Salary vs. Hourly?

TazziRN, RN · Feb 18, 2007

Salary: can be abused and overworked by employers without compensation.

Hourly: OVERTIME

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2007

Personally, I'm fond of being paid hourly but that wasn't the question by the OP.

I guess you could try to defend salary by arguing that nursing demands to be recognized as a profession. Many professionals are paid salaries such as engineers and managers. Hourly pay is associated more with blue collar workers and independent contractors.

That's all I can think of. Any chance you can switch to the other side in the debate?:nuke:

wjf00 · Feb 19, 2007

Are you defending salary from the nurses perspective? If so that is a very hard sell. No takers here. But you might argue that a salary allows an employee to budget, as income is steady. It can be a help when securing a loan as the lender has a guaranteed income to base thier loan amount on. Salary is protection in the event of low census. Salary helps in calculating the amount for witholdings like 401K, 403B, Fed Taxes, etc. Salary prevents nurses competing for OT, may foster a more team approach.

All that being said I am sorry to say you drew the short straw in arguing for salary.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2007

how about a 'mixed economy' of salary and hourly like the UK

we have salaires which assume all out hours are worked weekdays between 0600 - 2000 , if we work outside of thsoe times there are 'special duties payments' of30 % ( weekday after 2000 , 'night shift' or saturday), 60 % (Sunday and public holidays) ...

part time workers salaries are pro rata of FT ditto pensions , sick pay etc ...

as for overtime - it;s a dirty word i ntheUk at present and extra hours are generally worked on bank contracts for standard rates - the unions are unsuprisingly not happy but the law allows it

hollyvk, BSN · Feb 22, 2007

I've been given the difficult position of defending salary vs. hourly in a debate! I need more positive information on salary. Can anyone help give me any ammunition on the salary side vs. the other side's hourly?

Salaried positions allow for flexible hours, say you work 36 hours one week and 40 the next week, you get a full paycheck for each week (assuming your pay is based on 40hr/wk). The employer will set the acceptable minimum hours per week (below that, you'll have to use some PTO time). Of course, you could work 44 hours the 3rd week and there's no OT for that . . .

So a salary gives you income stability, no being sent home early if all the patients are discharged or the census is low.

The other flexibility is the schedule you work, you may want to work 10 hours one day and 6 the next, you have flexibility to respond to the various projects, meetings, and other time-sensitive job duties.

In nursing, generally the salaried positions are for managers and those in administrative positions because their job duties require schedule flexibility and a commitment to get projects done in a timely manner (if you're not getting OT, you'll be plenty motivated to get that report finish this week).

I hope this helps,

HollyVK (who's worked plenty of jobs both hourly and salaried)

Myxel67 · Feb 22, 2007

If you have doctor's appt, or outside obligation, time away from work does not need to be made up. If you go home sick, pay can't be docked--if you're here for a minute, you're here for the day. Also can't take PTO for that missed time.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2007

I am salaried- it is based on a 40 hour week and an hourly wage.

I don't get overtime - if I work over 40 hours it is time I give to the company.

I don't get holiday pay, weekend or evening differentials.

I could actually make 20% more if I was an hourly worker-BUT I would have to work weekends, holidays,evenings,nights,etc.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2007

Salary-flexible days- I can work 12 hours one day and 4 the next-as long as I work a total of at least 80 hours in 2 weeks-no problem. If I have an appointment(outside of work) and no meetings-I don't get docked pay.

It is guaranteed income-no low-census days

eddy · Feb 28, 2007

Hah! It all depends on which method pays more of course. :wink2:

sheluke · Oct 30, 2007

No actual clocking in or out (and getting paid wrong because 'forgot')

No stressing over being outside the allowed 5 minute window if traffic makes you a few minutes late

On the side from those advantages, even 'salary' means different things at different places-ie leaving work sick or missing time may still mean you have to enter as PTO/PAL whichever your system uses. Often depends on how much time (maybe a couple hours are ok to make up but half day has to be entered) Salaried is not always cart blanche to work whatever hours you choose just to = 80.

carrie13 · Oct 30, 2007

My current position in nursing informatics is salary. When I start my new job on the floor in a couple weeks I will be hourly. I work in a business setting so some of this may not be applicable for the hospital setting but here are the perks of salary at my current position - guaranteed pay - allows for easy budgeting because pay is consistent, not scheduled to work weekends/holidays, fairly flexible schedule - no penalties for missing work due to doctor appt, etc, don't have to clock in/out, I'm not relieving anyone when I come in so if I'm a couple minutes late its not a big deal. The biggest con (literally) of working salary is that you don't get overtime. I can't tell you the last time I worked only 40hrs in a week. We are so busy (and understaffed) that I'm often working at least 50hrs/week.

I can also share my mom's experience. For many years she was the salaried director of the OR at a community hospital. She was paid very well but was on call 24x7 for managment issues and usually worked 9-10hr days. She had many nurses under her who were making more than she was because of all their overtime/call pay. There was one nurse who made almost twice as much as my mom because she picked up overtime and call whenever she could.