Thursday, April 9, 2009

Not Quite Recession-Proof (Negative Post Alert!)

Healthcare is a great field to get into because there will always be sick and injured people who need our help. However, even in a job where there are not enough warm bodies to fill all the open positions, we're not quite recession proof. In the last six months, I've seen the following cut backs:
  • One less CMA on my shift. (Which increased my workload by 50%.)
  • The reduction of our extra shift incentive from $50.00 per shift to $25.00 per shift to $0.00 per shift.
  • We used to get our base pay plus a dollar extra per hour if we showed up for all of our scheduled shifts. They've now taken that extra dollar away from us.

I've got a job. They need me and my residents are always glad to see me. Still, that last cut made my gross pay nearly $100 shorter than usual and I'm having a hard time swallowing my indignation at the whole thing. I'll get used to the shorter paychecks. It's my confidence in my employer that will take longer to recover.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a new CNA looking for work, I'm seeing it from the other side where there are all these CNA positions in my area advertised, but they're only looking for CNAs with at least 6 months of experience. Catch 22. Good times.

K. Tree said...

Wow. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing that they can afford to be so picky. I hope you're applying anyway. You never know who might give you a break.

In my case, my facility paid for my schooling for both my CNA and CMA licenses, so I had a job waiting for me after school was out.

Good luck.

Patti said...

I've been reading articles here and there about how this recession has HIT the nursing profession. And it has. Many hospitals and nursing homes have hiring freezes in place; are not replacing staff who leave; are cutting hours, wages, or benefit packages or all three. It's all in an effort to avoid lay offs, and even that is happening at hospitals and nursing homes.

One of Boston's large hospitals will be laying off 400 nurses and aides. In my area, two hospitals have closed down units and laid off the nurses and aides.

It's not good. We know this when it hits our line of work.