'I will be filing an ethics complaint': Boss wants healthcare worker to work overtime, doesn't want to pay for it

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Sep 3, 2023 9:00 AM EDT

If only there was some way that I could get more work from my employees without having to pay them for it… A thought that every employer has apparently had at some point during the operation of their business. 

Of course, the simplest solution to getting more work done without increasing costs would be just to find some way to get your employees to work more hours without paying them. After all, more hours equals more productivity… If only those pesky employees didn't expect to be paid! 

While you might hope that, despite its obviousness, no business owner would conclude that this was sound reasoning, I'd like to remind you that the laws around paid labor exist, unfortunately, out of necessity, and even then, this doesn't stop some of the more brazenly stupid.

This healthcare worker describes that they are in the midst of leaving their terrible job, which they started a little over a year ago. Their employer is an absolute mess of an individual, with no regard for boundaries or ethical limits. They give an account of some of their employer's intolerable behavior, which extends to contacting them after hours in an attempt to handle some of the employer's outstanding tasks. The worker began asking for overtime for this work and then was granted it as vacation hours. However, they insisted that they be paid for their work, which left the employer and worker at a stalemate. 

See their story and the reactions it generated below. 

Advertisement
  • 01
    Hand
    via National Cancer Institute
  • 02
    Font - r/r/MaliciousCompliance Posted by u/Tweedles Can Wants me to work overtime but won't pay for it I am in the midst of leaving a truly terrible job. I have only been there for a year, but began noticing issues after the first month. Now, this is in healthcare and we work with very vulnerable people, and I have seen some horrendous ethical issues and lack of competency among employees and my employer (e.g., permitting clinicians to perform tasks they are not trained in, recommending treatmen
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 03
    Font - Not to mention my employer has no respect for boundaries or work-life balance (which are essential in this field if you want to avoid burnout), and has horrible work-life balance, time management, and organizational skills themselves, leading them to be behind on all work constantly with over 2000 emails sitting in their inbox. This also resulted in much of my work being delayed and clients getting upset that they are waiting for things that the employer needs to do.
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 04
    Font - Because of this incompetence, I get constant emails and texts asking me to work on off days, or my employer texting at 8pm or 7am and expecting a reply. I have set very clear boundaries from the start that I don't work outside my hours, and have also raised concerns about the ethics/competency issues, which resulted in my employer becoming defensive and emotional, and changing nothing.
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 05
    Font - Since giving my notice, the employer has been pushing boundaries even more. So, being the compliant human that I am, and because I do need to wrap up things that I have been waiting for my employer to get to for months, I began responding and including every single work- related communication outside of my hours, or requests for a "small task" that I need to complete on an off day as hours worked, and have banked up some nice overtime.
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 06
    Font - Last week the employer sent an email saying that I am no longer allowed to work overtime and every hour worked OT will be banked as vacation time instead. I don't want that, because if I am working OT I deserve to be paid for it. So I immediately stopped responding to anything after hours or on off days, and have been working only 8 hours on my scheduled days.
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 07
    Font - The frustration and passive aggression coming from my employer since I did that is unmatched. Truly, they should get an award for the snarky and condescending emails and texts they have sent me. I only have a few days left and will be filing an ethics complaint for the many egregious things I have seen once I am out of there. It's what they deserve, and I can't wait.
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 08
    Font - mysteresc | every hour worked OT will be banked as vacation time instead. +2.6 hr. ago Save that email, and when it happens, file a wage complaint with the Dept. of Labor. This isn't just run-of-the-mill wage theft. It's likely a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Vote Vote Reply Share TweedlesCan OP. 6 hr. ago I didn't even think about that part. Thanks! Adding it to the arsenal. Reply Share
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 09
    Font - SocialGrenades · 7 hr. ago File for unemployment. You might get it if you have your proof in order. Reply Share Vote ●●● TweedlesCan OP. 7 hr. ago I have another job lined up, so I'm good. It's at a practice with competent humans who respect boundaries and work-life balance. Shocking that those exist /s Reply Share Vote ...
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 10
    Font - LessThanThreeHundred 7 hr. ago · >>I only have a few days left and will be filing an ethics complaint for the many egregious things I have seen once I am out of there. It's what they deserve, and I can't wait. On behalf of everyone affected, thank you Vote Reply Share TweedlesCan OP. 7 hr. ago Honestly, you shouldn't be thanking me. I'm doing the bare minimum. It's so f**ked up that unethical, incompetent people can practice in healthcare. The standard should be good, quality care. Client
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 11
    Font - 229 fluffybottom. 6 hr. ago You may have a case for retribution as well, and keep a lawyer around for whistle blowing. Good luck. Reply Share Vote
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 12
    Font - Forsaken_Age_91855 hr. ago When you leave report their failings to the appropriate government agency in charge of regulating them. I would have done what you are doing long ago. Vote Reply Share
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 13
    Font - ChaplainParker 7 hr. ago No, how dare you want to not be at my beck and call 24/7! If I email you you should be grateful that I'm communicating with you. What do you mean overtime pay? No that's not a thing... Commence shocked Pikachu, face when having to pay ot and possibly fines! Vote Reply Share ●●●
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 14
    Font - labdsknechtpiraten +1.7 hr. ago If it were me, like I did with my last job, attaching a direct link to relevant state laws regarding whatever your issue is, in an email conversation is a good way to let them know how much they have already screwed up. I know in my state it would be Hella illegal to "offer" pto in lieu of OT pay Reply Share Vote
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 15
    Font - apathyzeal 6 hr. ago Document everything and alert your local.labor board. This is likely illegal for them to use vacation to pay OT. Reply Share Vote
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 16
    Font - profwithstandards 6 hr. ago This sounds like a hospital I went to as a patient once. They had a surgeon acting as a psychologist/psychiatrist. Vote Reply Share
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 17
    Font - mcflame13 4 hr. ago Look to see if your employer even has the right licenses to run the business. And see if there is anything you can do to get the place shut down. A medical business that horribly ran deserves to be shut down and the owners sued. Reply Share Vote ●●●
    via u/TweedlesCan
  • 18
    Font - +2.2 hr. ago The absolute tragedy of this is the patients suffer. In a lot of jobs it may be profit / loss at the end of the month but in health care it's measured in people's loved ones. The folks that care deeply about their jobs often overlook the money or their own health to serve the patients but management only sees $$$. My daughter is looking to get out of health care for that very reason. Distinct Role1877 It worries me since I'm in for joint replacement surgery in 2 weeks and all
    via u/TweedlesCan

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

workplace-stories toxic-workplace workplace-story nurse tales-from-the-workplace work doctor who workplace healthcare-worker healthcare
Scroll Down For The Next Article