Weekend make-up shifts?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am curious to hear what your facility/unit requires of you, if anything, if you must call out on a weekend shift?

Recently our unit expanded our make-up requirement from Friday night (the 1830-0700 shift) to Sunday night shift (1830-0700 Monday morning) to Friday day (0700-1830) to Monday night (1830-0700) claiming that Fridays and Mondays now count as weekends.

I had thought the previous call-out/make-up policy was a bit unfair as those who worked during the day shifts were only liable to make up two shifts while the night shift staff was liable for 3 shifts. When I asked my manager about it at the time her answer basically was "the night shift gets paid enough so bascially they can suck it up" (I'm paraphrasing a little bit but that was the jist).

About 6 months ago they changed (unit leadership) it to the new policy and slipped it into the new scheduling guidlelines, having staff sign to verify they had received them. Unfortunately, many staff members did not realize what exactly had changed in that one paragraph of the three or four page document.

So, we are now culpable to make up a 'weekend shift' if we call out for any of our shifts that fall on these four days out of the week! We do NOT make up a Friday for a Friday...basically, your make up shift is on the next schedule in which you make up a shift on ANY of these four days.

To top it off, I am a member of the scheduling committee and sometimes catch a little bit of flack from co-workers for their schedules, particularly their make-up shifts. Keep in mind, a) My manager has final say over the schedule so she can change anything she wants on it after we turn it into her. and b)we have about a 50% chance of actually receiving the list of make-ups from our manager on time so my hands are usually tied anyway.

Also, with the anticipated number of call outs expected this fall, HR has sent out a mass email that staff will not be disciplined according to the absenteeism policy for calling out for influenza-like-illness (we are required to stay out for a minimum of 7 days) but I'm curious to see how our manager handles absences regarding the make-up policy.

Any response is appreciated! Thanks :)

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Specializes in Ortho, PICU.

I worked as an LPN in LTC for a year while I put my self through school. 32 hour weekends (2 X 16 hour shifts) for a year. I had not one weekend where everyone scheduled showed up, not a single one. I think this policy you describe would have prevented this at my facility, and I applaud where you work for implementing it.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

We didn't used to be we do now. Doesn't bother me; I like working weekends.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Trust me, I totally see the need to hold employees accountable for missing their scheduled weekend shifts...but Fridays and Mondays? I don't get paid a weekend diff for those days so why am I being held accountable for those shifts? Are we only allowed to be ill on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays?

I was curious to see what other facilities count as a weekend...

Thanks for the replies so far :)

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Weekend where I work starts at Friday 3pm and ends at Monday 7am.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, Home Health/Hospice, Cath Lab,.

If I understand your post correctly - at your facility if you call in sick anytime between Fri days and Mon nights you have to make up those days, but you don't make them up on the same "day" you missed. You don't miss fri nights and then have to work another fri nights, correct?

We have nothing like this, and I think our union would fall over laughing if it were ever proposed. People are entitled to use of their sick time without being made to feel guilty about it, or having to work extra to make it up. That is just plain wrong.

That being said, if you abuse your sick time I feel we should be able to fire you. If you are sick every friday you should be let go.

I can't really imagine how such a system would work, and I am heavily involved in staffing. What happens if they don't need you on your make up day - due to low census or such? Do you have to schedule another make up day?

At our facility weekends usually have the least amount of staffing - due to low census and just the split of staff between weekends - so if you miss a weekend they get shortchanged but putting you back on a Wed would do nothing as they are usually overstaffed.

What happens if you are sick and need to be out for a week - do you have to make up only the days of the weekend? Do you get sick time?

I would look for work at another facility if that policy was in place here. But I like my time off. If you have a union I would fight it - heck even if you don't I would fight it.

Best of luck

Pat

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I don't get paid a weekend diff for those days so why am I being held accountable for those shifts?

That's what always kills me about "holidays" that aren't paid holidays. I'm required to schedule my life around Valentine's Day (that I don't really celebrate anyway), and I don't get any kind of shift diff for them. It's annoying.

I think the hospitals are realizing with the economy the way it is right now, people can't leave and find another job. So whatever crappy policies they want to implement, they're doing it now, so we'll all be used to them when the economy turns around and we can talk with our feet.

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Make up shifts? good god what are we children???...you miss an assignemnt you need to write a 500 word essay??(actually worked at a place that if you made a med error they expected you to write an essay on how to avoid next time..quit that place quickly)...give me a break. If I choose to miss a day for what ever reaason that is my choice and as a PROFESSIONAL I do not need anyone telling me I need to make it up or not.

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Thank goodness, we don't have to make up for shifts we've missed due to being sick.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Yes, if you call out anytime between Friday morning and Monday night they count as a make up day on the next schedule....meaning you will be scheduled for an 'extra' Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday... i.e. if you miss a Friday shift you may be scheduled for an extra Sunday shift beyond your weekend requirement. Many staff feel that it should be 'an eye for an eye'...If they miss a Friday they should only be scheduled for an extra Friday. Of course, my manager schedules their make-up shift on a weekend 'to meet the needs of the unit'. Nobody has to work an extra shift beyond their budgeted hours (this was attempted once by my manager and was quickly shot down by HR once employees complained about mandatory OT). Also, everybody is encourgaged to find coverage for their shift, if they do, it is not counted against them...but good luck getting somebody to pick up a Friday night.

If you're not needed on your make up day, then it is not counted against you.

Sick time is another issue...but yes, you do get paid out to your budgeted hours if you miss work. (We have recently changed to a system where all paid time off [vacation and sick time] is now in one bank...that's a topic for another thread!)

No unions in this area...I'd probably get fired for even saying the "u" word at work LOL

If I understand your post correctly - at your facility if you call in sick anytime between Fri days and Mon nights you have to make up those days, but you don't make them up on the same "day" you missed. You don't miss fri nights and then have to work another fri nights, correct?

We have nothing like this, and I think our union would fall over laughing if it were ever proposed. People are entitled to use of their sick time without being made to feel guilty about it, or having to work extra to make it up. That is just plain wrong.

That being said, if you abuse your sick time I feel we should be able to fire you. If you are sick every friday you should be let go.

I can't really imagine how such a system would work, and I am heavily involved in staffing. What happens if they don't need you on your make up day - due to low census or such? Do you have to schedule another make up day?

At our facility weekends usually have the least amount of staffing - due to low census and just the split of staff between weekends - so if you miss a weekend they get shortchanged but putting you back on a Wed would do nothing as they are usually overstaffed.

What happens if you are sick and need to be out for a week - do you have to make up only the days of the weekend? Do you get sick time?

I would look for work at another facility if that policy was in place here. But I like my time off. If you have a union I would fight it - heck even if you don't I would fight it.

Best of luck

Pat

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

We are treated like professionals when its convenient... i.e. when talking about Magnet status but other than that we are usually treated like we work at McDonalds.

We don't write essays for med errors and such...we make posterboards!!! :banghead:

Make up shifts? good god what are we children???...you miss an assignemnt you need to write a 500 word essay??(actually worked at a place that if you made a med error they expected you to write an essay on how to avoid next time..quit that place quickly)...give me a break. If I choose to miss a day for what ever reaason that is my choice and as a PROFESSIONAL I do not need anyone telling me I need to make it up or not.
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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

At my job, if you call out during the weekend, a make-up shift is required at management's discretion. If they decide to schedule a make-up shift, your schedule is arranged so you don't get overtime.

People shouldn't be penalized for using sick time if they're actually sick, but people who abuse sick time need to held accountable. At my last job, call-outs tended to coincide with football and baseball games. I shouldn't have to work short-handed because of the playoffs.

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