Should prn get weekend or holiday diff???

JKL33 · Oct 17, 2018

I believe PD wages have leveled considerably in recent years - still not widely known unless someone finds out by mistake that recent hires are basically making the same amount, which doesn't happen often because it's so unprofessional and dangerous for nurses to discuss wages.

Secondly, the original trade off was flexibility and higher wage (again, now negligible) in exchange for no insurance, no retirement plan, no PTO accrual, no seniority, etc.

Third, with regard to weekend/shift diff., holiday pay, call-in bonuses, etc. - these things should be looked at as a matter of negotiation. A holiday is a holiday, a weekend's a weekend, a night shift is a night shift. Dropping everything to run in and help is still dropping everything. So the only question is whether help is needed.

Or not.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2018

I would just like to add that the question posed on the title of this thread "Should PRN get weekend or holiday differential?" and the question posed in the OP "can a hospital legally refuse to pay a PRN employee differentials?" are not one and the same. "Should per diem employees get paid differentials?" That's a subjective question. I believe they should because differentials are how you entice people to work off-shifts. "Can a hospital legally refuse to pay a per diem employee differentials?" Of course they can. The law only requires that employees are paid minimum wage and 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for hours worked over 40 in a week. There is no law that mandates nursing differentials.

allnurses Guide · Oct 17, 2018

Hospital's are private employers and can do whatever they want as long as it does not violate accepted standards with regard to discrimination. That being said Per Diem employees have always made a bit more than regular employees. You would have to look at your job description and contract because they would have told about this when you were hired. You have the option of quitting or as a per diem making yourself unavailable for those shifts.

Hppy

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2018

You have the option of quitting or as a per diem making yourself unavailable for those shifts.

Exactly. If you are per diem and your hospital isn't paying weekend, night or holiday differentials, make yourself available for weekday days only.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2018

Not illegal. Employers don't even have to pay you differential or holiday pay. I think it would depend on the facility tho. At my facility per diem do not get differential or holiday pay. They are paid at a rate much higher than a full or part time employed RN though. I think they start at like an equiv of time and a half. They are required to work 2 shifts a month, as well as one weekend shift a month, and 2 holidays a year. They get to pick which.

But remember - they generally don't have benefits.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2018

I would just like to add that the question posed on the title of this thread "Should PRN get weekend or holiday differential?" and the question posed in the OP "can a hospital legally refuse to pay a PRN employee differentials?" are not one and the same. "Should per diem employees get paid differentials?" That's a subjective question. I believe they should because differentials are how you entice people to work off-shifts. "Can a hospital legally refuse to pay a per diem employee differentials?" Of course they can. The law only requires that employees are paid minimum wage and 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for hours worked over 40 in a week. There is no law that mandates nursing differentials.

And I think laws vary when it come to requiring a certain minimum pay rate and how OT is calculated (within 1 week, within a pay period, or some other time frame - like monthly or something).

Does Fed law override state law on this topic or vice versa? Don't know. Check with attorneys in the appropriate state.

Should PRN's get the differentials? Sure, why not?

Without PRN's, regular staff would probably have to cover those shifts. If they do have to work them, they should get higher pay, too. I've never worked anywhere that paid Regulars more for holidays, unfortunately. I have gotten weekend diff Friday 3 or 7 p.m. through Sunday graveyard.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Oct 18, 2018

Of course it's not illegal, it's not required to give holiday or weekend differential pay to regular employees either. Should they offer it though? It depends on your facilities PRN pay structure and requirements. If the casual/per diem staff is paid considerably more than regular staff and has a requirement to work at least a holiday or two then no, they shouldn't be paid any kind of differentials for weekend or holidays. After all they already by nature of their as needed employment get to pick and choose when they work and at a higher base pay than regular staff. If the pay is equal or close to regular staff and there are no weekend or holiday requirements then yes, the prn staff should should get the same differentials that regular staff receives. If they don't there's really no incentive for them picking up those shifts.

Heavenly4505 · Oct 25, 2019

When I worked homecare, the agency I worked for did not pay a holiday diff to anyone. Fulltime, parttime, PRN...didn't matter. I did shiftwork, and if the family of the patient wanted service on a holiday, I was expected to work it with no extra holiday pay....luckily for me, my patient's family usually did not want or need nursing on most holidays. Now I work in a doctor's office, so we are closed on all major holidays, which I LOVE! I worked holidays for so many years in the nursing home (which I totally expected), but it's nice to be home with my kids now.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 25, 2019

At my current contigent job I get the exact same pay as a staff RN. But I do get weekend and holiday differentials if I work them. And I get retirement contributions as well.