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Hey all - I'm looking for input on the following situation:
a co-worker has been granted a religious accommodation to never work a Saturday (hospital ICU, where everyone is scheduled every other weekend). She does not have to work every Sunday, and they have not filled the hole her not working as created. As you can imagine, our Saturdays are horrible. I have gone to our union - NYSNA - but they are not willing to do anything.
She is also scheduled 8 hours less every two weeks than the rest of us, yet still maintains full-time benefits even though she is actually working what is considered part-time.
I'm becoming extremely resentful......am I valid feeling this way, or should I just mind my own business?
Your problem is that you are understaffed on Saturdays.Your coworker's religious beliefs are not your problem and also are none of your business.
Work on solving the actual problem.
I agree. Yes, you have every right to be miffed, but it's not your coworker's fault for making the request. It's management's fault for allowing her the request without fully considering the implications it would have on the unit. And they're the ones who you should be addressing your concerns (and wrath) to, not towards her.
Of course, it also goes without saying that if your coworker wasn't willing and able to work Saturdays, then she should have reconsidered entering a profession that is 24/7/365 in the first place.
Your problem is that you are understaffed on Saturdays.Your coworker's religious beliefs are not your problem and also are none of your business.
Work on solving the actual problem.
The bold part is wrong. They became her "problem and her business" when she started to have to work short-staffed because this nurse refused to work Saturdays. As I said in another post, this nurse should be a team player and work EVERY Sunday or pick up slack in another way then. But she apparently isn't a team player. Everyone saying it's none of the OP's business is wrong. It is her business because she is forced to work in dangerously short-staffing conditions, taking 3-4 vent patients. It's untenable, unfair, unsafe and wrong.
I have problems with people who agree to work in 24/7 places/conditions and then re-neg and refuse to work 24/7 or at least try and make up for it in ways that benefit others who have to cover for their shortfalls. This nurse knew damn good and well the ICU was a 24/7 unit when she accept the position, but took it anyway, knowing she would refuse to work Saturdays, even though everyone is required to work every other weekend.
The union is failing miserably here, but I bet they don't fail to collect their dues. And the OP TRIED to "work on the problem"; she went to the union, who failed to do anything about it.
It's grossly unfair to the nurse's coworkers--- and the patients, who are not receiving safe care. The nurse's religious beliefs are not anyone else's business, but the conditions they are forcing everyone to work in, and the patients' unsafe care, are.
The bold part is wrong. They became her "problem and her business" when she started to have to work short-staffed because this nurse refused to work Saturdays. As I said in another post, this nurse should be a team player and work EVERY Sunday or pick up slack in another way then. But she apparently isn't a team player. Everyone saying it's none of the OP's business is wrong. It is her business because she is forced to work in dangerously short-staffing conditions, taking 3-4 vent patients. It's untenable, unfair, unsafe and wrong.I have problems with people who agree to work in 24/7 places/conditions and then re-neg and refuse to work 24/7 or at least try and make up for it in ways that benefit others who have to cover for their shortfalls. This nurse knew damn good and well the ICU was a 24/7 unit when she accept the position, but took it anyway, knowing she would refuse to work Saturdays, even though everyone is required to work every other weekend.
The union is failing miserably here, but I bet they don't fail to collect their dues. And the OP TRIED to "work on the problem"; she went to the union, who failed to do anything about it.
It's grossly unfair to the nurse's coworkers--- and the patients, who are not receiving safe care. The nurse's religious beliefs are not anyone else's business, but the conditions they are forcing everyone to work in, and the patients' unsafe care, are.
I can tell this is a situation you obviously seem to have some passionate feelings about, at least it appears that way from this post. I am trying really really hard to understand your rationale here, but I just can't. 1) we don't know the behind the scenes situation. We don't know that the nurse didn't offer to work every Sunday. We don't know what was said privately with the nurse and HR and Management.
The OP has already admitted they are already harboring a lot of resentment towards the nurse. I have no doubt that isn't spilling into the details of the original story.
Some things simply aren't adding up and making sense which would further support that we don't know the private employment contract between the nurse and the hospital.
Just because a hospital is open 24/7 does NOT mean that WE have to be willing to work any one of those days.
The nurse is not forcing anything. 100% of the accountability falls on the hospital and administration and union. Maybe things aren't what they seem and that's why the Union didn't get involved. Maybe we aren't getting the whole story here.
But regardless, it is the job of the hospital and administration to ensure safe nursing ratios and adequate coverage. It is ONLY their responsibility. Not the responsibility of the staff nurses.
Had this nurses child got hit by a car, or cancer or insert whatever tragic ailment happened and the nurse needed to go on intermittent FMLA Would that nurse deserve to get the blame of the short staffing and unsafe conditions???
Which in reality that nurse would have caused more turmoil by having this unplanned situation.
The nurse in question received a job offer where she notified them she would need Sat. off. The employer obliged and still extended the offer. The nurse accepted. She has done absolutely nothing wrong in this situation.
In my career I have seen so many various nurses with different accommodations that weren't religious. It was daycare issues, or spouse scheduling issues or what have you. But they had specific days they couldn't work. This was known. They were still given the job and no one was ill towards them for it.
If the day went to crap and the situation was unsafe, we blamed management for not being prepared.
But if this ONE nurse is causing all these unsafe conditions and short staffing for missing the SAME DAY each week that was agreed upon from the get go, then the root of the problem is being way overlooked here.
I guess I am being unclear. I am not annoyed with the NURSE as much as the situation. The nurse could be a better team player. She took a job, knowing it was a 24/7 unit where weekend working was a definite requirement. Yes, knowing she could never work Saturdays. Being proactive, she could have offered to work every Sunday. That would have salved any bad feelings on the part of the staff toward HER. Now that would not have solved the sorry staffing situation on Saturdays, of course. That bad feeling should be reserved toward the union, who undoubtedly collects dues, yet does nothing to help with the dangerous staffing situation.
This is not a sick leave or some other *temporary* situation that will be one day resolved. This is an ongoing religious exemption that never will. So something must be done by management and the union to fix the unsafe staffing on Saturdays. No I don't advocate forcing a nurse who has religious convictions to work, but I DO advocate fixing the staffing so it is safe and fair, for patients and staff alike. I am also annoyed with management hiring her, knowing that she would exempt herself from the Saturday requirement, yet doing nothing about replacing her on those days, leaving their unit unsafe and short-staffed.
The only hard feelings I have toward the nurse are that a) she took a job in a unit knowing that every other weekend was a work requirement, and b) appears not to have offered a remedy like working every Sunday, to appease staff who are resentful, being more of a team player. Now, it IS possible that the nurse told management all this and they hired her anyhow, and then it is ALL on management. That I don't know one way or the other. Then, yes, the nurse is not one bit to blame. I can only go with the information the OP gives us.
The rest of the problem lies clearly with management and the union.
I hope that clears it up a bit?
I guess I am being unclear. I am not annoyed with the NURSE as much as the situation. The nurse could be a better team player. She took a job, knowing it was a 24/7 unit where weekend working was a definite requirement. Yes, knowing she could never work Saturdays. Being proactive, she could have offered to work every Sunday. That would have salved any bad feelings on the part of the staff toward HER. Now that would not have solved the sorry staffing situation on Saturdays, of course. That bad feeling should be reserved toward the union, who undoubtedly collects dues, yet does nothing to help with the dangerous staffing situation.This is not a sick leave or some other *temporary* situation that will be one day resolved. This is an ongoing religious exemption that never will. So something must be done by management and the union to fix the unsafe staffing on Saturdays. No I don't advocate forcing a nurse who has religious convictions to work, but I DO advocate fixing the staffing so it is safe and fair, for patients and staff alike. I am also annoyed with management hiring her, knowing that she would exempt herself from the Saturday requirement, yet doing nothing about replacing her on those days, leaving their unit unsafe and short-staffed.
The only hard feelings I have toward the nurse are that a) she took a job in a unit knowing that every other weekend was a work requirement, and b) appears not to have offered a remedy like working every Sunday, to appease staff who are resentful, being more of a team player. Now, it IS possible that the nurse told management all this and they hired her anyhow, and then it is ALL on management. That I don't know one way or the other. Then, yes, the nurse is not one bit to blame. I can only go with the information the OP gives us.
The rest of the problem lies clearly with management and the union.
I hope that clears it up a bit?
I work in an ER that hired a traveler that doesn't work weekends.
I have no idea why they did, but they did.
She is a team player while at work.
Apparently she has good negotiation skills.
The nurse you are talking about has good negotiation skills.
Your boss has created a crappy situation where you work short.
What has that got to do with that nurse?
3-4 vents because of crappy staffing...Hey what hospital so that I do my utmost to murmur "don't take me there" to the paramedics?
Seriously, abusing religion to get work perks is a load of crap that does not have to be honored by management. If they do, they are screwing themselves and everyone because it will naturally breed resentment.
I'm starting a religion that bans working nights, wiping poop, and getting paid less than 100K. I demand you respect my religion!
I'm a convert. Do I need to wear anything special to show my devoutness?
As a chassidic religious Jew (I wear a fedora and long coat on the weekends and have a flowing majestic beard I sat down for my first RN interview and built a nice rapport. The boss indicated on the spot that he wanted me to be part of the team. I said, "hold on cowboy- there are a couple limitations to be spoken." I then told about my Sabbath restrictions.
the boss decided that the unit needed me (ie id be great for the team) and the sabbath thing would be workable.
Now- its important that you know, there was no union. I think that any union which would allow a unit to be short staffed on a Saturday because of a Sabbath observing employee is idiotic, so I cant speak for that (I still believe that nursing unions are dangerous).
What was I supposed to do? Not become a nurse?
I think your feelings are valid.
What I wonder is ... what kind of solution do you want? Do you want management to force this employee to work every other Saturday like the rest of the team? Or are you looking for some perks/recognition/appreciation for yourself?
Sometimes I find that when I begrudge someone of a benefit/privilege, it is because I feel a sense of lack or scarcity for myself.
Would it make you feel better if they force her to work every other Saturday, or is there another solution you could come up with that is a win for you and a win for her too?
Personally, if management would say "You must work every other Saturday" I'd quit on the spot. Its not about perks/privilege or anything like that; its just simply my lifestyle. Other people might try to sue for religious discrimination (and I know that employers are scared of that.
Its a tough call. I have a cousin who went through hell on a unit- was literally persecuted by management and other staff all because she was strong with her religious conviction. I think a lot of it has to do with personality- my coworkers liked the way I worked, liked my attitude, and most importantly they understood that I wasn't just after my own self interests.
I can tell this is a situation you obviously seem to have some passionate feelings about, at least it appears that way from this post. I am trying really really hard to understand your rationale here, but I just can't. 1) we don't know the behind the scenes situation. We don't know that the nurse didn't offer to work every Sunday. We don't know what was said privately with the nurse and HR and Management.The OP has already admitted they are already harboring a lot of resentment towards the nurse. I have no doubt that isn't spilling into the details of the original story.
Some things simply aren't adding up and making sense which would further support that we don't know the private employment contract between the nurse and the hospital.
Just because a hospital is open 24/7 does NOT mean that WE have to be willing to work any one of those days.
The nurse is not forcing anything. 100% of the accountability falls on the hospital and administration and union. Maybe things aren't what they seem and that's why the Union didn't get involved. Maybe we aren't getting the whole story here.
But regardless, it is the job of the hospital and administration to ensure safe nursing ratios and adequate coverage. It is ONLY their responsibility. Not the responsibility of the staff nurses.
Had this nurses child got hit by a car, or cancer or insert whatever tragic ailment happened and the nurse needed to go on intermittent FMLA Would that nurse deserve to get the blame of the short staffing and unsafe conditions???
Which in reality that nurse would have caused more turmoil by having this unplanned situation.
The nurse in question received a job offer where she notified them she would need Sat. off. The employer obliged and still extended the offer. The nurse accepted. She has done absolutely nothing wrong in this situation.
In my career I have seen so many various nurses with different accommodations that weren't religious. It was daycare issues, or spouse scheduling issues or what have you. But they had specific days they couldn't work. This was known. They were still given the job and no one was ill towards them for it.
If the day went to crap and the situation was unsafe, we blamed management for not being prepared.
But if this ONE nurse is causing all these unsafe conditions and short staffing for missing the SAME DAY each week that was agreed upon from the get go, then the root of the problem is being way overlooked here.
I agree with your entire post but the bolded part is important.
This one nurse is not responsible for all the short-staffing that occurs on that unit.
FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN
2,324 Posts
Your problem is that you are understaffed on Saturdays.
Your coworker's religious beliefs are not your problem and also are none of your business.
Work on solving the actual problem.