Q–I’m a nurse at a large university hospital. We are represented by the American Nurses Association, but for the past year we’ve been working without a contract, during which time the hospital changed over to an automated system for recording our time using designated telephones to the computer. At first we were allowed to clock in from six minutes before our scheduled time to six minutes after, which also applied to clocking out. Then the hospital changed the policy and would not allow us the six-minute grace period.
More than 80 employees start at the same time but there are only three telephones lines, meaning only 36 people will be clocking in on time and the rest will be considered late. Is there something we can do about this?
A–Although you see this as an elementary shortage of telephone/computer links, hospital administrators may see it differently. What better way to make employees snap to it than to remove any grace period? Instead of assuming 36 nurses will be on time and the others will be late, they are assuming all of you will allow enough time to clock in so no one is late. Focusing on five or 10 minutes here or there may be the reason the hospital avoided committing to a new contract. Complaints about workload and the quality of nursing care is another matter.
Q–What do you think of including my e-mail address on my resume and in my cover letter?
A–It can’t hurt, as long as your “screen name” isn’t sexual or so silly that a human resources administrator would hesitate to interview you. Nevertheless, include your telephone number. Even in this high-tech world, some people still prefer using the phone.
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Write to Lindsey Novak, At Work, Financial Dept., 4th Floor, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611; e-mail: AtWorkbyLN@aol.com.
