I have been working at my current workplace, a hospital downtown, for a little over a year now as full-time. As of Monday I will transfer to part-time because I am starting a new job closer to home. Both managers are aware.
This afternoon I received a phone call from my current manager scheduling a meeting with her, human resources and a union representative on Monday. She would not give me any details except that it was SERIOUS, which is what worries me most, and she would pay me for my time (odd but nice). I asked if it was about a patient (which is my #1 concern) and she said no. But that's all she would tell me. I know this will be at the back of my mind all weekend long, stressing me out! This is the first time I've been asked to come in on my day off and meet with people other than her. Any ideas what it could be about?
Although I don't think this behind the reason and if it was I will tell her the truth. I called in sick yesterday. I don't call in often ... maybe a handful the entire year. This time it was legitimate, I had schedule conflicts at both workplaces and couldn't find anyone to pick-up my shift. It left me with no choice. I can't be at 2 places at once. I called in really early so they a good amount of time to call or a replacement.
Me too. Sounds like they are PO'd you're going to PT, so they are going to find a reason to make you miserable enough to quit, or fire you for some imagined infraction...
And no, that's not just in nursing, I used to see the same crap in computers all the time...."Oh, you've given me a 4 week notice, how nice, you're fired and security's here to walk you out...by the way, we've packed all your stuff up so you don't have to go back to your cube..."
Nerdtonurse - Exactly!!! It's like they feel like they HAVE to have the last word, or something. So when the employee turns in a professional month notice, they can't just leave werll enough alone and especially get all up in your belongings, ect to "help you out"!!
Me too. Sounds like they are PO'd you're going to PT, so they are going to find a reason to make you miserable enough to quit, or fire you for some imagined infraction...
And no, that's not just in nursing, I used to see the same crap in computers all the time...."Oh, you've given me a 4 week notice, how nice, you're fired and security's here to walk you out...by the way, we've packed all your stuff up so you don't have to go back to your cube..."
Well, as a systems person, an employee who is leaving can do a lot of damage should they lose their mind. And I've seen it happen.
What they are doing to the OP, though, is nasty. It's been done to me - I didn't get fired, but I was in "trouble" - and it's rotten to make someone stew all weekend.
To bad you dont know a lawyer. Show up on Monday with said lawyer. That aside, the fact that your facility is unionized look at your contract, its going to spell out the instances that a union rep is going to be required to be with you when dealing with management. I have only worked at one such facility and as I can recall there were only one or two cases that the management could request the rep, more two dozen when a nurse could. Also if I were you take a tape recorder with you, tell them you are going to recored any conversation for your and their protection. Good Luck
Well, as a systems person, an employee who is leaving can do a lot of damage should they lose their mind. And I've seen it happen.
What they are doing to the OP, though, is nasty. It's been done to me - I didn't get fired, but I was in "trouble" - and it's rotten to make someone stew all weekend.
Sue - you are right!!! I've been in that position before, and didn't get fired, but was left to sweat it out over a long holiday weekend until we had our little meeting. And it is rotten, to say the least!! Gives me a case of the red ___ just thinking about it.
1) When I called in sick I obviously did not tell them it was d/t a schedule conflict. I am that smart at least :l
2) I actually gave them 1 month notice that I was leaving. I wanted a casual position, she said they had no casual positions available (which I found hard to believe). Instead I opted for part-time. I wanted to keep one foot in the door. BTW, the new place wanted me to start ASAP which meant I would only be giving this place 1 1/2 weeks notice but I was nice enough to give them 1 month notice and start at the new place in Sept.
3) I am actually at work tonight and I will be at work again tomorrow night, as scheduled.
I feel like I've done a good job and I always try to do my best. If I did something wrong, it was not intentionally because I am still learning. I am still a recent grad. If it were an incident she would have spoken to me in person as she has done in the past.
If I get fired, I get fired. It won't be the end of the world but it would make me lose all confidence in myself as a nurse and make me feel like a complete failure, but I will live. It would also give me all the more reason to reconsider my career choice as a nurse. It feels discouraging because you bust your ass (excuse the language) and you get nothing but a slap in the face. Nothing is ever good enough. You never hear when you've done a good job, only when youv'e done something wrong.
I couldn't reach anyone by phone because they had all left the office to enjoy their weekends. Whats done is done. I'll just wait until Monday. Thanks for your advice though, I appreciate it.
i am wondering why the union rep hasnt contacted YOU.....i would look around (since you are at work) and see if there is someone on right now....i would wonder if they actually have a rep scheduled or are just blowing smoke, and when you get there on monday they will say "oh the rep couldnt make it, sorry"
Maybe someone found out that you had a scheduling conflict between the two jobs? If they found out that you called in sick and were essentially lying, then they would have legitimate grounds to be PO'd. If I were a co-worker and found out that someone had called in because they had another job, leaving me in the lurch, I would not be pleased.
If it isn't a patient care issue, then it has to be something to do with your schedule change or else interpersonal issues that someone is having with you.
I agree, I think it's crummy to want to ambush you in the meeting, and not let you go into it knowing the issue. That happened to me once and it was because I had had an interpersonal dispute with another nurse who decided to write up an extensive, one-sided report about our conversation and give it to management. Nothing came of it once I told my side of the story but management did use the incident to try to intimidate me.
well,...i have been biting my tongue.....but what YOU did, wasnt the classiest behavior......the new job should have been told, that you were honoring you schedule at the old job, and would be "fully" available only after you notice had been "worked out"...you have effectively lied to obtain you wage for that day.....
1) When I called in sick I obviously did not tell them it was d/t a schedule conflict. I am that smart at least :l
2) I actually gave them 1 month notice that I was leaving. I wanted a casual position, she said they had no casual positions available (which I found hard to believe). Instead I opted for part-time. I wanted to keep one foot in the door. BTW, the new place wanted me to start ASAP which meant I would only be giving this place 1 1/2 weeks notice but I was nice enough to give them 1 month notice and start at the new place in Sept.
3) I am actually at work tonight and I will be at work again tomorrow night, as scheduled.
I feel like I've done a good job and I always try to do my best. If I did something wrong, it was not intentionally because I am still learning. I am still a recent grad. If it were an incident she would have spoken to me in person as she has done in the past.
If I get fired, I get fired. It won't be the end of the world but it would make me lose all confidence in myself as a nurse and make me feel like a complete failure, but I will live. It would also give me all the more reason to reconsider my career choice as a nurse. It feels discouraging because you bust your ass (excuse the language) and you get nothing but a slap in the face. Nothing is ever good enough. You never hear when you've done a good job, only when youv'e done something wrong.
I couldn't reach anyone by phone because they had all left the office to enjoy their weekends. Whats done is done. I'll just wait until Monday. Thanks for your advice though, I appreciate it.
You mean that not only your boss has arranged this big secret meeting AND called your union rep to be there even before they have given you any info as to what kind of crap is going on, ..... YOU HAVE TO WORK ALL WEEKEND FOR THEM STRESSED OUT??!?! Forget that!!! I wouldn't feel like giving them much, since they apparently don't feel like they owe you much. You are a better person than I am!!
You must work in my department. No, wait, my NM calls people in for meetings, the HR guy is sitting there, (no union rep) and THEN you're tossed a piece of paper and told this is SERIOUS. I cannot believe the union rep was called by the NM. Managements HATE unions and anything we have to do with them.
I would be calling my union rep, find out IF he/she is really even knows about this, and go from there. Taking at least a witness who can verify what was said or not is a good idea. Tape recorder too. They won't like it, but trust me (I'm the union steward on my unit), you will be glad you did when you start reviewing what happened.
sissiesmama, ASN, RN
1,899 Posts
Nerdtonurse - Exactly!!! It's like they feel like they HAVE to have the last word, or something. So when the employee turns in a professional month notice, they can't just leave werll enough alone and especially get all up in your belongings, ect to "help you out"!!
Anne, RNC