How Is this handled at your workplace?

Your shift is cancelled (due to census/staffing) but they forget to call you because they didn't realize you were on the schedule.

Do they let you stay and work anyway, work a couple hours or just send you home?
You have to be paid half your scheduled shift, since being paid they will have you work.

Paid for 2 hrs, see if anybody wants the night off

See if they need you. If not, you go home and get paid for 2 hours.

We have to be paid for at least 4 hours. So we stay as an extra for 4 or float to somewhere that's short.

This situation happens frequently because we have a blase, incompetent, disorganized staffing coordinator who forgets to cancel shifts in a timely manner.We first ask around to see if anyone else wants to go home. If not, we allow the person to stick around for a couple of hours to complete education modules on the computer while on the clock. If nothing else is available for the person to do, or if they refuse these options, they must clock out and leave.Per policy, the company is not required to pay the employee a dime for their inconvenience. This is unfair to the employee who woke up, got ready, possibly paid for babysitting, packed a lunch, and commuted to work, all for nothing.

I haven't had that happen to me, yet. they are good about calling. If they did forget, they would have to find a place for me to work because I drive an hour to get to work.

Quote from RNKPCEYou have to be paid half your scheduled shift, since being paid they will have you work.

We are never cancelled due to low census. We are floated to short staffed units, or given the option of taking a vacation or banked OT shift.

In some states they are required to pay "reporting time pay", also referred to as "show up" pay. Ask the Labor Board if this applies in your state.

If I am cancelled but not given sufficient notice (at least 2 hours before the shift's start time), I get four hours' pay regardless of whether I stay and work the 4 hours, or turn around and go home. Depending on my mood and exactly what work is offered, I might stay...but honestly, I've never had it happen to me. My facility's staffing office is excellent about canceling staff promptly.

It is part of our union contract that they have to pay us for 4 hours.

Quote from Esme12There are NO labor laws that cover this as mandatory pay. It varies facility to facility the usual and customary is 2 hours.