BASTARDS! Labor Board here I come!

[ms.read]

I been working at a certain health care facility for about 3 years. I passed meds (CRMA) and worked as a Personal Support Specialist (PSS). Recently, I was suspended from passing meds because I made a mistake. Fortunately, it didn't hurt anyone. This happened in the middle of May.

My scheduled vacation came and went along beautifully. I spent a week with my mom who has stage 3 cancer. I come back and I am working on the floor as a PSS. I go to see my schedule posted in the break room after being at work for a week, and finding my name not there. I went to the scheduler and worked it out. She said she forgot to put me on the schedule. In the meantime, the bigwigs are cutting nursing hours because our census is down. All caregivers are to come in an hour late and go home an hour early. Second shift made a stand and did thier regular hours because we felt the residents were unsafe with only three responsible people in the building, (taking care of about 34 residents). Two new employees have been hired. (1 caregiver , 1CRMA)

Thursday, I was pulled into the office and told that I was no longer a CRMA and that my pay was going to be cut because the incentive is for the CRMA's not floor care. I told the administrator that I got my CNA certification and that my pay rate should stay the same. I have been working there as a reliable employee and have been there at a moment's notice when they need somebody to come in and work an extra shift.
Friday ( yesterday) I went into work and on my break I found an envelope with my name on it. I opened it.
It was three paystubs. I looked at my base pay. it was -$1.83 an hour. Also, for 2nd shift $.50 per hour differential was not given to me.
So a total of about $125 is missing from three of my checks!

Now, I know for a fact that newhire CNA's start at $10.00. When my pay was cut I am now making much less than that. WTF?! And I had been working for 3 years at the same place??

Doesn't that make me feel like an appreciated employee?

What would you do in this situation?

 

[DeeZire]

...What would you do in this situation?...

Ask Rox or Ami. They're the free market experts around here. Surely they'll know the proper procedure for utilizing your hard-earned skills to get ahead.

 

[JagFarlane]

First off, I'd recommend checking the status of your CRMA. Considering that you mention that you've had an incident in passing out meds, something may have occured. I understand that you were suspended, but just verify the status of it.

Check the status of minimum wages within your state. The federal rates were recently raised [July 1st] to around $8 an hour [wow I remember being happy to make that working at Target heh and that was for nightshift work].

Also, since it seems you're concerned for the safety of the patients, you may be interested in checking the local/state regulations for manning requirements.

Finally, if you feel that your situation is unresolvable with your current employer, check around on different career websites, a couple broad ones and a specialized site.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

If you don't have a union or professional organization, I don't think there's much you can do. No labor lawyer's going to take you as a client for $375. DeeZire's right. Maybe Rox has an answer.

Do you have a contract at least?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

If you dont belong to a union with a contract, your employer can do pretty much whatever he wants. Its why business pays so much money to politicians.

The lesson every worker needs to learn is; EMPLOYERS ARE ORGANIZED, employees arent. When workers stop fucking each other life will be better.

 

[redpaint]

If you dont belong to a union with a contract, your employer can do pretty much whatever he wants. Its why business pays so much money to politicians.

The lesson every worker needs to learn is; EMPLOYERS ARE ORGANIZED, employees arent. When workers stop fucking each other life will be better.

yip, When the worker wakes up and see what going on then things will change.

 

[Liar]

The lesson every worker needs to learn is; EMPLOYERS ARE ORGANIZED, employees arent. When workers stop fucking each other life will be better.

Which is what, ahem, unions are for.

Or should be for, when they do what they're supposed to do.

 

[Edward Teach]

I been working at a certain health care facility for about 3 years. I passed meds (CRMA) and worked as a Personal Support Specialist (PSS). Recently, I was suspended from passing meds because I made a mistake. Fortunately, it didn't hurt anyone. This happened in the middle of May.

My scheduled vacation came and went along beautifully. I spent a week with my mom who has stage 3 cancer. I come back and I am working on the floor as a PSS. I go to see my schedule posted in the break room after being at work for a week, and finding my name not there. I went to the scheduler and worked it out. She said she forgot to put me on the schedule. In the meantime, the bigwigs are cutting nursing hours because our census is down. All caregivers are to come in an hour late and go home an hour early. Second shift made a stand and did thier regular hours because we felt the residents were unsafe with only three responsible people in the building, (taking care of about 34 residents). Two new employees have been hired. (1 caregiver , 1CRMA)

Thursday, I was pulled into the office and told that I was no longer a CRMA and that my pay was going to be cut because the incentive is for the CRMA's not floor care. I told the administrator that I got my CNA certification and that my pay rate should stay the same. I have been working there as a reliable employee and have been there at a moment's notice when they need somebody to come in and work an extra shift.
Friday ( yesterday) I went into work and on my break I found an envelope with my name on it. I opened it.
It was three paystubs. I looked at my base pay. it was -$1.83 an hour. Also, for 2nd shift $.50 per hour differential was not given to me.
So a total of about $125 is missing from three of my checks!

Now, I know for a fact that newhire CNA's start at $10.00. When my pay was cut I am now making much less than that. WTF?! And I had been working for 3 years at the same place??

Doesn't that make me feel like an appreciated employee?

What would you do in this situation?

1. Talk with your supervisor but don't be confrontational or threaten to quit, etc. Get your supervisor on your side if possible.
2. Don't stir up anything with other employees - it will only make your situation with management worse.
3. Make sure your certifications are in order.
4. Put together a one page, accurate resume.
5. Quietly look for another job.
6. Don't knock your present employer on job interviews - just state that you are concerned about your hours being cut.
7. Leave on good terms - don't burn that bridge.

 

[ms.read]

Thank you. I needed to cool down. I am going to write a letter to get a hearing. Meanwhile I am going to find another job. quietly. I just don't even want to go back. I am hurt. I talked with a good friend tonight and he works in healthcare. He said it's a dirty trick that corps play to squeeze people out. Well, Time to make lemonade.

 

[JagFarlane]

Thank you. I needed to cool down. I am going to write a letter to get a hearing. Meanwhile I am going to find another job. quietly. I just don't even want to go back. I am hurt. I talked with a good friend tonight and he works in healthcare. He said it's a dirty trick that corps play to squeeze people out. Well, Time to make lemonade.

Thats pretty much it. Remember, if they fire you for a reason that really isn't your fault [ie not fired for constantly being late, stealing, etc], then you have rights to unemployment, and it costs the company money. But, if you voluntarily leave, then it won't make them pay.