Two Days

Wow - just wow

I'd be looking elsewhere...just me though, I'd be in trouble with a policy like that. Living with five petri dishes--er, children--I always get sick more than twice a year.

Like the FMLA suggestion.

Wow - just wow

THIS.

I agree with getting familiar with FMLA.

Our management has cut back on everything RN. No bonus for picking up extra shifts no meal passes, no, no and more no. Nurses should not be in it for the $. So, no cost of living raises, first one in over 7 years was 0.75. Mandatory everything, staff meetings at 0715 and 1515 only. Hiring only new grads that don't yet care about the pt more than their popularity. Micromanaged. No relief for lunch, no breaks at all. Management plays favorites, does not come out of their offices to help out. They actually yell at employees, usually at the front desk. And we've been on mandatory 80hrs for over a year. Those that work 72 hrs have to work an extra 8 on any shift management picks.[/quote']

I would go elsewhere but this is really common

Maybe they are trying to get RNs to quit, intentionally.

The attendance policy is bad but not in and of itself a reason to quit - combined with everything else you've mentioned... time for them to take that job and shove it.

We only get paid sick time for the 3rd consecutive day we are out. That means if you are absent from work for 2 days, you won't get paid, regardless how much "time" you have saved up. I haven't seen bonuses for extra shifts, or any other incentive, in years. We don't get extra pay for holidays, etc., either. If it is your scheduled day to work, you work as usual for the usual pay. We have a LOT of call-outs, but management doesn't seem to mind too much, since they don't pay us anyway.

Wow!! That's horrible!!

I have taken FMLA twice before, in order to take care of a sick family member. It was quite simple, and didn't matter that I wasn't the one who was sick.

Remember, they can get 2 or sometimes even 3 RN's for the price of employees who put in the time and are in a higher pay bracket. Sounds like they would love for ya'll to leave--and creating more and more ways that you can do so.

By this whole 2 days thing, they can say that it is a "patient safety" issue, which is really hard to argue, which can mean a fight for unemployment.

If facilities spent half the time they seem to on creating ways to get as much as they can for as little as possible on what is in the best interest of patients and best use of staff and making them satisfied in the process--I am not sure what they think is gonna happen--people are actually happy to work? They reap in patient satisfaction?

I swear if their salaries were based on the satisfaction of the nursing staff in the workplace--wow, wouldn't that be something!

Look at the new policy closely and you will probably find that it is two occurrences per rolling calendar year. Yes! that is a very strict sick policy. I hate policies like this because they put a sick employee in catch 22 situation and this often leads to employes coming into work ill. So instead of taking care of the true offenders and abusers they punish everyone with stupid policies such as this one. I have sent home many a coworker that has come in ill because they are in fear of getting a warning for calling in. Our current policy is that once you get to five call ins in a rolling calendar year you get a verbal warning first and then the action increases from that point on.

There are a couple of things you need to be doing when working with such a strict policy, If you must call in sick you must not return to work until you are 100 percent better. So if you have one call in and are sick for five days that will count as one occurrence. Also keep track of that occurrence because it will not drop off you count until you reach that day the next year, So if you call in on Jan the 1st it will not drop off your count until you reach the next Jan the 1st.

Next, always have all your coworkers phone numbers so if you are ill you at least have the opportunity to find a replacement. Most policies will allow you to find a replacement and it will not count that you sick because you have found a replacement. This is a good reason to try and get along with your coworkers and if asked pick up a shift is someone else needs to call in sick. They will be more apt to return the favor.

Next look for a policy that allows you to get a medical certificate that forces your employer to not count your sick call in days. These often have to be renewed every few months by your doctor or your pediatrician. I almost had to get one when my daughter who is an asthmatic just kept getting bronchitis. At the least find out about the policy. Employers do not advertise these you need to hunt for them.

Realize that often managers can choose to ignore the policy if they do not believe you are an abuser of the call in system but they can also use the policy to make a case against you and get you fired.

You can also you your sick leave to take care of a sick family member and get paid from your sick leave bank and disability rather than calling in sick and using your vacation time. In my experience an employer will not go out of their way to aid you in the process and you just have to know this information. I have helped many a coworker by pointing this out to them so they caould get a pay check and take care of an ill family member. I have a knack for using the benefits and knowing the policies.

Find ways to make the system work for you and in the meantime work on becoming unionized because this policy it horrid.