To be Salaried or Not.

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2010

It would depend on the position. If you're in a position working a typical 40 hour week, it may be beneficial. Especially if you can leave when your duties have been performed. If you're consistently being asked/required to stay over, your employer would basically be getting free labor as salaried employees are not compensated for overtime.

Katie5 · Feb 2, 2010

It would depend on the position. If you're in a position working a typical 40 hour week, it may be beneficial. Especially if you can leave when your duties have been performed. If you're consistently being asked/required to stay over, your employer would basically be getting free labor as salaried employees are not compensated for overtime.

At emboldened, that's not good. :down:

aura_of_laura · Feb 2, 2010

It's really a tough call - I've been on the good and bad side of salaried in the last few years.

As a relatively new nurse, I was promoted to nursing supervisor for an acute pediatric psych unit. As supervisor, I was responsible for making sure everything was completed at the end of a shift - while others left at 11:30 so that they wouldn't accrue OT (which I would get in trouble for), I would stay an extra three hours some nights. After the umpteenth 20 hour day without so much as a bathroom break - not remotely kidding - and only being paid for 16 hours, I told my superiors no more. Situation = cheap (dumb) labor.

Now, however, I work as the infection control coordinator for my facility. While I have a lot of responsibilities and definitely have to be self-motivated, my hours are my own. Because I'm salaried, I may stay late during a crisis (worked a lot during the initial H1N1 scare), but you better believe I'm out of here early on Friday to make up for it.

Take a good look at the job description, and talk to people who've held the job before you!

jlcole45 · Feb 2, 2010

I'm better off when I'm not salaried - I tend to work long hours and therefore my employer gets more hours for less pay when I am salaried.

DogWmn · Feb 2, 2010

I would not do the salary thing, most times it will get you. You will work tons of unpaid OT. I'd be very suspicious of the position unless it's well documented that there is minimal to no OT.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 2, 2010

I've spent most of my career in salaried positions -- mostly in staff development jobs. I really like being salaried because I don't feel compelled to be productive every minute of the day. I don't feel guilty if I am "on the clock," but not being productive. I can goof off a little, take a long lunch, take a little time off during the day to go to a doctor's appointment, etc. and not worry about the fact that my employer is paying for my time. I like the flexibility that being salaried gives me.

However ... I am very experienced in being salaried and I rarely work more than 42 hours per week. So, I am definitely not being abused by my employer. If I were having to work (and be productive) more than 40 hours/week on a regular basis, I would not be so happy with it.

onetiredmomma · Feb 2, 2010

I would have to be desperate to agree to a salaried position (never say never!). I know very few salaried peiople who only work the 40 hours they are paid for. They always say they will get "comp" time but that rarely happens. If you get a detailed job description with an understanding of what is expected it might work for you but I would advise caution!

Otessa, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2010

I am salaried-budgeted for 40 hours per week-sometimes it is more. sometimes less. Flexible schedule for the most part. If I have an appointment (MD, dentist, kids) that is less than 4 hours in length I do not need to take vacation. Can only take it in 4 or 8 hour blocks of time. I do not get paid over 40 hours (no overtime) but like I said some weeks I work more and some I work less than 40 -knew about this aspect when I signed on.

otessa

Otessa, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2010

I've spent most of my career in salaried positions -- mostly in staff development jobs. I really like being salaried because I don't feel compelled to be productive every minute of the day. I don't feel guilty if I am "on the clock," but not being productive. I can goof off a little, take a long lunch, take a little time off during the day to go to a doctor's appointment, etc. and not worry about the fact that my employer is paying for my time. I like the flexibility that being salaried gives me.
However ... I am very experienced in being salaried and I rarely work more than 42 hours per week. So, I am definitely not being abused by my employer. If I were having to work (and be productive) more than 40 hours/week on a regular basis, I would not be so happy with it.

I rarely work more than 42 hours in a week now , although when I was first salaried (4 years ago) I was consistently putting in 44-48 hours in a week-I put the pressure on myslef-not my employer-that did NOT last long.

otessa

ItsTheDude · Feb 2, 2010

a salaried desk/teaching job is great (typically not going to work over 40 hrs), but can be boring (you can typically make more money some where else though). a salaried job were you may have to care for patients sux (you're gonna work over 40 hrs), you might as well bend over because you're going to get taken advantage of.

salary is definitely a no no if you're on call.

however, if you're a workaholic and/or like some prestigious sounding job title a salaried position might be for you.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 2, 2010

which is a better option?and do you get overtime being salaried?whys and why nots, pls?:)

you don't specify what position you're talking about. are we talking case managers, staff educators and nursing management? i'd suspect most of those positions are salaried. as they should be. a nurse manager's responsibilities don't end when she leaves for the day.

or are we talking bedside nurses? i've been a bedside nurse for over 30 years -- both salaried and by the hour. invariably, being paid by the hour is a better deal for staff nurses. on salary, overtime doesn't count until it's more than four hours. if you're consistently being asked to come in early or stay late to cover a colleague who "can't" get to work on time due to transportation issues -- as i was when i worked in seattle and many of the people i worked with depended on ferries to get them to work -- being salaried is a bum deal. (although a really good deal for those folks who consistently get to come in late or leave early.)