Working the Holidays

Just wanted a little feedback.....I have a one year old son and ever since his birth I have only worked part time. Since this transition I no longer have the benefits such as insurance, Paid time off or paid holidays. Do you think it is unfair of me to not want to work the holidays because I don't get the extra pay??????? I am the only registered nurse on staff and I work for atleast half the pay! Your thoughts are appreciated...
Need more info to be sure with answer ... but generally ...Most people in managerial/supervisory positions are salaried and do not get overtime or holiday pay. That's pretty typical. Is that what is happening? Are you the only RN supervising lower-level workers? If that's the case, while no one can blame you for not liking it, it is typical and what you should expect in a supervisory role.Or is something else going on?

If I'm not going to receive holiday pay for working a holiday, then I'm not working any holiday that I don't have to work. Just because I'm a nurse doesn't mean I'm a martyr...so no, I don't blame you for feeling that way one bit. Then again, I'm at the bedside and an hourly employee, and not management, supervisory or administration. I do have a holiday obligation each year, but whether I work more holidays than that is up to me...and what my facility does to sweeten the pot does influence whether I'll work those extra. Llg has a very valid point about salaried positions. You should check with HR to determine if what she wrote would apply to you.

"Fair" is not an issue when it comes to job responsibilities because that qualifier includes a value judgement... and the degree of 'fairness' varies according to individual perspectives. As long as the requirement is "equitable"... required of everyone who shares the same job description ... it is OK. If those rules were in effect when you took the job, you knew the expectation in advance. From the employer's perspective, it wouldn't be fair if you decided to challenge the rules because they affect your personal situation.

That's not exactly the way it is. I work for a nurse practitioner who owns who her own business. She always been honest about not being able to afford nurses wages but I love my job so much I choose to work for her at a very low hourly wage. I have the flexibility of choosing my schedule to work around my husbands work schedule. When it came to thanksgiving and Xmas I told them I couldn't work and then felt bad about it. I make so little as it is...I guess I felt very indifferent about the idea of working with the other staff and they all get double pay and I am working for so little.

Quote from OmaapecmThat's not exactly the way it is. I work for a nurse practitioner who owns who her own business. She always been honest about not being able to afford nurses wages but I love my job so much I choose to work for her at a very low hourly wage. I have the flexibility of choosing my schedule to work around my husbands work schedule. When it came to thanksgiving and Xmas I told them I couldn't work and then felt bad about it. I make so little as it is...I guess I felt very indifferent about the idea of working with the other staff and they all get double pay and I am working for so little.

I guess I felt bad because everyone else had to work and I felt like I wasn't being a team player.....

Do you think your team felt bad that you were there for straight time while they made double time? Maybe, but they'll get over it when they cash those awesome holiday paychecks. I don't work holidays for straight time while my team makes double time and a half (I'm call-in at the moment). I enjoy my time with my family while they rake in those holiday bucks.

Thanks for that! Guess I just needed some reassurance that I wasn't being unfair to those I work with. Surely they have to understand my stance. Thanks for the feedback.

Aren't Paid Holidays different than Holiday Pay? Why wouldn't you be paid time and 1/2 or whatever anyone else is receiving for working Christmas?

Except that sounds like this has less to do with your pay and more to do with wanting to be home on Christmas. If she offered you double time, would that be the solution you were looking for?

It seems like you feel guilty that they were working, and you were home, otherwise you wouldn't likely have mentioned your young son. Thing is, your employer isn't paying you the holiday pay everyone else is making to WORK those days, so....why feel guilty? If it's considered just like any other day that you work, you shouldn't have any guilt about taking a day off.Now, if you said you would work to cover someone else, and then called out....that would be different. AND unfair. But you don't have the same work/pay arrangement as the others, and therefore shouldn't hold yourself to that.Pretty sure your colleagues wouldn't be willing to pay you the extra money to work in their place, right?