So, at one of my jobs, we're assigned three holidays a year. One year you work Memorial Day, Labor Day and Christmas. The other year you work 4th of July, Thanksgiving and New Year's.
This was my year to work Memorial Day, and even though it was on a Monday, and I generally do not work Mondays at this job, I was scheduled to work it. Which is fine, since this was my year for that holiday.
However, I looked and saw that I am on the schedule to work on July 4th. Even though I usually work Tuesdays, and July 4th is on a Tuesday, it is technically not my holiday to work since I already worked Memorial Day. My next holiday will be Labor Day, which is a Monday (and I can guarantee you that they won't forget to put me on the schedule for that day).
They are going to be short staffed already and if I don't work that day, it will be even worse. I suppose it is tacky for me to try and get it off since they are lacking on staffing and it will be hard to get people to pick up. At the same time, according to the schedule in the handbook, it is not my holiday to work.
How hard should I push to have this holiday off? I already signed up work a day shift at my first job, and while I could technically make an evening shift work, I really was looking forward to having some of July 4th off.
I was also considering resigning from the job if they end up making me work July 4th, but that is probably a bit extreme, even though they are only following their own polices to their own advantage. I have no doubt they were probably hoping I would forget that July 4th wasn't my holiday to work and that they could get an extra holiday out of me.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
And, although my mom, who I have discussed this situation with, has told me not to resign if I end up working July 4th, I have started looking for other nursing jobs. In fact, I've applied to two of them. I don't think anyone can fault me for wanting to work with an employer who does not take advantage of their employees and pays them what they are owed.
Well that answered my question as to which job it was.
While you're looking for a different nursing job, why don't you look for one that can take over hours for your tech job so you only have 1 job & don't have to work all month?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
We can only see our schedule online about 3 weeks in advance. So yeah, I probably should have looked sooner but I just thought that since in my hire agreement it stated that 2017 was my year to work Memorial Day, Labor Day and Christmas and not 4th of July, that I would actually only be held accountable to those holidays only. I suppose it's possible that it was an oversight, but I'm still highly suspicious since they made sure that I was on the schedule for Memorial Day, a Monday, and I typically don't work Mondays. And I feel like a prick for bringing it up but at the same time...it was not my assigned holiday to work.
Now you know why you look at your schedule early and often. Assuming that you won't be scheduled for the holiday "because it's not in my hire agreement" is a non-starter. The person who actually fills in the holes in the staffing may not be privy to your hire agreement, could be filling you in because you normally work Tuesdays or may have just goofed. It's on you to straighten it out.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I would bet that buried deep in the employee handbook is some fine print that says something like "This policy is subject to change based on acuity of patients, Staff availability and in-patient census."
And so another thing came up. My boyfriend offered to take me out to eat after we work together and go see the Fireworks on July 4th. Obviously this sounds more appealing than working a holiday that I wasn't initially assigned to work. Although I think it's almost inconsiderate on his part since, the rare times he suggests anything, are on days that I work (he never tries to get days off that I already have off). But that's another issue.
At the same time, even though I've mentioned it to the scheduler, one reason I'm a little reluctant to get very pushy about it is my attendance is not perfect. Over this past year, I've been ill nine times, and between my two jobs, I've probably used about 10 or 11 sick days (about half and half at each job). And even though I've been genuinely ill, obviously that doesn't put me the best light, although I do not believe that workers should necessarily be punished for being sick. Thing is, I start demanding too much time off and I'll soon find myself without work.
I guess it just comes down to choosing between being a good team member this time or promoting justice for myself by insisting that this is not my holiday to work in order to pursue personal desires.
I suppose it is tacky for me to try and get it off since they are lacking on staffing and it will be hard to get people to pick up. At the same time, according to the schedule in the handbook, it is not my holiday to work.
... while I could technically make an evening shift work, I really was looking forward to having some of July 4th off.
And I feel like a prick for bringing it up but at the same time...it was not my assigned holiday to work.
Especially since I could make it work. I'd just really rather not and enjoy myself after working my other job in the morning on that day.
I'm torn between being a "good employee" and a "team player" and standing up for my right to not have to work holidays that, on paper, I'm not obligated to work.
I will get a no-call, no-show if I do not show up and I'm on the schedule. At the same time, I would have documentation stating that this was not my holiday to work and I was not obligated to work that shift.
I guess it just comes down to choosing between being a good team member this time or promoting justice for myself by insisting that this is not my holiday to work in order to pursue personal desires.
(my bold)
Purplegal, your entire decision making process can be summarized as; on one hand, on the other hand, on one hand, on the other hand.
If you're looking for the "perfect" answer, you're probably not going to find it find it. Pretty much all decisions we make in life come with upsides and downsides. You seldom have an option that's great, with no cost whatsoever.
Personally, I think your dilemma is rather uncomplicated. If it were me, I would have talked to my scheduler yesterday asking if I was erroneously scheduled to work on what was supposed to be a day off, and would have made a decision based on the answer I received.
Every day that passes, brings July 4 one day closer. Most employers will appreciate if you bring issues like this one to them as soon as you realized there was a problem.
I personally think it's best to make a decision and own it, but if you're truly not able to make one, this is a possible solution...
Flip a coin.
1. Work the shift as scheduled.
2a. Bring the fact that you were supposed to and would like to have this holiday off to your scheduler's attention. If s/he says that they need you to work, comply with that wish.
2b. Bring the fact that you were supposed to and would like to have this holiday off to your scheduler's attention. If s/he says that they need you to work, tell him/her that you won't since the agreement is that you have that day off.
Flip the coin once, heads is 1 and tails is 2. If the result is heads you have your answer. If the result is tails, flip once again. Heads is 2a and tails is 2b. Then all you have to do, is stick with the result! Of course this can only be done if you're willing to accept the consequences of each of the three possible outcomes. If you aren't willing to accept them all, well then you've actually already (without realizing it/acting on it) made a decision, haven't you? That would render this entire thread moot/purely academic.
My boyfriend offered to take me out to eat after we work together and go see the Fireworks on July 4th. Obviously this sounds more appealing than working a holiday that I wasn't initially assigned to work.
Although I think it's almost inconsiderate on his part since, the rare times he suggests anything, are on days that I work
Your boyfriend just can't win, can he? Remind me, why are you still with him? You don't sound very enamoured with him. The relationship has some kind of payoff (practical? emotional?) for you or I doubt you'd still be involved with him. For your own sake, I think you need to identify what that payoff is.
If someone thinks my post is harsh, please realize that this is the exact same answer I'd give a friend that I cared about.
Purplegal, your entire decision making process can be summarized as; on one hand, on the other hand, on one hand, on the other hand.
If you're looking for the "perfect" answer, you're probably not going to find it find it. Pretty much all decisions we make in life come with upsides and downsides. You seldom have an option that's great, with no cost whatsoever.
Personally, I think your dilemma is rather uncomplicated. If it were me, I would have talked to my scheduler yesterday asking if I was erroneously scheduled to work on what was supposed to be a day off, and would have made a decision based on the answer I received.
Every day that passes, brings July 4 one day closer. Most employers will appreciate if you bring issues like this one to them as soon as you realized there was a problem.
I personally think it's best to make a decision and own it, but if you're truly not able to make one, this is a possible solution...
Flip a coin.
1. Work the shift as scheduled.
2a. Bring the fact that you were supposed to and would like to have this holiday off to your scheduler's attention. If s/he says that they need you to work, comply with that wish.
2b. Bring the fact that you were supposed to and would like to have this holiday off to your scheduler's attention. If s/he says that they need you to work, tell him/her that you won't since the agreement is that you have that day off.
Flip the coin once, heads is 1 and tails is 2. If the result is heads you have your answer. If the result is tails, flip once again. Heads is 2a and tails is 2b. Then all you have to do, is stick with the result! Of course this can only be done if you're willing to accept the consequences of each of the three possible outcomes. If you aren't willing to accept them all, well then you've actually already (without realizing it/acting on it) made a decision, haven't you? That would render this entire thread moot/purely academic.
Your boyfriend just can't win, can he? Remind me, why are you still with him? You don't sound very enamoured with him. The relationship has some kind of payoff (practical? emotional?) for you or I doubt you'd still be involved with him. For your own sake, I think you need to identify what that payoff is.
If someone thinks my post is harsh, please realize that this is the exact same answer I'd give a friend that I cared about.
I didn't think the post was harsh, and I'm on the receiving end of it. Actually you laid out the options nicely. Right now, I've sent another reminder to the scheduler, asking if they've had time to check on it. I suppose I'll just go from there, depending on the response. I don't see anything wrong with doing a follow up.
As for my boyfriend, I'm dating him because I enjoy his company when we're together. At the same time, it would be nice if he would make an effort to take off work when I'm available, instead of the other way around. It's a little inconsiderate to be constantly expecting me to decrease my hours at a job I went to school for, for 4 years, just because he's not willing to take his own days off.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I didn't think the post was harsh, and I'm on the receiving end of it. Actually you laid out the options nicely. Right now, I've sent another reminder to the scheduler, asking if they've had time to check on it. I suppose I'll just go from there, depending on the response. I don't see anything wrong with doing a follow up.
As for my boyfriend, I'm dating him because I enjoy his company when we're together. At the same time, it would be nice if he would make an effort to take off work when I'm available, instead of the other way around. It's a little inconsiderate to be constantly expecting me to decrease my hours at a job I went to school for, for 4 years, just because he's not willing to take his own days off.
I still don't understand why you're working 2 jobs & thus working a whole month at a time. I don't see a need on your end, you're only burning yourself out. Why not just get *one* nursing job that can pay all the bills & work some overtime?
As far as your "boyfriend", he clearly only cares about himself. Which is made apparent by the fact that he never tries to schedule anything on *your* days off, only *his*. You know how we all feel since you started a thread about him. I think you need to drop him like a bad habit. He's a friend, no boyfriend.
I still don't understand why you're working 2 jobs & thus working a whole month at a time. I don't see a need on your end, you're only burning yourself out. Why not just get *one* nursing job that can pay all the bills & work some overtime?
As far as your "boyfriend", he clearly only cares about himself. Which is made apparent by the fact that he never tries to schedule anything on *your* days off, only *his*. You know how we all feel since you started a thread about him. I think you need to drop him like a bad habit. He's a friend, no boyfriend.
To be fair, though, if I were dating another healthcare worker and I knew July 4th was not his holiday.... or if he told me he was erroneously scheduled to work on one not his... I would probably assume he would get off that day as well and plan something fun. Not saying all of this person's behavior is excusable, but just in this instance I could see where there would be confusion.
And honestly, if my s.o. was working 29/30 days out of a month, I would probably find it difficult to plan much as well. :-/
Initially, I had the two jobs because I wanted to keep the ECG job in order to have an advantage when applying to nursing jobs at this employer, and the other job to get nursing experience. Now, it almost seems like I'm keeping the ECG job because of job stability; I know that I would never lose the job. And I'm worried about having another nursing job not work out.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
But when are you going to take care of you? Working 29/30 days per month is not sustainable. You will never find someone in their old age who says they wish they could go back and spend more time working. You're well on the path to full burnout. Something's going to have to give. It would be best for it not to be your own physical and/or mental health.
OrganizedChaos, LVN
1 Article; 6,883 Posts
Well that answered my question as to which job it was.
While you're looking for a different nursing job, why don't you look for one that can take over hours for your tech job so you only have 1 job & don't have to work all month?