Seniority and Overtime issues

[seeking33]

I'm an LPN at a small facility. I have been working there for a long time and have seniority over most nurses there. I depend on overtime pay to pay the bills and for other needs. Yet it seems I'm on the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to getting overtime hours--they just started hiring a lot of brand new nurses, and my overtime is being taken away and given to them. These nurses get to see the work schedule first and fill it up with the overtime they want, and I'm not allowed to see the schedule and am forced to take what hours might be left. With all the new hires, it's very difficult to grab any overtime.

I was always under the impression that seniority counts in any workplace. Isn't this true? I'm afraid my finances will be jeopardized if i don't work a certain amount of overtime hours. What actions should i take to correct the situation?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Overtime should be an equal opportunity. With all employees given an equal chance at working overtime, regardless of how long you've been there.

What seems unfair is they getting the schedule before you and you not being allowed to see the schedule until after them. That seems wrong. How is this happening?

[seeking33]

Hi, Tweety! What you say is true. Unfortunately, I'm never able to see the new work schedule book because for the longest time now, I've been scheduled to have a day off every time the new one comes out! So the nurses working that day get to se it and plan their overtime, and I'm never around to be given a chance to plan mine. Plus, when I'm at work, my boss always has the schedule book and nobody can look at it then, which is in my opinion, very unfair. Why have a schedule book if the only time you can see it is the one day when it comes out?

[fergus51]

Have you asked your boss about it? If this is really important to you and you happen to be off the day it comes out, you could always make a special trip into work.

[seeking33]

I would make a special trip on my day off, only I have a long commute and with gas prices being this high, I try to limit my driving :uhoh21:

[fergus51]

I know what you mean, I hate unecessary trips to work too. Unfortunately sometimes it's deciding what's more important (one unecessary commute or getting the left over OT).

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

First, no one is "entitled" to OT. In theory in most places, if properly staffed, there will be no OT. So depending on it is a risky proposition.

Second, OT is generally first come first serve. If you really want OT, you need to be there when the schedule comes out. Perhaps you can ask to work the day that the schedule comes out.

Third, about the time that employees start squabbling over the "I have seniority...I should get the best OT times" etc, will be about the time that the manager steps on all of them and eliminates all OT because it is too much of a headache. And I would not blame him/her.