Daughter broke her arm, Boss less than sympathetic- How to respond?

[CarolAnn856]

In many professions, getting coverage for a last-minute absence (and I consider even a few hours to be "last-minute) is difficult if not impossible. Obviously, I don't know what OP's situation was, but it sounds like she knew that there would probably be no coverage. Therefore, getting there for some of her shift was better than not being there at all. A good supervisor would applaud that, not send the kind of email her boss sent.

OP, as others have said, and you seem to already know, document everything and keep as much of your communication in written form as possible. And maybe start looking around for a new job. People like your boss don't tend to improve as time goes on.

 

[LovesTimone]

If its not documented it did not happen.

Make sure to get screen grabs of everything, and do not talk about this with anyone at work.

HR is not to cover/protect you, they are there to cover/protect the business, and want you to tell them of a problem so they can cover the business from law suits, their job is to protect the business. Honestly they don't care about you at all, or your family...that just the way it is now. If you say anything then you are marked as a trouble maker. The HR people are afraid to do the right thing as they have families as well and need their jobs. If a HR employee stands up for what is right or in the best interest of the employee they will not be working there long. Do not trust them they act like your friend but they are not.

Start actively looking for another position. But do it quietly do not tell anyone at work.


I went through something like this, and it was a complete nightmare. I worked in long term care ( 240 beds), in a management role. I sat on the employee relations committee which I was told I had to after I started working there. This committee fell under the HR umbrella...which I knew would be a problem. Keep your mouth shut and head down was my motto in these meeting. There were rumors that the therapy manager ( a married women in her 30's w/ kids) and the student trainee( a college guy 20) had something going on. Now they were rumors and was not any of my business, I had a job to do. I was working late one night and went to the therapy room to file some notes in the charts, and walked in and they were in the office which has a large window looking out onto the therapy gym....there they were basically making out. I turned around and walk out went to my office and left for the day. So the next day I have a care plan meeting with her, and after the meeting she asks to talk to me. Then she says I saw you last night and I said where, she was like in the therapy room, I said oh I did not see you, I saw the lights off and thought you were gone for the day. Then she said I know you saw and you better keep your mouth shut or I will get you fired. I was stunned... From that moment on I knew that I had a target on my back. A few weeks later they rearrange the disciplines and guess who my department all of sudden fell under... therapy. I documented everything thing she sent my way, copies of emails, notes she would leave on my desk that she wanted me, and basically threatening me constantly, I did not talk about it with anyone. They took me from salary to hourly, then I got in trouble for overtime, then wanted to make me salary again which I declined then told me I could not have any overtime, but I better still get my job done, even if I had to work off the clock. Yep had it all in emails.... Finally one day the HR dept. from the hospital came in apparently they had fired a therapy aid and she got a lawyer and filed a complaint. They said that they knew I had seen something, and I needed to be honest and tell them the truth....basically were badgering me.....I was like I not telling you anything, and your making it worse for me just by talking to me. So there was this big investigating going on. During this time I found another job. I went in to resign, and the HR people from the hospital were back and waiting for me. I told them I had nothing to say, and they kept on asking questions. I just said I am not saying anything why are you harassing me?... I got up and walked out of the room, and went to the Administrators office handed him my resignation which was immediate. While reading it he turn red then pale, and I said have a nice day. Before I could get home my phone was ringing off the hook, messages from HR, the director of HR, and some Hospital administrator, all wanting to talk "calmly" to me about what was going on. They kept on calling for days. Finally I pickup the phone and said if you don't quit harassing me I am going to get a lawyer, and I have all the proof I need to show that I was harassed on the job, and the Administrator knew and took part and did nothing, and was harassed by my direct supervisor over her indiscretions. Leave me alone and hung up the phone. Funny thing is I got a letter from a lawyer a few months later and they gave me 6 months severance package and cleared my bill at the hospital.

Lesson learned, when something like this starts, get ahead of it, start looking for another job. Its not worth it, life is to short for this kind of non-sense.

Good Luck and Pixie Dust to you

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hospitals aren't like other businesses. They have to be fully functional 24/7/365. Given that, there are systems built into place for such emergencies, usually. But they may take a little while to put into place. For instance, some pharmacists I know work a 7 days on and 7 days off schedule. Given that many are off for seven days, it's not too difficult to get one to come in on their day off for a little OT. Obviously they need a little notice, though. OT is one of the ways hospitals lure people to work extra shifts. (Very common.) In the situation here, an entire shift may have been picked up by one of the day shift pharmacists. It's possible someone stayed OT waiting for the OP to come in, but it's equally possible, if they thought she was coming in soon, that someone on her same shift just covered for her. We don't really know. Things would've been smoother, probably, if someone was there for the whole shift.

From the perspective of a nurse working up on the units, it can be a nightmare when medications aren't delivered on time. One of the biggest problems is with intravenous drips. If a new bag isn't ready, the old bag can run out. For some drips, it's not critical if they're shut off for an hour or two. But for others, it could be disastrous. This is an enormous problem. We generally give the pharmacy several hours notice when a drip is running low, which gives them time to prepare a new bag. From what I understand at our pharmacy, there is one pharmacist mixing drips under a vent/hood, so that person is quite busy. Others work on other things - answering questions on the phone, running the outpatient pharmacy, getting pills ready for units, working inventory control or going to required meetings, etc. So missing one person could effectively put the whole pharmacy behind as they need to cover other tasks. As you can imagine, when meds are late it creates a whole cascade of problems on units. Patients are asking for their meds. Families might be out at the desk asking, as well. Nurses are on a schedule of what they have to do, and they're making several trips to med dispensers and, finding them empty, are putting in electronic requests and making phone calls to the pharmacy. Someone in the pharmacy has to answer each one of those. Very aggravating for all involved. And there could be many if all the units are doing the same thing. Supervisor at some point is notified there is a problem, if not already aware. And on and on. Which is why I said the supervisor probably caught flak for the situation and that was his awkward, knee-jerk reaction.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

What ever happened to just talking to your boss?

Did you read about his history? Combine his curt and somewhat bizarre email with his past behavior, and there is no way that just going to talk to him -- no documentation, no witnesses -- is in OP's best interests.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I went to HR when he told me to bring in homemade baked goods instead of actually using my credentials and sharing knowledge with nursing. It turned into a "he said/she said" and nothing came of it.

At least this time there's a paper(ish) trail.

I wouldn't be reporting her to HR, either

HIm. The boss in question here is male. Even if the OP hadn't indicated this, the treatment of the pregnant coworker does.

Totally uncalled for. Doesn't matter what the sex is of the person if they are single or married. if they are single or married.

One would hope. Based on information the OP provided - she should bake cookies for the nurses instead of arranging a medical presentation; pregnant coworker should work from home - the man is clearly sexist. It would be fascinating to know what happens when a male employee has a similar situation.

 

[indimom]

Not really.
A) She has covered shifts to help out before. It's a give and take relationship. No boss would want their employees to work to rule.
B) He had information up front, hours before her shift started and he could have asked her to call out. She didn't just not show up for 2.5 hours, or advise them last minute. She did the best thing she thought she could do in the circumstances.
He as her employer should have advised her if he wanted something differently done (and showing up on time isnt a reasonable expectation for this situation)

I agree that the boss should have just covered the shift from the start. But, if the OP was constantly updating as she said, and giving the impression she would be in soon, then adding delay to delay, I can see how they let it occur. It's a learning curve for both of them.

And for the record, I definitely agree with keep copies of all correspondence. If this boss is a major problem, it will show itself in time. But, it doesn't appear she was "written up" or anything of the sort, so I'd be more inclined toward a professional response and letting it blow over. For now.
I just don't think running to HR when the problem was partly yours is a great idea. Yet....

 

[Wishing on a star]

BEST post, ever... LovesTimone.

Some things are a hill to die on...
Some things are not.
If it s very clear that one can not win this battle... It is best to start planning a very strategic exit, that is advantageous.

I do think that the OP should respond to this 'threat', with a paper trail, with something similar to what I posted earlier. "Yes, I am willing and eager to work all scheduled shifts. any time off from working scheduled shifts will be according to official policies and guidelines for employee leave."

The only thing I would add, about LovesTimone's post, is that, at some point, during that final exit, I would have, in writing, reported this to everyone.

Even if I know I can't win the battle... I would want to feel that I did what I could, and did NOT enable this kind of discrimination and abuse.
At some point, if enough employees do this... It will all have to come out. The proper authorities will have to take note.

 

[Westcoastwild]

If its not documented it did not happen.

Make sure to get screen grabs of everything, and do not talk about this with anyone at work.

HR is not to cover/protect you, they are there to cover/protect the business, and want you to tell them of a problem so they can cover the business from law suits, their job is to protect the business. Honestly they don't care about you at all, or your family...that just the way it is now. If you say anything then you are marked as a trouble maker. The HR people are afraid to do the right thing as they have families as well and need their jobs. If a HR employee stands up for what is right or in the best interest of the employee they will not be working there long. Do not trust them they act like your friend but they are not.

Start actively looking for another position. But do it quietly do not tell anyone at work.


I went through something like this, and it was a complete nightmare. I worked in long term care ( 240 beds), in a management role. I sat on the employee relations committee which I was told I had to after I started working there. This committee fell under the HR umbrella...which I knew would be a problem. Keep your mouth shut and head down was my motto in these meeting. There were rumors that the therapy manager ( a married women in her 30's w/ kids) and the student trainee( a college guy 20) had something going on. Now they were rumors and was not any of my business, I had a job to do. I was working late one night and went to the therapy room to file some notes in the charts, and walked in and they were in the office which has a large window looking out onto the therapy gym....there they were basically making out. I turned around and walk out went to my office and left for the day. So the next day I have a care plan meeting with her, and after the meeting she asks to talk to me. Then she says I saw you last night and I said where, she was like in the therapy room, I said oh I did not see you, I saw the lights off and thought you were gone for the day. Then she said I know you saw and you better keep your mouth shut or I will get you fired. I was stunned... From that moment on I knew that I had a target on my back. A few weeks later they rearrange the disciplines and guess who my department all of sudden fell under... therapy. I documented everything thing she sent my way, copies of emails, notes she would leave on my desk that she wanted me, and basically threatening me constantly, I did not talk about it with anyone. They took me from salary to hourly, then I got in trouble for overtime, then wanted to make me salary again which I declined then told me I could not have any overtime, but I better still get my job done, even if I had to work off the clock. Yep had it all in emails.... Finally one day the HR dept. from the hospital came in apparently they had fired a therapy aid and she got a lawyer and filed a complaint. They said that they knew I had seen something, and I needed to be honest and tell them the truth....basically were badgering me.....I was like I not telling you anything, and your making it worse for me just by talking to me. So there was this big investigating going on. During this time I found another job. I went in to resign, and the HR people from the hospital were back and waiting for me. I told them I had nothing to say, and they kept on asking questions. I just said I am not saying anything why are you harassing me?... I got up and walked out of the room, and went to the Administrators office handed him my resignation which was immediate. While reading it he turn red then pale, and I said have a nice day. Before I could get home my phone was ringing off the hook, messages from HR, the director of HR, and some Hospital administrator, all wanting to talk "calmly" to me about what was going on. They kept on calling for days. Finally I pickup the phone and said if you don't quit harassing me I am going to get a lawyer, and I have all the proof I need to show that I was harassed on the job, and the Administrator knew and took part and did nothing, and was harassed by my direct supervisor over her indiscretions. Leave me alone and hung up the phone. Funny thing is I got a letter from a lawyer a few months later and they gave me 6 months severance package and cleared my bill at the hospital.

Lesson learned, when something like this starts, get ahead of it, start looking for another job. Its not worth it, life is to short for this kind of non-sense.

Good Luck and Pixie Dust to you

Yeah, they were running scared. They were right to. That's not HR you go to at that point. You could have reported that to both the licensing organization and the school (assuming the trainee was affiliated with an academic program which most student trainees are). If not the state. That's an ethics issue and I am AMAZED your employer did not hang that therapist out to dry.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd email him and ask how a medical
Emergency should be handled in the future.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'd email him and ask how a medical
Emergency should be handled in the future.

I think that's the best answer. I love open ended questions in situations like this. And definitely by email so there's a record.

 

[declansdad]

Did you read about his history? Combine his curt and somewhat bizarre email with his past behavior, and there is no way that just going to talk to him -- no documentation, no witnesses -- is in OP's best interests.

No I read the original post, that's it.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I'd email him and ask how a medical
Emergency should be handled in the future.

I wouldn't do this. It makes it looks like you are planning on calling in again. I would read my employee handbook

 

[LovesTimone]

Yeah, they were running scared. They were right to. That's not HR you go to at that point. You could have reported that to both the licensing organization and the school (assuming the trainee was affiliated with an academic program which most student trainees are). If not the state. That's an ethics issue and I am AMAZED your employer did not hang that therapist out to dry.

The Administrator knew , along with the assistant administrator, the DON( director of nursing) and just about everyone on the management team in the facility knew what was going on with her and the student, and could have cared less... really supported and covered it up. My DH and I had just moved into the area and I needed my job. I really did not have any contacts yet in my field, so I was stuck. They basically were all in bed together so to speak, they all had something on each other. I did get some pay back. When they were in State Survey( which is 3 to 5 days when the state comes in and goes through everything, this is how they get there rating or stars on how well the facility does is super important). It was about 8 or 9 months after I had left I got a call from the survey team leader asking me when I was returning to work, I was like I am at work. She was like your here at_______. I said I don't work there anymore and haven't for almost 9 months.... Silence.... She said so your not on vacation....and you have another job.... and you haven't worked here in 9 months. I was like yes, yes and yes... Well then she said, I was lead to believe you were on vacation/ leave of absence for family issue. I was like no.. I resigned and moved on. Then she asked if it was ok to put me on speaker and repeat what I told her. I said ok... I asked who is in the room, and she said just the survey team they each gave me their name and discipline. So they asked me a basically the same questions and a couple more. I made it clear that my certificate/license should not be used there and I did not give my permission to use it. My certificate/license was at the new facility I was working at. Even though I took my certificate/license with me, they used the copies in my personnel folder to give to the survey team... I was livid. They thanked my for my time and honesty... I talked to my friend that still worked at my old job, and she said that they were in a world of trouble and that the team was going to do a chart to chart review. Karma can be a nasty pill to take....

In the end I thought about doing it turning everything in, But in doing so I would ruin this college kid life, and he wasn't the one behind all the nasty stuff. I think he thought wow an older woman wants me..kinda thing. He was a victim... I compare it to a teacher taking advantage of kid, while he was 20 an a adult still she was his boss, and suppose to be a mentor to him. I know he went on the medical school, and became some type of doctor. So what good would it have done for me to destroy his young life.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If its not documented it did not happen.

Make sure to get screen grabs of everything, and do not talk about this with anyone at work.

HR is not to cover/protect you, they are there to cover/protect the business, and want you to tell them of a problem so they can cover the business from law suits, their job is to protect the business. Honestly they don't care about you at all, or your family...that just the way it is now. If you say anything then you are marked as a trouble maker. The HR people are afraid to do the right thing as they have families as well and need their jobs. If a HR employee stands up for what is right or in the best interest of the employee they will not be working there long. Do not trust them they act like your friend but they are not.

Start actively looking for another position. But do it quietly do not tell anyone at work.


I went through something like this, and it was a complete nightmare. I worked in long term care ( 240 beds), in a management role. I sat on the employee relations committee which I was told I had to after I started working there. This committee fell under the HR umbrella...which I knew would be a problem. Keep your mouth shut and head down was my motto in these meeting. There were rumors that the therapy manager ( a married women in her 30's w/ kids) and the student trainee( a college guy 20) had something going on. Now they were rumors and was not any of my business, I had a job to do. I was working late one night and went to the therapy room to file some notes in the charts, and walked in and they were in the office which has a large window looking out onto the therapy gym....there they were basically making out. I turned around and walk out went to my office and left for the day. So the next day I have a care plan meeting with her, and after the meeting she asks to talk to me. Then she says I saw you last night and I said where, she was like in the therapy room, I said oh I did not see you, I saw the lights off and thought you were gone for the day. Then she said I know you saw and you better keep your mouth shut or I will get you fired. I was stunned... From that moment on I knew that I had a target on my back. A few weeks later they rearrange the disciplines and guess who my department all of sudden fell under... therapy. I documented everything thing she sent my way, copies of emails, notes she would leave on my desk that she wanted me, and basically threatening me constantly, I did not talk about it with anyone. They took me from salary to hourly, then I got in trouble for overtime, then wanted to make me salary again which I declined then told me I could not have any overtime, but I better still get my job done, even if I had to work off the clock. Yep had it all in emails.... Finally one day the HR dept. from the hospital came in apparently they had fired a therapy aid and she got a lawyer and filed a complaint. They said that they knew I had seen something, and I needed to be honest and tell them the truth....basically were badgering me.....I was like I not telling you anything, and your making it worse for me just by talking to me. So there was this big investigating going on. During this time I found another job. I went in to resign, and the HR people from the hospital were back and waiting for me. I told them I had nothing to say, and they kept on asking questions. I just said I am not saying anything why are you harassing me?... I got up and walked out of the room, and went to the Administrators office handed him my resignation which was immediate. While reading it he turn red then pale, and I said have a nice day. Before I could get home my phone was ringing off the hook, messages from HR, the director of HR, and some Hospital administrator, all wanting to talk "calmly" to me about what was going on. They kept on calling for days. Finally I pickup the phone and said if you don't quit harassing me I am going to get a lawyer, and I have all the proof I need to show that I was harassed on the job, and the Administrator knew and took part and did nothing, and was harassed by my direct supervisor over her indiscretions. Leave me alone and hung up the phone. Funny thing is I got a letter from a lawyer a few months later and they gave me 6 months severance package and cleared my bill at the hospital.

Lesson learned, when something like this starts, get ahead of it, start looking for another job. Its not worth it, life is to short for this kind of non-sense.

Good Luck and Pixie Dust to you

The Administrator knew , along with the assistant administrator, the DON( director of nursing) and just about everyone on the management team in the facility knew what was going on with her and the student, and could have cared less... really supported and covered it up. My DH and I had just moved into the area and I needed my job. I really did not have any contacts yet in my field, so I was stuck. They basically were all in bed together so to speak, they all had something on each other. I did get some pay back. When they were in State Survey( which is 3 to 5 days when the state comes in and goes through everything, this is how they get there rating or stars on how well the facility does is super important). It was about 8 or 9 months after I had left I got a call from the survey team leader asking me when I was returning to work, I was like I am at work. She was like your here at_______. I said I don't work there anymore and haven't for almost 9 months.... Silence.... She said so your not on vacation....and you have another job.... and you haven't worked here in 9 months. I was like yes, yes and yes... Well then she said, I was lead to believe you were on vacation/ leave of absence for family issue. I was like no.. I resigned and moved on. Then she asked if it was ok to put me on speaker and repeat what I told her. I said ok... I asked who is in the room, and she said just the survey team they each gave me their name and discipline. So they asked me a basically the same questions and a couple more. I made it clear that my certificate/license should not be used there and I did not give my permission to use it. My certificate/license was at the new facility I was working at. Even though I took my certificate/license with me, they used the copies in my personnel folder to give to the survey team... I was livid. They thanked my for my time and honesty... I talked to my friend that still worked at my old job, and she said that they were in a world of trouble and that the team was going to do a chart to chart review. Karma can be a nasty pill to take....

In the end I thought about doing it turning everything in, But in doing so I would ruin this college kid life, and he wasn't the one behind all the nasty stuff. I think he thought wow an older woman wants me..kinda thing. He was a victim... I compare it to a teacher taking advantage of kid, while he was 20 an a adult still she was his boss, and suppose to be a mentor to him. I know he went on the medical school, and became some type of doctor. So what good would it have done for me to destroy his young life.

So you were a manager, and on the employee relations committee, and your motto was to keep your mouth shut and head down? You say you had a job to do. May I ask what that was?

 

[handinpocket]

So you were a manager, and on the employee relations committee, and your motto was to keep your mouth shut and head down? You say you had a job to do. May I ask what that was?

WOW! You obviously didn't read what the dynamic in this hospital was like or you are being intentionally obtuse. Either way Timone NEEDED her job.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

No I read the original post, that's it.

Here...

The email was 3 lines long. The rest of it was "The work you do here is important. It hurts the team when someone is out." then the line about "I expect that you will work all future shifts, as scheduled, in their entirety." I've never had a face to face discussion about tardiness or attendance. It hasn't been an issue that a discussion would be warranted. I can't know if there was a memorandum that come down the chain that I'm not aware of. This clearly was an emergency situation that I had no control over. Why that tone when I show up every day, on time, year after year? Of course I will continue to work all shifts I am scheduled for- that's what I do. I will review the policy again today when I go in, but I am pretty sure I am in compliance.

Honestly, I am not comfortable going to his office and engaging him on this one-on-one. I need everything in writing.

He is one of those bosses you read about that I denied existed. When I started at this hospital, I approached him about hosting a nursing education topic discussion on antibiotics and he told me to take the nurses baked goods instead. Something homemade would be a nice touch. (He doesn't ask male pharmacists to provide baked goods.) Another co-worker was pregnant and he suggested she would be happier working from home. Offered to forward her the recruiter's information. Sure, could be a nice sentiment on the surface, but the delivery communicated so much more. He really treated her poorly and she eventually found a much better position in another state.

It's a fine line. I don't want to burn bridges, but I also don't want to be a doormat, and I don't know how to walk that line, and I don't know if HR would be helpful. I don't consider HR to be there for the employees, but rather to mitigate liabilities for the employer. I went to HR when he told me to bring in homemade baked goods instead of actually using my credentials and sharing knowledge with nursing. It turned into a "he said/she said" and nothing came of it.

 

[Westcoastwild]

The Administrator knew , along with the assistant administrator, the DON( director of nursing) and just about everyone on the management team in the facility knew what was going on with her and the student, and could have cared less... really supported and covered it up. My DH and I had just moved into the area and I needed my job. I really did not have any contacts yet in my field, so I was stuck. They basically were all in bed together so to speak, they all had something on each other. I did get some pay back. When they were in State Survey( which is 3 to 5 days when the state comes in and goes through everything, this is how they get there rating or stars on how well the facility does is super important). It was about 8 or 9 months after I had left I got a call from the survey team leader asking me when I was returning to work, I was like I am at work. She was like your here at_______. I said I don't work there anymore and haven't for almost 9 months.... Silence.... She said so your not on vacation....and you have another job.... and you haven't worked here in 9 months. I was like yes, yes and yes... Well then she said, I was lead to believe you were on vacation/ leave of absence for family issue. I was like no.. I resigned and moved on. Then she asked if it was ok to put me on speaker and repeat what I told her. I said ok... I asked who is in the room, and she said just the survey team they each gave me their name and discipline. So they asked me a basically the same questions and a couple more. I made it clear that my certificate/license should not be used there and I did not give my permission to use it. My certificate/license was at the new facility I was working at. Even though I took my certificate/license with me, they used the copies in my personnel folder to give to the survey team... I was livid. They thanked my for my time and honesty... I talked to my friend that still worked at my old job, and she said that they were in a world of trouble and that the team was going to do a chart to chart review. Karma can be a nasty pill to take....

In the end I thought about doing it turning everything in, But in doing so I would ruin this college kid life, and he wasn't the one behind all the nasty stuff. I think he thought wow an older woman wants me..kinda thing. He was a victim... I compare it to a teacher taking advantage of kid, while he was 20 an a adult still she was his boss, and suppose to be a mentor to him. I know he went on the medical school, and became some type of doctor. So what good would it have done for me to destroy his young life.

Wow. Well, that's a great end to the story! That survey must have hurt. Those people were idiots. You'd been gon for months; why on earth would they not expect to not be found out on that.

Not sure I agree with you about the boy. He either knew what he was doing as ethics is something they start teaching students from the get go (bad egg) or he was vulnerable enough to have his world view twisted and may end up harassing a student of his later on (will become bad egg). At the very least the school deserved a heads up on that establishment...but I do understand why you didn't want to drag him into it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

WOW! You obviously didn't read what the dynamic in this hospital was like or you are being intentionally obtuse. Either way Timone NEEDED her job.

I read the posts several times, in fact, trying to understand her viewpoint.

She was a manager.

My question was, if her idea of her role - as a manager - was to "keep her mouth shut and head down", what was she supposed to do? It's not a fair question, handinpocket?

What if all managers keep their mouths shut and heads down? Who runs the place? Aren't managers supposed to tackle the tough problems? Seriously just wondering.

Please tell me YOUR thoughts on this (rather than just criticizing) so I can be enlightened.

And for the record, I worked in long term care facilities all through high school and college, so I know the culture very well. And I've worked in acute care hospitals for over 33 years. It's also not my style to be intentionally obtuse.

 

[Annadesu]

Currently having a problem with this, too. I went to the hospital recently (pregnancy issue). I called as soon as I realized I wan't getting released in time for work the next day. I immediately got an attitude about it. So, I asked the doctor for a note. I made a copy of it, handed my boss the copy when I got back, and kept the original. I was then asked to work two 13 hour shifts in a row. I said that it was probably not a very wise choice to do that, considering I was just hospitalized. They still harassed me into working 3 extra hours. I have not missed a single day of work since becoming pregnant. They are being very unsympathetic, in general. The thing that cracks me up?

They have a meeting once a month about how they don't "discriminate" against anyone, and to just "talk with them", blah blah blah.

 

[Wishing on a star]

People are offering their stories and advice, based on experience.
Trying to be helpful.
We do not know the details of their positions and situations.
I don't think going off track to attack somebody who was just offering their thoughts is warranted here.
Not helpful.