"not recommended for rehire"

[guest464345]

I recently quit my current job and gave two weeks' notice (which I am just about to complete).

Our hospital has three HR categories for terminated employees - "eligible", "not recommended," and "not eligible" for rehire. I was surprised when my manager told me I'd be marked "not recommended" due to insufficient notice; I was supposed to give 30+ days rather than two weeks.

I had worked for the same institution in another hourly position before - did not realize that RNs are the only hourly employees with a longer requirement. Also, I know that previous RN coworkers gave two weeks....apparently it is the manager's discretion to accept less than 30 days notice, if s/he wants to. Anyway, it was dumb not to double-check the policy. Either way we're moving, and I don't have the ability to stay for 30 days.

My reviews etc have otherwise been fine. I have never been late or called out. I have never been written up for anything.

I have another job already, so no immediate concerns. But I'm wondering what I should do to minimize the effect of this status on future job applications. Specifically, I'm wondering if my HR department is likely to give me something showing the reason for the status?? Two weeks' notice does not seem as bad as other items in that category (walking off the job without any notice, failed probation, repeated errors, too many call-outs, etc). Or is there something else I should consider?

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Interesting - I have never come across a hospital with a 3rd (not recommended) category before. IMO, I wouldn't stress over this. You're moving anyway, so it's unlikely that you would be reapplying to this organization in the future, right? If this issue comes up in any job interviews in the future, just tell them what happened... that it was a poorly communicated policy. It's no biggie.

Best of luck - hope you really enjoy your new job.

[caliotter3]

I would agree with what above post says. You can discuss this with them and try to have it changed before you leave, but I would not obsess over it if they say no. After all, you can't force the manager to treat you any differently if she does not want to. You will be gone from the area, so there is not likely to be any negative impact on your future. If it were to come up, you just explain that you did not have 30 days to work with when the decision to move was made. Not anything you could have done. And that is that. Good luck in your new home!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I would not obsess over it either ... but I would be sure to have a nice copy of that policy to keep for myself. If it does come up later in your career, you could show the policy and explain what happened in a way that would not sound so bad.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

If the official policy per HR is for nurses to give 30 days' notice, then that's what you needed to do. The fact that the manager accepted the resignations of other nurses on less notice doesn't change that. Always go by what the official policy says, and not what Nurse X did or what Manager Y tells you. Chalk it up to a lesson learned.

You could ask them to switch you to "eligible" but if they don't, don't stress. You already have a job, and if this one comes up you can tell them that you did not have the 30 days to give because of the move, but gave what you could. IMO, don't plead "I didn't know the policy!" as that won't make you look good.

Best of luck with your new job and the move!