Suspended without pay for expired TB requirement?

[lsvalliant]

My employer told me on Friday that my annual TB test was going to expire this weekend and instructed me that they would suspend me without pay on Monday if I couldn't get one done over the weekend. Problem is that I had plans to take PTO for a half day on Friday to go out of town for the weekend so it was impossible for me to comply with their request. I was really upset that the HR administrator lied to my supervisor and said she notified me a month ago via text. I have absolutely no correspondences of this until the day before it expired. So can they legally do this? How much recourse do I have if any?

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I feel like we have it easy. All we have to do is fill out a form that occ health sends us.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Lesson learned huh? You have to suck it up and I am sure you will never let it happen again. I do have sympathy for you, but it is ultimately up to you and you cannot trust anyone else so apply this lesson to license renewal and CEU's and CPR and all of those things our occupation requires.

[brownbook]

I understand the responses that she is responsible, but I would never in a million years remember when my TB test was due. At least with BLS, ACLS, nursing license, etc., you can take a look at your card. Even then once I received a reminder for ACLS from the local AHA ACLS private provider I used in the past. When I got it I thought "they're crazy, I'm not due until next spring." I DIDN'T even take my card out to check. Suddenly my employer is asking me...."your ACLS is due, do you have your renewal." Much scrambling around to get it done.

My current job just does every bodies TB test the same month every year.

[iShaybie, ADN]

How long will they suspend you? You can just get it done when you come back or after the holidays!

[oldandintheway]

If this is a condition of employment there is pretty much no recourse on your part. Used to be easy when all of these requirements were due on the anniversary of hire date, but with the date creep of "within 30 days of deadline" after a few years of work the anniversaries no longer coincide. Some facilities prompt renewals on time clocks, obviously yours does not, so I would program you calendar on your phone to prompt you. This is pretty much a tough luck to you situation.

[elkpark]

Really? Mine sends them out 2 months before they are due.

Yes, with the paperwork to renew by mail and instructions on how to renew online. Easy peasy.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Wow, what a fantastic example of failure to take ownership of one's own actions!

I can totally see forgetting to get this done. But that's on you. You're a grown up. Act like one.

I let my ACLS lapse. I knew I had no one to blame but myself.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

It's no longer evidence-based to require an annual TB test unless you work in a high-risk area (ED, paramedic, TB clinic,etc). Not that this helps you, but I thought it was interesting.

We don't do the test routinely anymore, but I'll still experience the same consequences if I don't go do my annual TB questionnaire.

[CBlover, BSN, RN]

I'm horrible when it comes to renewing things, so I appreciate reminders, but I don't expect them. I was suspended once for allowing my CPR to expire, but no one told me I was suspended and I never got sent home ...I just happened to notice my name on a list of suspended employees. Oops!

I received a written warning once because I let my BLS expire. I had ACLS at the time so I thought (stupid) that it would count. Nope. I never thought I deserved a written warning, but you know I did. Haven't ever forgotten to renew ANYTHING since. Sometimes if we dont receive any consequences for our lapses were very likely to make the same mistake again. Like me, I bet you won't do that again. Learn and move on.

[manager123]

As so many posters have noted, responsibility for renewals of anything is YOUR responsibility. Period. If you have a smart phone, put your renewal dates as a reminder the month BEFORE things expire. If you don't have a smart phone, get a paper calendar and follow the same process.

Yes, there are a LOT of things to keep track of but, just like being responsible for rent/mortgage and any other bills, these are your responsibility. Management might send out reminders but whether or not you read email (or they miss your name or you forget you read your name) does not absolve you from getting your stuff done or pay the consequences.

If this was my job, my out of town moment would take a back seat to ensuring I got my TB test (insert any other required certification, license, etc) done as a top priority.

In my place, this is one of those regulatory things that would earn you a written warning in addition to administrative suspension without pay. If you don't get a warning on this, you are lucky. Regulatory issues (based on policy of the institution also) are HUGE deals in this day and age.

[franvil]

for a simple fee of $100/year, I can remind you to renew your RN license too, if you'd like so that way, you won't get suspended again

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

I really wish the DMV would send out reminders about your car registration though. Sigh.

In IN, I've somehow set it up on line with BMV to get online alerts. Has saved my backside a couple of times