Vacation Policy at your hospital

[carrie13]

Hi everyone -

I work for a small community hospital (non-profit, non-union). We had a staff meeting today where a new hospital-wide vacation policy was introduced. This policy does not cover "prime-time" summer vacation (Memorial-Labor day). It only applies to time off from Sept-May.

Prior to this policy the protocol for requesting time off was to fill out a time-off slip and submit it to the manager. You could request vacation time months in advance and usually would receive approval within a few weeks of request. The only limitations were no more than 2 consecutive weeks and you could not request your assigned holiday off but could find coverage for your holiday.

The new policy as of today is that time off for vacations or random days off can only be requested during the "schedule planning period". So for example the next schedule is 11/8-12/19. The request forms will be available 9/13-9/26. On 9/27 the schedule is closed and no more requests can be made. Management then has 2 weeks to finalize the schedule and it will be posted (and vacations approved/denied) by 10/12.

Is this a common vacation policy? It will be pretty much impossible to plan any vacations more than 2 months in advance. And then to find out only 1 month prior to the vacation whether or not you are approved.

I'm curious to hear if anyone else has experienced this and how you go about planning your vacations...

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

We have the same thing. I recommend making your vacations requests waaaaaaay in advance. Cause everyone else will.

[klone, MSN, RN]

We have the same thing. I recommend making your vacations requests waaaaaaay in advance. Cause everyone else will.

But with the new policy, there is only a two week window, two months ahead of time, in which to request it. So they can't request it way in advance.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

That really sucks. I really feel the hospitals treat their nurses as though they are a nun living at the convent with no other life or family. Ridiculous.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

To management: "actual travel vacations -- you know, where you fly and stay in hotels -- are planned months in advance. What should the procedure be for planning work around said vacations?"

If they have no suggestions, I'd plan as my family sees fit, put in my request per policy, and put in my notice if it's not approved. "Sorry, we purchased plane tickets and my kids have been looking forward to Disney World for months. I won't be at work, so I'll have to quit if this isn't approved."

They are trying to treat you like serfs. Don't allow it.