Published Feb 11, 2004
wayover20
97 Posts
New rules per our nurse manager say if you've already used 2 days sick time and the 12 month eval. time isn't up yet, no more can be used unless it is "approved in advance" by 2 weeks time. This gives them time to find a replacement for you. By the way....this is a "benefit". Is this legal? Has anyone ever heard such cr--? What is your sick call policy?
nursethis
18 Posts
Geez. I've never heard of such a thing. Seems it isn't so important what they tell you as what they plan to do if you get sick without giving them two weeks notice:)
Tweety, BSN, RN
35,420 Posts
Sounds crazy....ummmm...hello, this is Tweety, I'm planning on having the flu in two weeks and won't be into work. Insane.
Our policy is we call in sick when we are sick. I think we get six call ins in a year before they think about disciplinary actions, which they rarely enforce.
scottwriter
3 Posts
Sounds like a great place to work! If you break your leg do you have to give 2 weeks for that? This is stupid and nonsense! You should have a copy of your benefits and nursing policy. If not, call your human resources department and the state labor board. Get the FACTS. Sounds like a new nurse manager who is already overwhelmed by problems that have not been dealt with in the past. Good luck! Whoops... gotta go. I need to let my business partner know i'm gonna have the flu at the end of February...
teeituptom, BSN, RN
4,283 Posts
Thats cute as can be
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
Good Lord, just when ya think you have heard it all...... :rotfl:
bagladyrn, RN
2,286 Posts
I don't know if I'd be able to resist the temptation - I'd have to write up a request for sick leave for some exotic illness, giving the proper 2 weeks notice and attaching a copy of the policy, perhaps forwarding a copy to administration, just to point out how ridiculous this is!
barefootlady, ADN, RN
2,174 Posts
So you need to schedule a car accident, unexpected surgery/injury or perhaps even an unexpected death of family member 2 weeks in advance.
Who pays for the psyche? This should be discussed in staff meeting asap. Also researched in employee handbook. Perhaps Labor Board can give you some pointers. Good Luck, sounds like a dandy place to work.
unknown99, BSN, RN
933 Posts
They cannot do that to you!!! I bet the state labor board would have something to say about that!!!
rstewart
235 Posts
In the absence of a contract, employers can do pretty much as they please. Employers are under no legal obligation to offer paid vacation or sick time----and indeed some do not.
Years ago sick time, vacations, holidays, personal days etc. were most commonly accounted for individually. Over the years, however, employers combined these benefits into Paid Time Off banks. They were "sold" to the employees as an improvement in that you could use the total time as the employee saw fit (ie. they were more flexible....indeed some plans even incorporated the word into the title.)
Unfortunately, the first thing the employee found upon implementation was that the total hours in the new plan did not equal the sum of the hours in the previously individual categories. And the next thing they found was that numerous disclaimers were built into the program, limiting when and how the hours could be used.
Unfair and sneaky? Yep-----but not illegal. A little tweeking of the Employee Handbooks for propriety sake and that was that.
Benefits can be modified or eliminated at any time without a contact.
I have been reading with great interest, that many institutions, especially HCA and Tenet facilities are changing employee benefits. The employee is informed of the change when these monsters have their yearly enrollment information inservice. Many of the working nurses, xray techs, lab workers are finding benefits for family members too expensive to carry. Many CNA's were already in that position the last time I worked for HCA. Vacation time is shrinking per pay-period at other private/non-profit facilities. I think it will eventually lead to an even bigger crisis for health care workers than the overtime issue.