Restrictions on using PTO

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Do you have any restrictions (besides holidays) on using your PTO?

I work full time at a job M-F and I work at a SNF every other weekend. At the SNF, we cannot use our PTO on a weekend without finding our own coverage (unless it is part of a larger vacation chunk).

I find it very frustrating, as do many of my coworkers. If I have an out of town wedding or obligation that falls on my working weekend, I cannot be assured I have it off until about 2 weeks before the event.

Also, it can be pretty difficult to find someone who wants to pick up on their weekend off. When I've mentioned this, I've been told by HR that I should try to switch weekends with someone when I need a day off, but I am unable to do that because of my work schedule with my other job (I'd end up working 22 days in a row) and because I'd have to pay a babysitter almost $100 for the day, so I'd be losing money :(

I'm just frustrated by it since having this PTO is a benefit I earned by working there for years and this policy was only recently introduced. Does anyone else have similar restrictions on how you can use your PTO?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

In every organization I have worked, there were PTO/vac day restrictions. In many of them, there were "blackout" periods in which no PTO would be granted - usually major holidays. Most had a limit on the number of successive days that could be taken at once and these usually stipulated how the days could be arranged, depending on your normal work schedule. There are usually some rules about how much advance notice you have to provide also. It all makes sense, when you consider that the organization has to maintain 24X7 staffing levels. Rules also prevent managers from playing favorites because everyone has to follow them.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care-Family Medicine.

When I worked nursing home you had to request off at least 4 weeks in advance and it was granted only if one of the prns would cover or someone would switch shifts with you. The further in advance you asked the better than chance of finding someone to cover. We all tried to help each other out and cover when needed as long as the favor was returned. With you only working every other weekend at this place it's going to be harder for you to find coverage because no one wants to work weekends normally and the M-F people don't want to have to pick up a weekend shift on top off their normal hours. Unless this place has some PRN people it's going to be difficult to find coverage.

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I understand some restrictions, such as holidays or a "first come/first serve" basis for days when multiple people have requested off.

My issue is that this is a benefit I have earned that I am trying to use and cannot because my coworkers (understandably) do not want to give up their weekend off. And because I only work weekends there, I cannot use my PTO on other days or as a longer vacation. And I'm told that only so much of it will roll over at my anniversary date, so I will lose the time that I am not being allowed to use.

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I'm feeling salty on this right now because I'm trying to get a day off and it's so difficult. Those who work M-F can get a day off with no issue.

Just feels like my reward for working there for years is "Thanks for your service. Hope you aren't close with your sister since you'll be missing her wedding. Too bad, so sad."

ETA- I am not actually missing my sister's wedding. I am trying to take off for something else. Though I do know people who have missed family weddings due to this policy.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

I absolutely hate policies in which you have to find your own coverage. I think that if you ask off weeks in advance, that should be more than enough time for management to work it in to the schedule and arrange coverage. There is a reason someone else does the schedule - they're paid to do it. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I think it's crappy and hope you can work it out.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

PTO is earned time. Policies around major holidays and having to do with seniority during high request times make sense, but having to find your own coverage? Unable to take a weekend off? That is crap. The whole point of it is to provide respite and work/life balance. You are entitled to the time off and if the facility can't cover it then obviously they are grossly understaffed. I'd be moving on, personally.

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You are entitled to the time off and if the facility can't cover it then obviously they are grossly understaffed. I'd be moving on, personally.

In all honesty, it is a great place to work. They are generally well staffed and (other than this) treat their employees well and there are many nurses and other staff that have been there upwards or 10/15/20 years. There is very little turnover and they are a very highly rated facility. The owners are in the building daily as administrators and know all staff (200+) and 99% of the patients by name. I'm proud to work there and be a part of their reputation.

This BS policy was implemented after 4 CNAs were granted Easter off and then agency CNAs were scheduled to cover the hours and all 4 called in the day of so they were super understaffed.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

For our weekends, we are expected to arrange a switch if we need off. Since we know pretty much a year in advance which weekends our ours (every third, but it does switch up a bit to correlate assigned holidays with the closest weekend), it's pretty easy to find someone willing to switch- typically someone who needs a favor in return or someone who is willing to switch for a price (we had one who offered $50 for every switch and a few who would offer a bottle of wine). For those who only work weekends (which is a program that has since disappeared), they were only permitted to request 2 weekends per year.

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