Veterans home staff air concerns
The Wisconsin Veterans Home has the tools it needs to deal with its staffing shortage.
That is what the unions that represent the employees at King said Thursday, July 26, during a listening session.
"The solution is simple," said Troy Bauch, Wisconsin State Employees Union North Central field representative. "Constant recruitment is what they need to do."
Bauch was joined by Marty Beil, executive director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24, in hosting the listening session with employees at the Local 555 Union House.
The session was held from noon to 3 p.m. to give employees the opportunity to talk about vacancies and overtime.
"The employees at King got a gag order. They were reminded not to have media contact," Bauch said.
During the listening session - held across the street from the veterans home - one certified nursing assistant said CNAs are averaging three to four overtime shifts per week, working 12 or 16-hour shifts.
Another said that when nurses work more than 12 hours per day, or 60 hours in a week, they are more likely to make medical errors.
Others said working that many hours can also lead to injuries on the job.
One employee described what the monthly schedule typically looks like.
Once a month (on a Friday), the schedule comes out with everyone's positions, patterns and days off, she said.
Each building gets its schedule at the same time. In addition, a "hole" sheet comes out, showing which shifts need to yet be filled.
"Then, we have one week, until 2 p.m. the following Friday, to put our holes sheet in," she said.
That is when the final schedule is posted.
Volunteered overtime and forced overtime - at a minimum of four-hour increments - are penciled into the schedule.
The employee said that at 10:20 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, five shifts were posted needing one-on-one care for one floor in one building.
If no one volunteered for the shifts by 9 a.m. Thursday, July 26, then some employees would have received hand-delivered notices telling them they have been scheduled to work those shifts, she said.
"I want to make it clear," Bauch said, "If you refuse to volunteer for overtime, you will be forced overtime on your days off."
He said employees are losing control over their work lives.
Several pointed to the number of members being admitted who require one-on-one supervision around the clock.
Bauch said if the home continues admitting higher acuity members and does not hire more staff, problems will continue.
"King knows how many hours of overtime it has. I have requested it and been told I have to do an open records request," he said. "It's frustrating. We're not making up secrets. What is happening there is horrible for the people who work and live there. Someone is not telling the truth, and it's not me."
He said there used to be monthly meetings to address concerns but they are not being held anymore.
"Issues are not getting addressed," Bauch said.
There was a listening session a month ago. Employees who attended had to do so on their own time.
He said a job fair held last week was a great thing.
"But why did it take all this time to come up with the idea of a job fair?" Bauch asked. "I just want to make it clear that the overtime exists, the vacancies still exict. It's not getting better."
Three weeks ago, the names of employees who had been on workers compensation and why were posted on bulletin boards, he said.
"That is a HPPA violation," he said.
Beil said that typically, a report is issued that shows the number and type of injuries employees had. "To post this all over the institution sends a message," he said.
Bauch said that until staffing is stabilized, the veterans home needs to stop admitting new members.
"It's going to cost them some money because they won't be at 100 percent beds," he said.
The veterans home also has the ability to give sign-on bonuses for vacant positions, whether it is in nursing, housekeeping or the kitchen, he said.
"There's lots of tools out there," Beil said. "Apprenticeships are the best - having folks here go to the high school and say why you should make a career at the veterans home. But now, it's toxic."
Bauch said the veterans home used to have a program in which employees could continue to progress in nursing, from a CNA to a registered nurse.
"It was very successful," he said. "It is gone."
Beil said it appears that the administration of the veterans home is making decisions about staffing based on population.
"But, I am hearing here that the acuity level has increased. The member today is not the same as 10 years ago. The department should factor in acuity," he said.
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10 Comments for "Veterans home staff air concerns "
An "open recruitment" job announcement for LPNs was first posted on April 3rd.
An "open recruitment" job announcement for CNAs was first posted on June 5th.
So what is the union blowhard talking about?
[quote]He said there used to be monthly meetings to address concerns but they are not being held anymore.[/quote]
That's because the union's position is diminishing - by the day.
[quote]Three weeks ago, the names of employees who had been on workers compensation and why were posted on bulletin boards, he said. "That is a HPPA violation," he said.[/quote]
If you believe that's true - then report it.
[quote]Bauch said that until staffing is stabilized, the veterans home needs to stop admitting new members.[/quote]
I can't believe he said that.
[quote]But now, it's toxic.[/quote]
And where is this toxicity coming from?
[quote]Bauch said the veterans home used to have a program in which employees could continue to progress in nursing, from a CNA to a registered nurse.[/quote]
In return, did these employees sign (and honor) continued employment agreements, or did they take better paying jobs somewhere else?
lastpercentile Aug 01, 2012 12:57 PM
JustBecause Aug 01, 2012 1:03 PM
15 minutes after the staffing it back to 100% - they will all be complaining that the overtime pay is gone.
lastpercentile Aug 01, 2012 1:15 PM
It's also funny how Scocos claims in a memo that there is no forced overtime at WVH and yet we know there is. HR has decided to take away transfers, which might help, but they've also mysteriously begun hiring more nurses and are starting more nursing classes since this whole thing broke.
aboutblank Aug 01, 2012 6:41 PM
Actually, the new hiring activities have been in the works for several months - just see the open hiring announcements. There is an old axiom: "everything in government takes six weeks" - that's 6 weeks before June, and 6 weeks before April.
The union is simply too late in yelling "train wreck".
lastpercentile Aug 01, 2012 6:58 PM
JustBecause Aug 01, 2012 7:04 PM
aboutblank Aug 02, 2012 7:00 AM
Typical tactics of union backers..attack the messenger when you have no point. I am on topic aboutblank ??)
JustBecause Aug 02, 2012 9:09 AM
Topic, overworked staff = major problems. There is is. Consequence? Resident death, resident suffering, nursing mistakes, nursing burn-out, unhappy workers, loss of good staff.
The buck stops at [b]the top of the administration[/b]. They are obiously not in touch with reality or chosing to ignore/hide from it. Mr. Scocos, I believe that would be you.
Want examples? I have them. I have seen them.
wisconsinavis Aug 02, 2012 5:11 PM
This is on topic just because?? Hardly. And what makes you think I'm a union backer? Marty Beil is an overpaid windbag and the union is working to see that those workers foolish enough to think the union represents them will kick in their dues money on their own. Many are foolish enough to swallow this.
Scocos is also in a big state of denial over his own mis-management of Vets affairs. But he's too busy making 6 figures and suing the VAB to the tune of $500,000 plus another $200,000 in lawyers fees. His chief responsibility is to carry water for the Governor and court the veterans vote come election time.
aboutblank Aug 03, 2012 6:48 AM