Scheduled to work called out due to snow--can I be fired?

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I was scheduled to go to work today. I live about 40 miles away from work got in my car and found visibility to be very bad and did not feel safe driving--train not an option. I called out and was told that my patients needed me and that administration was not happy and that I would be dealt with later? Intimidation or is this ground for termination?

I feel that I give so much of myself at work. But it's still not enough. Can I be let go or this?

Specializes in LTC.

it's obvious from some of the cavalier responses you have received that there are those who have not seen the latest news about the record-breaking blizzards that have been pounding your area. i'm guessing the person you spoke with has been at work for way too long and is tired, stressed out, cranky, and you just happened to be the object of that frustration. always think of your safety first!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I'm biased, I live 15 minutes from work, when there is a snow advisory I have the option of coming to work early with a bag packed for three days and plan on staying there, or If I don't prefer to stay among the masses, I can stay with my paying a hotel right across the hospital, any way .....

I AM WORK READY

I know when it is coming, I get there, I work and shame on all of you for not doing the same.. Just as you all bought your milk and bread.. you dang well knew you needed to get your butts to work and camp it out.

you're suspended or fired, shame on you for forcing me to work 24 hours straight.

this is what you signed up for, suck it up, and stop your whinning... I grew up in buffalo and never EVER called in.. but did stop to charge the sheriff cars on my way home. get your priorities straight. I'm required to be work ready 24 and 7 and thats what I am... flame away... to the buffalo girl:yeah:

By the way, I'm in the south now, and still get my orifice in, in the ice storm:eek:

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.
it's obvious from some of the cavalier responses you have received that there are those who have not seen the latest news about the record-breaking blizzards that have been pounding your area. i'm guessing the person you spoke with has been at work for way too long and is tired, stressed out, cranky, and you just happened to be the object of that frustration. always think of your safety first!

yo, they knew it was coming and the patients needed care, pack your bag, get there before the storm and camp it out... you have to do this because the staff and patients in the facility...... with three days warning deserve, a break... and care.... shame, on you for not being ready to work. this is what we are required to do... i've had my family evacuate for hurricaines and pack a bag for a week to be work ready, not knowing if my home existed!

thats what you do.. geeze... natural disasters are common place in a health care facility planning and you are obligated and mandated to show and respond... you simply plan ahead... not in the midst of a storm that had three days warning. geeze!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.
Nope southernbeegirl, a person does not have to go to the expense of a hotel to be available to their employer in a blizzard. This is not a requirement, and is sort of a silly expectation.

From your statement I am guessing that you have never been involved in a weather emergency where people (or you) have been stranded for days. Weather IS an excuse in some circumstances.

Still, vindictive employers can fire you if they feel like it in some states.

Our facility puts up employees in cots in our rehab room for free, there is a hotel right across the street it that offends you, weather is never an excuse where I work, we get it all... ice, snow, hurricaines and you are to be work ready.

your choice of stay for the night is up to you, but there is one provided for free, as well as free child care.. so you have no excuse here.

Your facility doesn't offer this? then shame on them when you call in with no child care. Don't care to stay on a cot... well too bad... the rest of us slept on one last night.

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on the other hand, if you know you are scheduled to be at work, you should make sure you are there. if that means staying the night before, staying in a nearby motel, whatever, but you know you are scheduled. so calling in during weather is no excuse.

I can tell that you have never driven in a true Blizzard. There is a role for common sense. I carry a jump bag for the weather in case I get stuck at work. I have a 65 mile commute 1 way. If the wind is blowing and the roads glazed I am not going to go in. I live in MN and have grown up here. I have a very healthy respect for the weather and safety.

The last storm we had I lost count at 7 vehicles in the ditch.

Have I gone in the night before yes. I will not pay for a hotel room. My hospital will put us if weathered in. They will also let us come in early if we know that bad weather is predicted for the morning. However, I understand that mothers/fathers with young children do not always have the option to come in early.

If you are killed or disabled as a result of a weather related accident than you will be lost to your employer for far longer than an 8-12 hour tour.....

My point is that we can't make these kinds of pronouncements because not every one has the same living responsibilities.

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

So for those getting a hotel room--or just going out of your way to be able to get to work, DO YOU GET REIMBURSED FOR HOTEL/INN STAYS AT ALL? Is this offered at any of your facilities? Just curious--maybe they should help cover these.

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I wonder if other forums for essential personnel have this question, and if their answers are the same?

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
i'm biased, i live 15 minutes from work, when there is a snow advisory i have the option of coming to work early with a bag packed for three days and plan on staying there, or if i don't prefer to stay among the masses, i can stay with my paying a hotel right across the hospital, any way .....

you must have the option to abandon your children for several days in order to work...

i am work ready

i know when it is coming, i get there, i work and shame on all of you for not doing the same.. just as you all bought your milk and bread.. you dang well knew you needed to get your butts to work and camp it out. [color=#0000ff]can they bring their children with them, will you babysit? certainly you realize that they aren't in school during a blizzard.

you're suspended or fired, shame on you for forcing me to work 24 hours straight. i'm sorry, who forced you?

this is what you signed up for, suck it up, and stop your whinning... i grew up in buffalo and never ever called in.. but did stop to charge the sheriff cars on my way home. get your priorities straight. i'm required to be work ready 24 and 7 and thats what i am... flame away... to the buffalo girl:yeah: [color=#0000ff]no, people signed up for jobs...disaster relief is a whole different can of worms that every nurse is not required to participate in.

by the way, i'm in the south now, and still get my orifice in, in the ice storm:eek:

[color=#0000ff]and everyone thanks you for being so selfless in these situations...however your individual efforts do not equate a requirement that others must do the same.
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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Last September I moved from Arizona to Ohio. During orientation I asked what happens if I get snowed in and cannot get to work I was told that there had only been '3' snow days the previous winter!!! and no answer was given. Then I was contacted at home the same day to question my attitude problem for bringing up such a negative issue in front of other new workers!!!!!

Of course we have had the worse snow days in recent history this past week but i havent yet called off!!!! But i can assure you if I ever see the weather like last friday again I will call off in a heartbeat because after driving home late at night in a blizzard 27 miles of it, I have never been so scared that I would breakdown in the middle of nowhere with no help .

They can fire me I no longer care

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At this point, I'm not worried about being fired. For those nurses who live in Buffalo, the Dakotas, Maine or any other snowy states, my hats off to you. But, ain't no way in the world am I going to drive out in the weather we've had in the DC/MD region. Two blizzards in one week is dangerous and ridiculous. I stayed for the first storm three days and I'm on schedule to work this evening shift. Not going to happen. I do't have four wheel drive and even they are getting stuck in my area.

According to you snow hardy souls, I was supposed to drive in, stay at a hotel, walk five miles to my job on unplowed streets, and disregard the city mandate that said any one (including health personnel) caught driving in our city would face heavy fines and/or jail time just to make it to work today. I personally don't like frost bite and cold jail cells. But, maybe you "super nurses" do! lol

Those nurses in snow belt regions are in cities that are equipped to deal with this weather. Others of us are not. Many of us must digg ourselves out of our streets filled with 3 and 4 foot snow drifts. No city to help for days. Do understand what we are dealing with is unprecedented for our area. Not yours, thank you!

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Specializes in School Nursing.
YO, they knew it was coming and the patients needed care, pack your bag, get there before the storm and camp it out... you have to do this because the staff and patients in the facility...... WITH THREE DAYS WARNING deserve, a break... and care.... shame, on you for not being ready to work. This IS what we are required to do... I've had my family evacuate for hurricaines and pack a bag for a week to be work ready, not knowing if my home existed!

Thats what you do.. geeze... Natural disasters are common place in a health care facility planning and you are OBLIGATED and MANDATED to show and respond... you simply plan ahead... not in the midst of a storm that had three days warning. geeze!

If this is what I am required and mandated to do as a nurse...I quit.

If it is safe for me to get to work, I will get to work. In fact, today I am at work after driving 46 miles in the snow, and I work at a SCHOOL!!!! My district for some reason did not cancel today, despite deteriorating conditions of snow and ice on the roads. I am truly afraid that I will have trouble getting home. But I am here.

If it is unsafe for me to get to work, I am sorry, but I am not going to risk my LIFE for a JOB! This martyr stuff is crazy! And as far as camping out at work for days ahead of time...um, no. I do not have kids, but I have livestock that require me to feed and water them in order for them to live. They are my responsibility, no one can assume that for me. So, no I am not going to sacrifice their lives for a JOB. No way.

This is the same kind of thinking that says that nursing is a "calling", and we all must be angels of mercy in white. It is also why nurses don't get any respect. We allow people to dictate our lives and allow ourselves to be spat upon and taken advantage of. And so many of us buy into this mentality. Saddens me.

Seriously, please let me know if this is what is REQUIRED of me in order to be a nurse and I will tear up my license right now.

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I was told in my old facility that my badge allowed me to drive on roads that were closed due to snow. I asked them if my badge was magic and could keep me on the road. ;)

Seriously I live 25 miles from work and have only had to call off once due to weather in the last five years. I live halfway between Rochester and Buffalo, so you know the weather can really suck. Unfortunately because of the lakes and distance you never know what is happening at the other end of my destination. I don't have four wheel drive but a lot of experience driving in the snow. What shocks me is when I make it in, but those nearby can't.

If my facility does not declare it a snow emergency and you call off, you will not get paid. But sometimes you can call the DON and she will give you a vacation day if your attendance isn't bad. So I would assume the worst is that you will not get paid for the day. But like others have said, they can fire you for anything. I wouldn't worry until you actually see them and see what they mean. Keep us posted.

I think everyone needs to make their own decision on what is safe and what isn't. But that means being honest about bad the weather really is. It sucks driving in this type weather, but that should not be the reason not to go to work.

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