Volunteering for overtime...

Published

Since mandatory overtime has been banned in my state, the need for volunteers has increased. One would think that a facility trying to staff their place would try and work with their employees. Well, in my place, at least, they don't.

I'm a per-diem, and 2 years ago they did away with time and a half, unless you work over 40 hours a week. So, it's straight pay for a double-shift. Needless to say, they do not get many per-diem volunteers. In the past, however, I have been willing to help out when there is a shortage, by coming in to do 7-3, then doing my normal 3-11. The one small benefit has been that I've had a choice of where to work the second shift, it has been the unofficial policy to allow nurses doing overtime that courtesy.

But, I guess it depends on who the supervisor is. The last time I volunteered, this particular supervisor decided that she would place me on the heaviest unit in the facility for my double-her excuse was that "No one told me I had to do otherwise.". Thankfully, she likes to shoot her mouth off, and she told me that I could do as she said, or go home. I took her up on it, and left at 3.

There will be no more volunteering from this nurse. Wake up, administrations! Just because there is no hard and fast rule about how you should treat people who are helping you out, this doesn't mean that acting like a jerk should be your 'default mode'.

So, next time you're short because you had a call out, or a no-show, go ahead and call that 75 dollar an hour agency nurse to fill the hole in your schedule.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

This happens often in my facility. The LPNs are the medication nurses in med-surg. Nurses work 12 hours in my hospital and for me, that is too much because I am a clinic nurse who used to work per diem on the floors to gain experience. I heard that recently, they told the LPNs that they cannot work 8 hours on the weekends, only 12. Now, they will have an LPN administer meds on one floor from 7-3, then, from 3-7, send them to another floor. There, you only have 4 hours to check orders and then administer and continue checking for PRNs. Not worth it to me, so, I stopped until they get their senses back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I volunteered as well and now I regret my decision. I am being taken advantage of. I am supposed to get OT for working 3 weekends in a row, really. But my administrator tries to twist things saying ... "oh it doesn't count if you work Sunday and not Saturday" or "You volunteered so technically its not OT" (even though she is the one who called me). I also came in for OT the other day and then they tried to pay me straight time stating the one who called me in to work was not authorized to give OT and technically I have 71 hours so only 4 hours will be OT? What the heck is this world getting to?! I was not impressed ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When people who volunteer for OT are treated this way, it is no wonder that the individuals wise up and decide it is not worth it. I was taken advantage of when I did this one time, and lo and behold, I didn't volunteer to have it happen to me again. Right now, employers don't pay OT, so, I just don't do shifts longer than 8 hours. They can take advantage of others as far as I'm concerned. I need the money, but not enough to be cheated. :madface:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

if they call me for overtime, i ask them "are you paying time and a half for this?" if the answer is no, i don't go in. if the answer is yes, i make sure i make a note of who told me it was time and a half, and if that's not what shows up in my paycheck, i make a ruckus ending with "and if this is how it's going to be, don't even call me next time you need someone to come in extra." i usually get paid my overtime.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

Thankfully, our facility has a union! We get time and a half for anything over our 8 hour shift; if the supervisor calls us 4 hours prior to a shift to work on our day off, we get a bonus. The way you all are being treated is ridiculous. I say take a stand! If they won't pay-don't go in. Perhaps is we stopped allowing ourselves to be treated as doormats, they'd stop wiping their feet on us.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When we worked 8 hour shifts the policy was OT for over "8 and 80" 8 hours in a day or 80 hours a pay period. Now that we do 12s it is over 12 and 80. Not many people agree to this either!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CAMHS, acute psych,.
One would think that a facility trying to staff their place would try and work with their employees.
Who said it was a rational process?

In the past, however, I have been willing to help out when there is a shortage, by coming in to do 7-3, then doing my normal 3-11.
Stop it! Before you go blind!

...she told me that I could do as she said, or go home. I took her up on it, and left at 3.
Good for you!

There will be no more volunteering from this nurse. Wake up, administrations! Just because there is no hard and fast rule about how you should treat people who are helping you out, this doesn't mean that acting like a jerk should be your 'default mode'. So, next time you're short because you had a call out, or a no-show, go ahead and call that 75 dollar an hour agency nurse to fill the hole in your schedule.

You GO GRRRRL*!!!! YES!!!

ps and thanks for making me laugh

* or man, or other

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I had no problem volunteering for overtime until I was literally conned into working a day/evening double. I work evenings, and I'd only worked evening/night doubles before. I was exhausted by noon. My job pays time-and-a-half for over 8 hours, but I didn't get paid for the second half of my shift. Apparently, it never made the schedule, and my punches disappeared. Fortunately, people who saw me there that day vouched for me. Since then, I have volunteered for fewer extra shifts.

Two weeks ago, I worked 48 hours in a week. When I got my check this week, the overtime wasn't there. I'm having another chat with HR Monday. If my punches have disappeared again, that will be the last time I volunteer to work any extra time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Perhaps is we stopped allowing ourselves to be treated as doormats, they'd stop wiping their feet on us.

THIS.:bowingpur

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Union here too. If you get called in less than 24 hours before the shift, you get call back pay. Time and half plus bonus ($7/hr after 2300).

Anything over 12 (or 8 if you are an 8 employee) gets time and half.

If your punches are disappearing, they are breaking labor laws as I understand it. That's what my hospital says about their records, we can't go in and change punches (managers can correct things), but we fill out an edit form that has to be kept 5 years to justify any changes that show up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment