What Is This Type Of Schedule Called and Can I Change It?

[Shookclays]

A couple of weeks ago I accepted a Med-Surg position but was told it would be 3 on 4 off but the policies have changed and my manager didn't notify me until the schedule was posted. I've worked this type of schedule before but it was so tiring.

1 week- work Mon/Tues, Off Wed/Thurs, work Fri/Sat/Sun

2nd week- off Mon/Tues, work Wed/Thurs/ off Fri/Sat/Sun

When I worked this schedule as a CNA, it was very tiring. Can I request the 3 on 4 off? I'm also back in school for my BSN and would like to finish it in one semester.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

That makes no sense. An employer cannot just schedule you for more hours/shifts than what you agreed upon when they hired you, without your permission.

That would be like saying "Okay, I know you four nurses only work 40 hours/week, but we're going to schedule you all 60 hours instead so that we don't have to hire two more nurses."

OP, I asked this already, but are you scheduled 84 hours per pay period? If so, I assume you were HIRED as a 0.9, which is 72 hours. Have you told them that they're scheduling you for too many shifts?

They can if they have "schedule variability." I think that's what they called it when I worked in the hospital. 36 hrs/week didn't mean 36 hrs/week. It meant 216 hours over 6 weeks. They could (and did) schedule us for 48 hrs/week when I worked in the hospital on the regular. That just meant some other week on the schedule, we were only scheduled for 24 hours. Oh and they considered us "salaried" so we didn't get any overtime for the weeks we worked 48 hrs either.

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

They can if they have "schedule variability." I think that's what they called it when I worked in the hospital. 36 hrs/week didn't mean 36 hrs/week. It meant 216 hours over 6 weeks. They could (and did) schedule us for 48 hrs/week when I worked in the hospital on the regular. That just meant some other week on the schedule, we were only scheduled for 24 hours. Oh and they considered us "salaried" so we didn't get any overtime for the weeks we worked 48 hrs either.

I live on overtime. My kid's private tuition is due...more overtimes. Ancient stove just went bad? More overtimes. I couldn't do this job for a base pay and zero pay incentive.

[caliotter3]

You can check for overtime and scheduled workday hour regulations on the website of your local Labor Board. I read on the site for my state that an employer can change the schedule around at their whim, just as long as they give the employee required notice (for some reason I remember that being 24 hours notice). This is probably different in each state and for different types of work. Worth a look at the website, a phone call to the agency, or even an in-person visit to the local office to get the scoop. As often as employers succeed in pulling the wool over the eyes of unsuspecting workers in my area, I would be looking for the rules from the horse's mouth. Just a suggestion.

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

It is called a Matrix schedule. I have worked a schedule like that for years. I love it. You get 8 hours overtime every paycheck. You know your schedule months in advance so you can plan things. What's not to like about that?

[morte, LPN, LVN]

They can if they have "schedule variability." I think that's what they called it when I worked in the hospital. 36 hrs/week didn't mean 36 hrs/week. It meant 216 hours over 6 weeks. They could (and did) schedule us for 48 hrs/week when I worked in the hospital on the regular. That just meant some other week on the schedule, we were only scheduled for 24 hours. Oh and they considered us "salaried" so we didn't get any overtime for the weeks we worked 48 hrs either.

I would have been out of that place so fast their crew cuts would have been in knots from the wind speed.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Ha ha ha ha ha ah,sorry can not stop laughing.I see nothing wrong with this schedule i wish mine was so reasonable.....it is sets of threes unless I use HT to help break it up, 13 shifts a month and nine of them are in sets of three...

[Kallie3006, ADN]

Its possible OP was hired as a 1.0 not a 0.9. I would definitely check that first because if so you told them you would do 3 one week and 4 the next

[klone, MSN, RN]

Its possible OP was hired as a 1.0 not a 0.9. I would definitely check that first because if so you told them you would do 3 one week and 4 the next

If she's doing 12-hour shifts, then 7 shifts in a pay period is still greater than 1.0. 1.0 is 80 hours, and the OP is working 84. I assume, anyway. The OP has not gotten back to us for clarification. I hate that.

[Kallie3006, ADN]

If she's doing 12-hour shifts, then 7 shifts in a pay period is still greater than 1.0. 1.0 is 80 hours, and the OP is working 84. I assume, anyway. The OP has not gotten back to us for clarification. I hate that.

I was told 1.0 was 84 in a pay period. This is being told and never having worked that I'm just going to realize I dont know what I'm talking about and hush lol