Posted on 02/27/2010 7:33:36 PM PST by Saije
The District's largest private hospital has fired 11 nurses and five support staff members who failed to make it to work during the back-to-back snowstorms that paralyzed the region earlier this month.
Dozens of staff members at Washington Hospital Center face internal investigations, union representatives say, and it is unclear how many employees will lose their jobs. On Friday, the nurses union, Nurses United of the National Capital Region, filed a class-action grievance with the hospital.
"I see it as so unfair and uncaring," said Shirley Ricks, a 57-year-old nurse who has spent her entire career at the hospital. "That's it. You call in one day in the biggest snowstorm in history and you're out. No ifs, ands or buts about it. . . . You go from getting a salary every two weeks to nothing. It's scary."
In a letter sent to the staff on Friday, hospital President Harry J. Rider sought to quell rumors that hundreds of people had been fired. He said he expects fewer than 20 people will be dismissed.
"Sadly, we did experience some issue with associates who did not show the same commitment as most of their co-workers to the community, our patients and their fellow associates. They are the few who turned away from their scheduled shifts and who tried -- and are still trying -- to turn the focus on themselves rather than the thousands of Washington Hospital Center workers who fulfilled their commitment to their patients and colleagues, and made it to work," he wrote.
Hospital spokeswoman So Young Pak said she could not comment on specific cases or personnel issues, but "we do not terminate any associates without a fair process. We always review the entire situation with the final decision based on all facts and circumstances."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I would imagine employees are supposed to have an emergency plan. They can’t just close the hospital because workers can’t get in. I’ve seen hospital employees stay at the hospital for days during an emergency. This storm wasn’t unexpected.
Spot on.
That could be. But the point I was making is government "workers" are never held to the same standard. And we are the ones paying them. I hope you understand.
I’m betting there is more than meets the eye.
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that there is WAY more to the story.”
Yes, like for example the politics of the people fired and/or whether these 16 people were union members, outspoken or not, or whether they had chosen not to join the union. Did these 16 vote for Pres? And if so, for which candidate did they vote?
Exactly! Just an excuse to cut costs. Terrible, terrible outcome.
It's not surprising that big government crooks see an open opportunity to make fodder of it. The administrative aholes need to get an earful. It's things like this that are ruining this country. Treat the employees with a flippin' little respect. We don't need nurses joining unions.
May the decision makers on this receive a tenfold payback.
Should have called in sick. Sick of the snow.
“I have driven in all type of weather to get in, to find someone who lives 3 blocks away from me stay home. Sick people deserve the best. My hospital will put us up in either available rooms, or local hotel rooms, but for every person who calls in, someone gets to stay and work a double. Imagine your mothers open heart surgery being delayed because someone stays home. Perhaps the trains were not running, however most of the staff showed up anyway. I have left for work at 2am and drove 30 miles at 10 miles an hour...but the patients come first.”
Sounds a lot like the horse in Animal Farm.
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
It does not matter what you "call in" for in health care.
Most of the hospitals have draconian policies that can get you fired for going on funeral leave and staying home with a sick child...forget about getting sick yourself. They don't care what you were absent for, if you have x amount of absences (most times it's three or four) within a six month period...you are gone...I kid you not.
This is why FMLA junkies are funny. The newest member of our team has one for anxiety attacks. They stick it to the hospital in the most amusing ways. Myself I keep my call offs to a minimum just in case I really need to call off for real reasons.
OK I can’t help myself.
THREE lousy feet of snow and your life is put on hold?
Get the shovel out.
We had 46 feet in 3.5 months last winter (at sea level) and no work or school was missed. (Alaska)
You guys need to buck up.
Playing with your chances, been there done that. Life can get messy when you least expect it. Word of advice...don't let your family get too big, you can't go on family medical leave for a child with a bad case of the flu...notice that a veteran nurse is getting fired with this bunch.
We don’t need nurses joining unions.
Nursing Unions are probably the ONLY unions I agree with - otherwise there’d be 12:1 patient ratios since a hospital is a “business.”
Unions are nothing but one foot in the work camp.
Will someone please knock some sense into these people before another entire group of people eats the union dust? It would be really nice to have some admin types fired for incompetence for once.
Does the WaPo ever tell the whole truth?
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