Supplemental Healthcare

martjohn · Sep 21, 2011

I don't have any experience with supplemental, so have no feedback there, sorry! I can say that I haven't been met with an unfriendly staff at either of the jobs that I've taken so far. Maybe I've been lucky, but I think that as long as you go into the job with an open mind, good attitude, and be willing to work on their "turf", you're usually welcomed as much needed help.

Very excited for you! Where is your first assignment?

DeLynn, RN · Sep 22, 2011

I've been with Supplemental for over a year. Overall it's a pretty good company. My recruiter is allways helpful and quick to respond. I don't get housing from them, so not sure how the housing is.

They always seem to have a lot of positions.

dixRN · Sep 23, 2011

I have worked for Supplemental for almost 2 years now & been traveling for 3 years. They were able to get me a job during a no jobs available time Feb.2010 and I have worked exclusively for them since then. Part of the reason is it is such a hassle to change companies. The pay is comparable to what other companies offer but I do negotiate strongly with them plus remind them that other recruiters are calling & making offers. I like my recruiter & feel I can discuss things with him. I do my own housing & take as much tax free money as I can. I do maintain a home & meet all the criteria for the tax free pay & use a CPA experienced in travelling professionals I do not want any problems from the IRS. However I do not require any handholding & my main expectations from a recruiter are to help me find a job & negotiate the contract. I have been paid accurately & on time. They have delivered in my opinion.

dixRN · Sep 25, 2011

Leanna, I can't email you as I do not have enough posts yet to do so. But in answer to your question about tax free: The federal govt. allows so much money for per diem/housing costs depending on your location. They have a website you can go to for the allowable amount for wherever you are. To be eligible for this you have to maintain a home & can not stay on assignment after a year in one locale or your tax home changes . You can research this further & there is lots of info in the nursing forums about it. Some people hate it & some love it. There are pros & cons but for my situation I needed to maximize my take home pay to cover my kids college expenses so it is worth it to me. It means taking the company's tax free housing/per diem allowance & finding your own place to live. This can be a hassle & most nurses don't want to be bothered with looking on craigslist for a short term rental. If I was young & just travelling for fun to see the country I would let the company take care of housing,etc. But I am older & a home owner paying all those utilities & with family members still living in the house, so tax advantage program makes sense for me.

Nwalde729 · Jul 22, 2017

I worked with supplemental and they are terrible. I have worked with AMN and Cross country as well and recommend them over supplemental. They offer the lowest rates. And don't pay nurses there last week. From reviews online that seems to be the common thing. I had been fighting with them for a month to get my last pay check and they kept saying they were waiting for the hospital to verify. I finally have given up. My last week there I worked for free by no choice of my own. í ½í¹„

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jul 22, 2017

don't give up get your money. voice your displeasure on social media. The gypsy nurse network on facebook should help you.

NedRN · Jul 22, 2017

They oI had been fighting with them for a month to get my last pay check and they kept saying they were waiting for the hospital to verify. I finally have given up. My last week there I worked for free by no choice of my own. ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

The work state department of labor will put the hammer on them if you open a case. Free. In some states, private lawyers can recover damages in addition to time worked. If you still have a time card or copy of the contract would be helpful evidence as would be email correspondence on the matter.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jul 22, 2017

Someone posted on FB recently that the hospital cancelled her contract and she owned Supplemental 20hr for each hour she has not fulfilled. It sounded like she was cancelled after week 2, meaning she owes that company 7840k. The only way to get out of it is to work for them again and they will waive the fee, she has no choice but to take another contract with them.

NedRN · Jul 23, 2017

Missed hour penalties are part of most agency's contracts. Traveler's who don't read their contracts are always surprised. These are civil contracts and negotiation both prior to signing the contract and when there is a breach of contract. If simple negotiation doesn't provide a solution acceptable to both parties, then the court system is available to either party (unless the contract requires binding mediation).

A lawsuit has to be filed and service done on the other party. If service is successful and a party doesn't show, summary judgement may be awarded to the party that shows up. Next the winning party has to collect on the judgement. Very hard to do on a traveler in another state, if you can even find them.

Bottom line is you should never roll over and play dead. In fact, things depend on whose fault it was that the assignment ended early. If the hospital laid off a traveler for low census, if it was me, I would sue for the balance of the contract. I have done this successfully and know one other well known (now former) traveler - TravelTax - who has also successfully sued for the balance of his contract.

Because of the cost and difficulties of a lawsuit, they are rarely initiated by either agency or traveler. If that FB poster just walked away, not much the agency can do realistically. But if she wants to continue to work for an agency that certainly appears to have an unfair penalty clause that far exceeds the agency's demonstrable loss from the assignment cancellation, it is certainly her choice.

Nwalde729 · Jul 23, 2017

I did call the labor board where I am and they basically said they don't enforce the law. Only suggest companies to follow it. If I want the money I have to take them to small claims court. The labor board basically is useless.

Nwalde729 · Jul 23, 2017

It was only a few hundred dollars so I don't want to waste my time in court, lawyers fees ect. Just want to warn others so they don't have this happen to them. Let them enjoy there 200$. If i cost them one contract then my money is made back by helping someone else!