Scheduled on days off

kp2016 · Jul 4, 2017

I would send an email to the scheduler ASAP with a CC to your immediate manager. Notify them that they have made an error and scheduled you for shifts on your days off when you did not volunteer to work. You should also include the fact that you have prior commitments on all of these days and are therefore will not be available.

macawake, MSN · Jul 4, 2017

A nurse went out on medical leave and the scheduler decided to volunteer my off days, all of my off days, to work.

Can they do this, and does this even sound fair to stick me with most of the shifts?

Well, they obviously are capable of doing it, but I guess you're asking if they're are legally allowed to do it? I'm not an American and am not familiar with state and federal law regulating what employers can and can't do. I don't know your facility's policies or the terms of your employment contract either. My instincts however tell me that it's unlikely that it's within their legal right to force you to work the full time job you're hired for plus your coworker's part time job. But you need to get the facts from someone who actually is knowledgeable regarding your actual legal rights.

I take that back...it wasn't all my off days. Two other nurses decided to pick up a day a piece for the whole month and I got stuck with the rest of the shifts!

Do you know why it is that your scheduler allowed the two other nurses to decide how many of the sick coworker's shifts they wanted to pick up, but thought it was okay to just assign you the remainder of the shifts without asking you? Is it a seniority thing, or is it possible that they think they can get away with doing it to you, but know that they can't push the other two nurses around?

I told her that I had plans and that wasn't fair!

Apart from telling your scheduler that you didn't think it was fair, did you also tell her that you wouldn't accept the extra shifts? I think that a scheduler who struggles to fill the holes in the schedule will probably not listen to complaints about perceived unfairness, but will only act if she is forced to. I don't know her but I'm guessing that she hopes you'll simply accept the shifts after venting a bit about the lack of fairness. But I'm quite cynical.

As I said, I don't know what the relevant laws and regulations say, so I don't know if you'll somehow risk your employment if you take a more firm approach. One thing I do know though, is that if you don't advocate for yourself, many people in life (including employers), will take advantage of you. If you want results I believe that you need to contact your scheduler and you need to be firm and clear about what you're willing to accept, and what you aren't.

One thing I'm curious about since you already work two full time jobs, could you even pick up all your sick coworker's shifts without any scheduling conflicts occurring with the second full time job? (Does employer number one know about employer number two?) Whether they do or don't, I still think it's unreasonable for an employer to expect that a single full time employee covers the majority of another employees shifts.

Good luck!

nursingmomma33 · Jul 4, 2017

One thing I'm curious about since you already work two full time jobs, could you even pick up all your sick coworker's shifts without any scheduling conflicts occurring with the second full time job? (Does employer number one know about employer number two?) Whether they do or don't, I still think it's unreasonable for an employer to expect that a single full time employee covers the majority of another employees shifts.

Yes, I can do all of it if I wanted to, but I'm Not! Yes, they know I have another job. They're only worried about filing open shifts. I refused to do it because I won't have time to do the things I want to do, even if it's staring at the wall or reenact ww2 with G. I. Joe figurines! Also, I'm not sacrificing my free time unless I choose to. I was just made that she thought it was ok!

Apart from telling your scheduler that you didn't think it was fair, did you also tell her that you wouldn't accept the extra shifts? I think that a scheduler who struggles to fill the holes in the schedule will probably not listen to complaints about perceived unfairness, but will only act if she is forced to. I don't know her but I'm guessing that she hopes you'll simply accept the shifts after venting a bit about the lack of fairness. But I'm quite cynical.

She probably thought that, but I told her that I'm not agreeing to more than what I was originally signed up for and that I won't do anymore days. I picked up 2 extra days prior to her going off, and the holiday! I told her that's enough. My last resort was to quit and she would have even more days to fill! If she does that have anybody it's not my problem! The family will be forced to step in. I love my job, but it's not my life. It's just a job!

Do you know why it is that your scheduler allowed the two other nurses to decide how many of the sick coworker's shifts they wanted to pick up, but thought it was okay to just assign you the remainder of the shifts without asking you? Is it a seniority thing, or is it possible that they think they can get away with doing it to you, but know that they can't push the other two nurses around?

I am the newest person, but nothing was in the handbook stating how staffing was going to go. They probably thought they were going to push me around, but I didnt let them push me around. I'm not quite sure if it spanked in yet. I think she asked around first, OR she made the schedule and asked the other nurses to do the remainder. I don't know how she did it, but I'm not picking up more shifts. They better figure out what they're doing next month because I'm not doing any extra. I don't need any OT. My husband said I can work part time if I wanted to. This is just what I want to do. I don't mind helping out, but now I'm getting tired. Then she told the family I was coming. That's how I first found out, which I think was unprofessional. She took me off all of those days.

caliotter3 · Jul 4, 2017

Just say no. If they fire you for not playing into their patsy role, then find a job with another agency.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2017

Oh HECK no!! I DON'T work two jobs -- I work weekends and am mostly a SAHM during the week, but I wouldn't agree to work extra either, unless I wanted the hours. Your agency knows that medical leaves happen, and they failed to plan. Their failure to plan does not make it your emergency. They need to find staff who agree to work, or the family needs to care for their own child overnight (taking sick days or FMLA, if they have day jobs.)

nursingmomma33 · Jul 10, 2017

I like your style, Here I Stand! Lol...that's what I Said! I spoke to another agency I originally got hired at, and she said it wasn't my problem. Go figure! í ½í¸

nursingmomma33 · Jul 10, 2017

Oh and no they don't have day Jobs!