put up with the working conditions imposed on so many in health care.
On 11/8/2019 at 4:04 PM, yournurse said:Some facilities do not allow vacation time from Thanksgiving to New Year. It’s just policy
Some facilities do not allow vacation time from Thanksgiving to New Year. It’s just policy
On 11/8/2019 at 10:54 PM, Hoosier_RN said:Everywhere that I've ever worked
Everywhere that I've ever worked
I've never worked anywhere that had that kind of policy. We had to work a certain number of holidays, no more. If you are not scheduled on Thanksgiving, your PTO is yours to use as you see fit. As long as the unit is staffed, people are entitled to their earned PTO.
And you can be darn sure that the administrators don't hold themselves to those kinds of limits.
galaxygirl17, BSN, RN
12 Posts
Well regarding holidays that is an even better unit policy- you either work the holiday or the eve of the holiday. So as night shift I work every holiday
2 hours ago, galaxygirl17 said:Well regarding holidays that is an even better unit policy- you either work the holiday or the eve of the holiday. So as night shift I work every holiday
Yeah, nightshifters get screwed there. I worked a couple places where the July 4 holiday was considered the night of the 3rd, so that's when we got holiday pay. The night of the 4th wasn't holiday pay. Guess who was off the 3rd and worked the 4th a couple times?!?
Hoosier_RN, MSN
3,962 Posts
On 11/9/2019 at 10:11 AM, Horseshoe said:I've never worked anywhere that had that kind of policy. We had to work a certain number of holidays, no more. If you are not scheduled on Thanksgiving, your PTO is yours to use as you see fit. As long as the unit is staffed, people are entitled to their earned PTO.And you can be darn sure that the administrators don't hold themselves to those kinds of limits.
The reason it was like that was because everybody and their brother wanted off because kiddos out of school, parties, etc. There was no fair way to to do it, so it became a norm for this rule. Admin in facilities included...it's like that in my area of my state
erniefu, BSN, RN
40 Posts
Companies usually budget for PTO so it wouldn't be a liability for vacation owing. That your manager denies your earned PTO means there are cash flow issues. This is just the beginning of more cuts and you should be prepared for the worst.
11 hours ago, erniefu said:Companies usually budget for PTO so it wouldn't be a liability for vacation owing. That your manager denies your earned PTO means there are cash flow issues. This is just the beginning of more cuts and you should be prepared for the worst.
I was actually wondering if it was something like this
Jedrnurse, BSN, RN
2,776 Posts
21 hours ago, caliotter3 said:My opinion is that it is better to lose PTO than to lose one’s job because of budget cutbacks. We have had decreases in pay rates, also better than losing the job altogether.
Actually, I think it's better to get the hell out of Dodge and find a new job then stay somewhere that cuts my pay or freezes my rightful PTO. Employers will continue to get away with it if they're allowed to get away with it...
When I was in one of my periods of protracted unemployment, I foolishly attended a job fair. I approached a booth from one of the fast food companies and spoke to the representatives. They treated me with derision when they told me they were there to talk to applicants interested in "management" positions with the firm. I can assure you that I would not have been wasting my time at a job fair if I were seeking "management". It is nice to state one can be picky when one is gainfully employed and can pick up what they want when they want. Not all nurses are in that category, particularly those who have reached a certain "age". I have only walked out of a job offer one time due to being lowballed. That was because after decades of seeking nursing work, I know that sooner or later unemployment is around the corner anyway. That does not denigrate my comments or my perspective, shared by those who probably don't bother to comment on this site.
2BS Nurse, BSN
700 Posts
Ditto! A salary decrease would = working elsewhere for me!!!