Threatened for calling in sick

Jolie, BSN · May 29, 2006

I'm sorry you were treated so badly. I wish it was uncommon, but it is not.

I would recommend that you get out your employee handbook and read the section pertaining to calling out sick. I suspect that you did not violate any hospital policies, and that she was just "blowing smoke" at you in the hopes of scaring you into coming into work. If she should approach you, cite the regulations in the handbook and emphasize how you followed written policy. If she does write you up, take the time to write a detailed, objective account of the situation. Date and sign the form and insist on making a copy IMMEDIATELY for your own records. If you have a union, go to your rep for assistance and guidance. Otherwise, go to your manager and/or HR and ask for assistance in appealing the write-up. If you acted in accordance with hospital policy, It should be removed from your file and destroyed. An apology letter from the old bat wold be in order, too.

mickeypat · May 29, 2006

I think that is just crazy for telling you that! How do you take better care of yourself than staying home! They must want everyone, even patients to be sick!

I had a similar situation happen to me. I had severly dislocated my little toe on a chair, took some vicodin for the pain, called in at least 4 hours prior to the shift starting, (I should say, my fiance called in for me!) I received a call back from the RN that was working the evening shift and was told that I HAD TO BE AT WORK, OR I WOULD BE REPORTED TO THE STATE BOARD FOR NOT FULFILLING MY DUTY!!!!!!!! I did go into work and was so not feeling well, that I almost puked on that nurse! What made me more upset is that the only reason she wouldn't stay is because she needed her sleep as she told me when I came in!!!!!!!!

Some people have no compassion!!!!! Needless to say, I won't pick up any of her shifts if she calls in sick!!!!!!

Jolie, BSN · May 29, 2006

I think that is just crazy for telling you that! How do you take better care of yourself than staying home! They must want everyone, even patients to be sick!
I had a similar situation happen to me. I had severly dislocated my little toe on a chair, took some vicodin for the pain, called in at least 4 hours prior to the shift starting, (I should say, my fiance called in for me!) I received a call back from the RN that was working the evening shift and was told that I HAD TO BE AT WORK, OR I WOULD BE REPORTED TO THE STATE BOARD FOR NOT FULFILLING MY DUTY!!!!!!!! I did go into work and was so not feeling well, that I almost puked on that nurse! What made me more upset is that the only reason she wouldn't stay is because she needed her sleep as she told me when I came in!!!!!!!!
Some people have no compassion!!!!! Needless to say, I won't pick up any of her shifts if she calls in sick!!!!!!

She can report you all day long to the BON. Calling in sick DOES NOT EQUAL PATIENT ABANDONMENT! Working under the influence of Vicodin may however, be reportable.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 29, 2006

I hope somebody tells that VP to go chase a cat. :devil:

Failing that, the OP should make private notes of every detail of her 'conversation' with the manager while it's still fresh in her memory; then, if presented with a formal write-up, she needs to write a vigorous objection to the discipline on the paper along with the date and her signature.

And facilities wonder why they can't keep nurses..........:trout:

clee1 · May 29, 2006

As soon as she got on the phone, she informed me that they were short-staffed & that I would be written up if I did not come into work. I was stunned. I went on to tell her that I was feeling really sick...nauseous & would not be able to make it. In which she replied "It's your responsibility to take better care of yourself." ???? Isn't that what I'm doing by staying home when I'm feeling ill???
We went round & round about this for a minute as she told me that 4 other people had called in. I asked "Are they also going to be written up?" She said she was not sure, she would look at it by a case-by-case basis...but as far as I was concerned, I was told..."If you don't show up, consider yourself written up." I politely told her I would not be there because I was sick.

I politely told her I would not be there because I was sick.... and that I had called in according to policy, and that such threats were undoubtedly a violation of policy and numerous state and federal laws? And, by the way, were you aware that all phone calls to my home were routinely recorded???

Self-important stuffed-shirts like this blowhard only bully people when they think they can get away with it. Disabuse them of the notion that they can do such to you.

PANurseRN1 · May 29, 2006

i politely told her i would not be there because i was sick.... and that i had called in according to policy, and that such threats were undoubtedly a violation of policy and numerous state and federal laws? and, by the way, were you aware that all phone calls to my home were routinely recorded???
self-important stuffed-shirts like this blowhard only bully people when they think they can get away with it. disabuse them of the notion that they can do such to you.

be careful, you could get into legal hot water for not notifying someone in advance that you are recording phone conversations. per www.privacyrights.org:

is it legal to tape record telephone calls?

the state and federal laws mentioned above deal primarily with wiretapping and eavesdropping by law enforcement officials. in addition to these laws, both the federal communications commission (fcc) and the california public utilities commission (cpuc) have acknowledged the importance of privacy in telephone conversations by placing additional restrictions on tape recording such conversations.

california law does not allow tape recording of telephone calls unless all parties to the conversation consent (california penal code 632), or they are notified of the recording by a distinct "beep tone" warning (cpuc general order 107-b(ii)(a)(5)). however, tape recordings can legally be made if an individual or members of one's family are threatened with kidnapping, extortion, bribery or another felony involving violence. the person receiving the threats can make a tape recording without informing the other party. (california penal code 633.5)

the fcc requires that notice of any recording of a telephone conversation must be given to the other parties of the conversation (47 cfr 64.501; 2 fcc record 502). this notice may be conveyed by consent of all parties, verbal notice of recording at the beginning of the call, or use of a periodic beep tone. telephone companies are required to discontinue telephone service to any customer who violates these rules. (cpuc general order 107-b(ii)(b)(3)

these regulations do not apply to law enforcement investigations, emergency situations or patently unlawful conversations. the fcc has acknowledged that these regulations are difficult to enforce, and violations are virtually impossible to detect. consumers should not be lulled into a false sense of security that their call is private simply because there is no notice of recording.

furthermore, it is not always clear which law, state or federal, applies to specific situations. this depends on where the call originates, why the recording is being made and who places the call. to stay within the law, you may wish to refrain from taping calls you make, but be aware that in certain situations others may be recording your conversations with them.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 29, 2006

It's Florida. They can write you up for anything. Remember this is the state that tries to "lock in" their employees for hurricane and suspends them if they miss post hurricane shifts, even if they suffered major damage or loss.

That said, in central Florida, there are plenty of jobs - agency has been calling for me right and left.

Jo Dirt · May 29, 2006

I have not heard anything more from her, but I keep expecting to be approached with papers to sign. My question is this...can she write me up over this? And if so, do I need to sign the papers? Do I have any recourse...she is the VP of Nursing afterall. I don't feel that I did anything wrong. I don't see where I violated any policy or procedures. Can I be written up simply because she feels like it or because the unit was short-staffed?

You won't be written up. She was incredibly frustrated being short staffed and she had probably had her fill of call-ins for the day.

Didn't mean she should have used geurilla tactics to try to get you to come into work, but I'd bet she doesn't do anything to you.

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Jun 3, 2006

Just wanted to update you...it's been nearly 2 weeks since I was threatened with being written up & have yet to hear anything more about it. I have spoken with a few of the other nurses that called in that day & none of them were treated that way. I think the administrator is stressed out & for some reason took it out on me that day....it's not right, but it's a good reminder for me to never go into administration. She's shaking things up left & right in our unit...making quite a few others unhappy. Makes no sense to me, but needless to say, I'm glad I'm not being written up.

Thanks everyone for your advice!!!

luvmy2angels · Jun 3, 2006

I too was threatned with this one time, I simply went to the DR and he was kind enough to agree with me that i shouldn't have gone to work and wrote me an excuse. That shut the DON right up!!

banditrn · Jun 3, 2006

Calling in sick is worrying me. I've worked for over a month at a small LTC. I work part-time (I'm old.)

The DON and administrator are both nurses, but have made it VERY clear that they will not work the floor.

I share the nite shift with one other person. I went in one nite when she called in sick - and from what I can see, she's the only person I would be able to call if I was sick - but what if she can't do it??

I'm just praying that I never get sick!! And I've decided to look elsewhere - this place has too many staffing issues with their CNA'a, etc.