The happy policy

[Tepidorchid]

There's apparently a policy in our workplace, a new one that says something along the line of; Anyone who appears drained, unenthusiastic, unhappy in anyway etc. can be asked by the manager to leave that work day in order to reflect on their behavior. Thoughts? Do you have a policy like this?

[muesli]

There's apparently a policy in our workplace, a new one that says something along the line of; Anyone who appears drained, unenthusiastic, unhappy in anyway etc. can be asked by the manager to leave that work day in order to reflect on their behavior. Thoughts? Do you have a policy like this?

Would it be a paid day off? Because that would be awesome.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Omg I almost chocked on my coffee reading that ! If we had that at my job there would be no one left by the end of the day .

Well, don't chock. Or choke either.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

OK, so what do we plan to do about this? Passive aggression? Unionize? Find out the source of this bright idea and have a talk with that person? Require that office-bound person to spend a full shift with us doing patient care so they get to experience the things that make us the realists we are?

That said, some of us naturally are old-looking, have dark circles under our eyes and look tired, or have many woes that do reflect on our faces. We do need to try to be at work when we're at work, leave our troubles behind and pick them up on the way out, but this is ridiculous. What if a nurse has just lost a patient or received bad news? How should we look then?

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Sounds like how our management is trying to deal with a morale problem : they want us to participate in a bulletin board where we can post positive recognition of our coworkers instead of dealing with issues making people unhappy. I guess I should be grateful we don't have a happy face policy yet!

[Always_Learning, BSN, RN]

New Press Ganey question: on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "someone just kicked my dog and told me I have a terminal illness" and 10 being "Hot da$%, I just won the lottery," how would you rate the smile on your nurse's face?

[Cat_RN, ASN, BSN, RN]

Haha, we have had to be inserviced on not complaining or griping at the nurse's station because it looks bad to the families and I actually agree. Funny that people have to be told that however!

[Babs1953]

yes, we are in the era of "put up & shut up" & now smile about it too-- no brain required!!!

[rngolfer53]

There's apparently a policy in our workplace, a new one that says something along the line of; Anyone who appears drained, unenthusiastic, unhappy in anyway etc. can be asked by the manager to leave that work day in order to reflect on their behavior. Thoughts? Do you have a policy like this?

Kind of like the bumper sticker that says "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves."

While one should try not to bring personal problems to work (nor work problems home) one's physical and emotional state varies day-to-day and is not in the full control of the individual.

If someone is grumping constantly to co-workers and patients/families, then yes, that's likely a problem.

I can't avoid looking tired if I am. It happens for many reasons. But I don't have to let everyone know it, either.

If I was asked to go home because I looked tired, I'm pretty sure my "reflection" would include consideration of my resume and where I might send it.....soon.

[LTCNS, LPN]

I know this is an older thread, but I wanted to share an experience I had while working as a MDS Nurse in LTC. Our DON went to a seminar and came back all excited telling everybody we'd better not get caught not speaking, saying good morning, etc...to patients, each other and family members. The next morning the DON came in, I cheerfully said "Good Morning!" and she completely ignored me LOL!!

[kakamegamama]

Oh my word!!! Sounds like someone has too much time on their hands....if that is the case, methinks perhaps they should return to the bedside.......

[kakamegamama]

Oops....should have read the date stamp on this one......brain tired.....

[TopazLover, BSN, RN]

Oops....should have read the date stamp on this one......brain tired.....

Some times the same problems persist. If it still is a problem it may be good to revive it rather than start a new and miss some of the wisdom shared in the past.