Reprimanded for cleaning up after myself!!!

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

You know, I know I have had some complaints about this job, but what happened today takes the taco. My plant is closing ( I work occ), and as such, all the old medical records have to be shredded. I have been handling that. Gets a bit messy at times. I was tidying up today, sweeping up where all the paper crumples were around the shredder, and my sup walks by. By her reaction, you'd have thought I was running a meth lab in the middle of Medical.

"Don't do that!"

"What?"

"Don't sweep?"

"I'm just cleaning up my mess."

"Don't do that. Leave it for the janitor. They'll complain to the union about you doing their job!"

Now, I don't know about y'all, but I was taught to clean up after myself, not leave it for someone else to do. This is just the latest. This woman is not right. First the internet kafoffel, we are spending too much time one the net. Well, maybe that's bcause there is NOTHING TO DO. No one is getting hurt, thank mercy. What are we to do, sit here and stare at each other? Then the issue of talking. We can't have a simple conversation without this crazy person screaming from her office that we're too loud. I don't care how soft we talk, we're too loud.

I caught her whining to the plant doc about that, and told her in no uncertain terms that if she was going to say something about me, she would do well to say it to my face. Have not heard much else from her till today.

Seriously, is this not the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard? Leave your mess so someone else can alean it up? It's not like I was cleaning the bathroom! Any idea on how to handle this? I seriously thought about tagging out the broom WARNING:NOT FOR CLEANING USE-TRANSPORTATION ONLY. I think that may be a bit much, though.

Thoughts?

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Specializes in LTC and MED-SURG.

I agree it is ridiculous. BUT unions are very powerful in some areas, and I have heard of similar complaints. JOB SECURITY is a big issue. Think about it from a laid-off janitorial worker' viewpoint.

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

Oh, I can see that. I just can not see how a teeny little pile of shredded paper is going to make or break him. He still has to mop, replace paper towels, clean the bathroom, empty the trash, AND trash all those mountains of bags of shredded paper I have amassed. Just seems a bit petty to me.

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It is petty. But I've worked factories in the old days and unions can be very, very territorial. I'd leave the mess from now on, and maybe buy the janitor a coffee.

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More important question would be if why medical records are being shredded and not sent to a secure storage area; what if something is needed in them later on? There will be no way to back things up for either side, or help one of the former employees there.

Shredding is normally not legally permitted, they need to be stored and available. Are these just extra papers or the entire files of the employee?

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

w I seriously thought about tagging out the broom WARNING:NOT FOR CLEANING USE-TRANSPORTATION ONLY. I think that may be a bit much, though.

Thoughts?

I hear what you're saying. When I worked in occupational health, our union was never quite that territorial.

That tag for the broom is just too funny, though!!! :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. These are copied charts. The originals are in storage. Wheever we copy a chart for an attorney, etc. 2 copies are, or WERE made. I am shredding the extras. The originals are safe and sound. I made sure of that before Old Cross-Cut was ever fired up. Thanks for the advice, all.

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Specializes in SICU.

I say tag the broom. :D

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

I already did, right after sup came boiling in, looking like a drowned mouse, madder than a mashed cat, and said, "The next time I get here and I don't have a parking place, I'm pulling rank, and someone's coming out to move their car." One nurse came in at 4:30 this morning, I got here at 6:30. Sup cam in at 11:00. Medical has 2 parking spaces, and they say just that, MEDICAL. Not Nancy Nurse, Sup. There is one that says Medical Director, but Doc took it today.

She did not say anything to him. I guess she thinks she's too good to get wet. I hate that it was raining, but, had she called and told me to come move my car so that she could park on the front row, I'll tell you where I'd have moved it to. Home. Hmph. Some people. She wants set parking, she can take it up with security. Until then, I am parking wher I was told to. No one ever said anything about leaving a spot on the front row for sup when it rains.

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The union maintenance workers at our local high school would be very upset if you swept up that mess.

steph

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Specializes in PACU, ED.

I worked for a union years ago in retail. They were very territorial and more nitpicky than any manager I've ever had. I was required to take my breaks exactly on schedule. It didn't matter if I were in the middle of a job that would now take twice as long to complete since I had to leave my area safe and then re-set everything up after my 10 minute break.

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A local owner of a lumbar mill wanted to donate the materials for new stadium seating for our football field and the maintenance union nixed it because they wouldn't make any money. We waited another 10 years - meanwhile living with rickety old unsafe wooden seating and steps.

My son was a coach for a baseball team and needed the grass mowed before a game and the maintenance guys were sitting in their office and refused to come out to mow the lawn. My son offered to do it for them. Nope. It wasn't on their schedule. However, all 4 of them were just sitting there, drinking coffee.

It can get ugly for your supervisor if she doesn't tow the line . .

steph

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