It's that time of year again, even though the holiday schedule has been out for a year, people are making last minute switches. No big deal except for a co-worker that approached me, after seeing i have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off.
Started out nice: "I saw you had both days off, are you interested in trading them?" I said "Actually i'd like to keep both days off, my family has been through a lot, my dad's brother died a couple of weeks ago, and i'd like to go back home for those days." She said "Hmm, guess i won't be home for my kids for Christmas." I didn't say anything or do anything. Then after a minute she says "You don't have kids, what do you need Christmas off for?":angryfire
It's a wonder my head didn't explode. First off it wasn't her dang business what i wanted Christmas off for anyway, secondly how dare she make such a comment, as if those days won't mean squat to me all because i don't have children.
I'm sure her kids are important to her, i'm sure she would like to be there on those days, but the fact that i do not have children doesn't mean that things in my life are no less important. Nor should it mean that i should want to rearrange my life to accomodate someone that does. Which i've had to do a few times as a result of her taking 3 days weekends since august (we do self-scheduling). As a result of her doing this, i get screwed out of 3 days weekends 90% of the time. Her excuse for needing 3 days weekends? "Because i have kids." Not "My kid(s) has an appt., game, tournament, etc." "Because i have kids."
In no way am i knocking her because she has kids, or anyone, but it's almost like she expects accomodation from people because of the kids. It's not fair to everyone else. Everyone else manages and they have children. And everyone else at work wouldn't have made such a self-entitling statement about someone with no children having the holidays off, because most people take their turns every year. Just because i don't have children doesn not mean that i don't have a life or that i don't have things to do.
As of one of the very few (2 I think) in my unit that doesn't have kids, this is a touchy subject. I know kids are important and yada yada, but (like someone else said) just because I don't have kids, doesn't mean that I'm not busy or don't have a life. I get it a lot for not switching with someone for weekends. Why don't you want to work Saturday/Sunday, you don't have kids. HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To the OP - I know how you feel, and enjoy your Christmas off!!
Here's my thought: What better way to love the Lord than to serve his people by caring for them on a Sunday/Holiday when they themselves would much rather be w/family/fellow churchgoers. There are MANY way to worship and serve our Lord. One of the most rewarding ways is to be involved in healthcare. So there!
Thanks for remembering the reason for the season.
Our manager rotates so we work Christmas everyother year. My family adjusts the schedule so Papaw (me) gets in on most of it no matter when I work. God bless us all.
That's right folks. When you commit to a career in health care, holiday work is often part of it, kids or not. As a former DON, I know this time of year can be a nightmare for those who do work schedules. Let me remind you all;Those who don't have children do have a life, and taking a holiday off now and again should be NO PROBLEM. Basing decisons to grant holiday time-off only to those with children is discrimination. I'd advise the original poster to tell the co-worker who wants Christmas off, to mind her own business, then take her concerns to the boss. If having weekends and holidays off is super important, nurses can always choose PRN schedules or agency work.
I don't have children either and recently someone asked me to work Christmas for them ( several times). I worked it last year. She has a small child and she was telling me that he's all upset. My mom was a nurse for many years and we got up really early on Christmas morning before she went to work and continued celebrating when she got home. If you don't want to work Christmas then go work for an agency. There are other positions in nursing that don't require holidays. There are ways to deal with children and Christmas. I don't ever remember feeling neglected on the Christmas' that mom had to work. The nurse who asked me to work was not one of my co-workers (I'm PRN). She could ask someone to split the shift with her so she only has to work 6 hours. Be creative!
I saw comments on Holiday double time elsewhere in this thread and need to clarify this issue. To be payed double time(true) for say, Christmas, in reality, you have to see Triple time in your check(gross). Rational: As far as I know, all hospitals pay for the Hoilday if you work or Not(unless one calls in sick the day before or after the paid holiday) so you are paid Straight time if you work or not. Say your Hourly Rate is $20, to truly EARN Double Time you need to see $60 as your Holiday pay(the 8 hours of holiday pay you receive anyways PLUS 2 times the hourly rate of $20/hr being $40=$60/hr) otherwise you are only being payed your Regular Hourly Rate if you gross $40/hour. A reason I seldom work Holidays because as a single, if my gross is to high, I really do not benefit; I'm only bumped into a higher tax bracket. One really needs to put a "Sharp" pencil to paper to see the benefit of excess ot. Many times its only a paper gain on the check.
Please do realize that "pay for the holiday if you work or not" is a benefit, and NOT one that all hospitals offer. I know that mine does not (nor do any of the hospitals in my area - they are cheap, cheap, cheap). You only get the holiday pay if you work the holiday. Oh wait, it gets better - the holiday pay is only an extra $5 per hour. Still, it is better than one of the other hospitals in town that gives NOTHING extra for the holidays (that place is a real rat hole that seems to pride itself on treating its employees poorly).
I'm sure her kids are important to her, i'm sure she would like to be there on those days, but the fact that i do not have children doesn't mean that things in my life are no less important. Nor should it mean that i should want to rearrange my life to accomodate someone that does.
I've had to deal with a lot of people like that. There's too many who feel entitled to getting what they want simple because they 'have kids.' ANd too many higher ups don't want to hear the whining and screaming form them, in my experience, and just let them get away with it, which makes the whole thing worse. I knew a couple of girls when I was working at Wal*Mart who would clock in for their shifts and sit back in the break room until it was time for lunch, then come out and say, 'Hey! I'm going to lunch.' when no one even knew they were around. And when we'd complaine to the managers, it was just the old, 'but they have children to take care of.'
Now, not everyone is so bad. But, like we've been told a million times before, one bad apple spoils your appatite.
I knew a couple of girls when I was working at Wal*Mart who would clock in for their shifts and sit back in the break room until it was time for lunch, then come out and say, 'Hey! I'm going to lunch.' when no one even knew they were around. And when we'd complaine to the managers, it was just the old, 'but they have children to take care of.'
Now, not everyone is so bad. But, like we've been told a million times before, one bad apple spoils your appatite.
That has nothing to do with children. That's just pure laziness.
I worked on a very friendly floor at a small local hospital during clinicals with some team spirit and for the holidays everyone agrees to take on a few hours and therefore no one has off but everyone can give up a few hours. It works, no one really gets upset either.
That is not the case where I am now. I am the newest so I will get the worst. No one is nice, no one cares and everyone sticks it to everyone. There are people who the supervisor works around their schedules for other part time jobs working for some of the docs, others go to school...I asked for the same and she said no. She said she invested a lot of money in me and now I am going to leave...no way! I am not leaving but only scheduled for 2 days a week, My mortgage is high, I need to explain this?? why? others get different treatment. I may go to the union.
Then she said if I sign a paper that says I will work every weekend. I don't want to do that. I can also become part of the permanent weekend staff but no benifits, a higher hourly wage? cannot do that either. It is unfair when things are not the same for everyone. One nurse said she has worked Christmas for the last 3 yrs. and she isn't this year because she has a kid. And I say to myself...why is that more important. I signed up for a few painting classes over the weekend for Dec., I have to come up with a excuse now for the class...that is not critical enough.
And they wonder why nurses are dropping out of nursing. I think more than the job it is the lack of respect.
I got talked down to when I told her I got another job? Suspected me of using her to get experience in cardiac unit? I have never been accused before and worked in the medical field for years. This is really trying my patience. I don't want to leave, but if I am mistreated and that means not treated equally I would leave. That would be too bad.
What is up with supervisors. Are they told to be nasty or what? I don't get it. What is the value of mentioning the word "team" when they themselves are not part of it? I am discouraged so far about nursing but I am sure I will find my place. I just did not expect the disrespect. We are all human and there are no supreme beings at work last time I checked.
I asked for full time, cannot get it. I asked if I could be guaranteed 8-12 hrs. overtime regularly with that mortgage and school loan in mind...cannot get it. But I am chastised for asking to know my schedule if I get a part time job. At this point if the part time job paid more I would quit just to say...yeah, you were right, I did use you for the experience! You feel like it but of course I won't bite my nose to spite my own face. Just cannot help but think.."what the heck is up?"
It is really the worst part of the job, I love the patients and giving the best care I can with the time I am allowed.
They changed our stffing levels. Found out one moring when we got our assignments. Not one word before that minute. We asked what they were and was told it was a secret. What? I am floored. You cannot know what your new staffing is? Then they send up new critical patients 15 min before the shift ends and you are stuck working over by an hour. YOu have to get permission to get paid...I never heard of such a thing.
Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
Please do realize that "pay for the holiday if you work or not" is a benefit, and NOT one that all hospitals offer.
The hospital I just left paid just shy of time and a quarter - IF you worked - and had to have the board of directors vote every year to see if they would even do that. There were 10 holidays that you were required to rotate on, but only two of them received the "holiday pay" designation.
There are many other folks who have to work holidays besides nurses. How would you like to be the 3-11 janitor cleaning bathrooms on xmas, or how about the 11-7 phlebotomist running around drawing blood all night. Im sure we can all think of some others. The point is, everyone has to take their turn, thats not only part of your job, but hey, it like actually being a "grown up"! Folks out there making much less money doing some work others would never do on New Years, Easter, Christmas...ect....kids or no kids.
I agree with some of the others who have posted on this thread. Just because I don't have kids, doesn't mean that I'm not someone else's child, regardless of how old I am! About two years ago, a nurse approached me and asked me to switch so that she could work Christmas Eve (dayshift) and I would work Christmas Day (dayshift). When I said no, (because I had worked it the previous year while she hadn't) she said, "oh well I guess I won't be able to see my 9-year old open presents". So I replied, "But did you get to see your 8-year old open gifts last year, right?" She quickly turned around and walked off! And just a few weeks ago, another coworker said in general conversation, "I know I was off last year because of maternity leave, but my son didn't know anything because he was a newborn. So I don't feel I should have to work Christmas this year either since this will be his first REAL Christmas. This is also the same nurse who said she didn't think it was fair that she has to take transport call (as we all are required to do and were told that in our interviews) because she has a one year old. I quickly told her that just because I don't have children doesn't mean that I should have to be on transport call more to accomodate her. The nerve of some people!
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chaosRN, ASN, RN
155 Posts
As of one of the very few (2 I think) in my unit that doesn't have kids, this is a touchy subject. I know kids are important and yada yada, but (like someone else said) just because I don't have kids, doesn't mean that I'm not busy or don't have a life. I get it a lot for not switching with someone for weekends. Why don't you want to work Saturday/Sunday, you don't have kids. HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To the OP - I know how you feel, and enjoy your Christmas off!!