Weekend and holiday work question

shammy · May 19, 2005

Hello everyone, I am hoping to gain a little insight here.
I applied for a Unit Secretary position at one of the hospitals in my area and was hired for a 40/per pay position.
I understand that this includes holidays and every other weekend and really didn't have a problem with that.
They told me I will have to work July 4th which falls on a Monday this year, but just found out today that my weekend will fall the weekend before the 4th.
Is this normal for you to have to work the whole weekend as well as the holiday? I was thinking my family could do a cookout the Sunday before so it wouldn't be a big deal that I would work the 4th, plus it's dayshift so I could still see the fireworks if we wanted.
I guess I thought that if a person is scheduled the holiday, they would be off the day before, from what I can tell nothing changes from the normal schedule.
Maybe I just don't know much about working in a hospital, this is my first healthcare position.
Thanks for your input.
Debi

The last hospital I worked at it was every other weekend for FTE. And no that didn't change EVER unless you swapped with someone from the opposite W/E because that way you could look out at your schedule 6months out to see "Yeah I have ___ W/E off" and could make plans accordingly. Yes sometimes it works out well and you get a long weekend and other times it doesn't and you work the entire long weekend. :uhoh21: Just think at somepoint it will all come out in the wash and even out.

llg, PhD, RN · May 19, 2005

What you describe is very normal. Sometimes, you are lucky to get the day before or after a holiday off, but not always.

It might help to think about it from the scheduler's point of view. If she were to give you off the Sunday -- which is your regular weekend to work -- who would take your place? Someone for whom it would be their regular weekend off would have to work it -- forcing them to work an extra weekend shift -- 3 weekends in a row.

So ... in that situation, you take your turn on the holiday, letting it fall wherever it falls.

On some other holiday in the future, luck will even itself out and you will get a really nice schedule while someone else has the not-so-good one.

llg

hula · May 19, 2005

Yeah lucky me works out I too will be working the long weekend. You could try to switch, but I try to save asking favors for the holidays that are really important to me. I would rather have christmas with the family than 4th of July.

studentdeb · May 20, 2005

Thanks for the responses. I did look at the calendar and the rest of my weekends for the year do no fall with holidays. My next holiday, if I am correct will be Thanksgiving (which my husband will not be happy about) but I figured I will be on dayshift and can get home for dinner.

The other question I now have is should I expect to get extra pay for the holidays?

Thanks

Debi

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · May 20, 2005

Depends entirely on where you work. Some places offer extra pay on holidays and some don't.

CHATSDALE · May 20, 2005

health care is rough sometimes as for spending time with family but this is something we know up front..i was scheduled to work 16 on Christmas but because i worked some extra for her including thanksgiving i only worked one shift which was fine because by two o'clock the presents had been opened and the dinner eaten

i don't know ab out next christmas..which falls on a sunday probable will have to work the whole day

ValerieB · May 21, 2005

Hello everyone, I am hoping to gain a little insight here.
I applied for a Unit Secretary position at one of the hospitals in my area and was hired for a 40/per pay position.
I understand that this includes holidays and every other weekend and really didn't have a problem with that.
They told me I will have to work July 4th which falls on a Monday this year, but just found out today that my weekend will fall the weekend before the 4th.
Is this normal for you to have to work the whole weekend as well as the holiday? I was thinking my family could do a cookout the Sunday before so it wouldn't be a big deal that I would work the 4th, plus it's dayshift so I could still see the fireworks if we wanted.
I guess I thought that if a person is scheduled the holiday, they would be off the day before, from what I can tell nothing changes from the normal schedule.
Maybe I just don't know much about working in a hospital, this is my first healthcare position.
Thanks for your input.
Debi

I'm in the same boat this year that you are and I'm a 12 hour nurse so that puts me doing 3 12's in a row-yuck!. Unless someone is willing to switch with you, I doubt they will take you off for your Sunday. I would try and see if someone would do that with you. :crying2:

studentdeb · May 23, 2005

Well I checked and there is not extra pay for working the holiday. I think that really stinks. They really have you because if you want the job, you have to suffer with the holidays and no extra pay. I just think that they should pay time and 1/2 for holiday time. I know someone who works for a facility who does receive that for holidays.

I wonder if it could be that I am a part-time employee. But they do offer PTO for part-timers so I don't really know.

Anyway, thanks all for your responses.

Debi

kadokin, ASN, RN · May 23, 2005

Well I checked and there is not extra pay for working the holiday. I think that really stinks. They really have you because if you want the job, you have to suffer with the holidays and no extra pay. I just think that they should pay time and 1/2 for holiday time. I know someone who works for a facility who does receive that for holidays.
I wonder if it could be that I am a part-time employee. But they do offer PTO for part-timers so I don't really know.
Anyway, thanks all for your responses.
Debi

At my facility, they pay time and a half for some holidays such as xmas and thanksgiving. I don't remember if 4july is one of those days. Some who work here are puzzled by the fact that we don't get it for Easter b/c it is a Catholic hospital. Oh well.

military spouse · May 23, 2005

I just wanted to let you know that we don't get any extra money for holidays. I worked Christmas and it was just normal, straight time. Hopefully the job you just got will make the policy worth it to you. :)