PTO being used by hospital?

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I've been in nursing 28 years- and this is a new situation for me.  I started a job as a dialysis manager at a rehab hospital over a year ago.  I spent the majority of the year running dialysis txs by myself and then training a staff nurse.  For over a year I couldn't take vacation, call off sick, etc.  As of August, my staff nurse was fully trained and I took a week of vacation.  The total time I've taken is around 70 hours but, due to being required to use my PTO during low census, I've used 111 hours total this year and only have 32 hours left in my bank.  We're at low census again and they want me to cut 20 hours this week.  My PRN nurse is talking about quitting because she was told when hired she could get plenty of hours, and now I either take 20 hours of pto myself, or she gets cut for the week.  It's frustrating- but is it typical?  It seems like an employer shouldn't be able to use my benefits for their gain.  Thoughts?

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I live in Wisconsin. Wisconsin is weird. While it is a state that does not have any laws requiring an employer to provide PTO, there is a law that requires employers to pay out unused PTO? Didn't know that, and it's a strange law that requires employers to pay out unused PTO when they are not even legally required to offer the PTO in the first place. Though I can say I've never worked in WI for a place that didn't have PTO

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kbrn2002 said:

it's a strange law that requires employers to pay out unused PTO when they are not even legally required to offer the PTO in the first place.

I think it's far more strange that paying it out is not federal law.  All your state is saying is, "if part of your way of compensating employees is to have them earn/accrue PTO for hours worked then you must deliver the remainder of that already-earned compensation at the end of the employment relationship." What's wack is that not delivering this type of already already-earned compensation is legal for any reason anywhere, any more than withholding a check for wages would be.

Yet another reason PRN worked for me/my mindset. Just less shenanigans overall. I show up to work on X day, the employer pays my wages for X day, other than that we essentially owe each other nothing. The idea of earning something while also being subject to company policy that says it doesn't have to be delivered after all practically makes me lose my mind. 😂

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Specializes in Dialysis, Diabetes Education.

Thanks for all the info from everyone.   I have used pto for low census in other jobs, but it was more or less left up to us- if I could find legit work I could stay.  It just doesn't matter here.  I'm still debating staying or going.  It's happened twice- once in September and once in October.   If it happens again I'll probably have to go elsewhere.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.
brandy1017 said:

He is beloved by the whole family!  He is my baby!

I am so sorry!! They are such an important part of our lives!  I had a rescued dachshund when my mother died unexpectedly and while I had good support, he was my little lifeline. hugs ♥️

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