Members of Providence-based Rhode Island Hospital's two unions picketed Wednesday to challenge an updated attendance policy, reports The Providence Journal.
The updated policy, effective as of Jan. 1, applies to all employees at Providence-based health system Lifespan, of which the hospital is a part, and is intended to eliminate "excessive absenteeism," Lifespan said in a statement.
The United Nurses & Allied Professionals — which represents 2,300 nurses, technologists, therapists and other healthcare workers at Rhode Island Hospital — said the new policy means sick employees who don't qualify for longer-term medical leaves and have used up their unexcused absences must work or face disciplinary action. "No one wants to come into work and put patients at risk,'' Helene Macedo, an operating room nurse and president UNAP Local 5098, said, according to The Providence Journal.
Teamsters Local 251, which represents certified nursing assistants, maintenance and clerical staff at Rhode Island Hospital, also participated in the picket.
Lifespan said: "In no way is this policy intended for employees to come to work when they are ill. Under the new policy, disciplinary actions would not start (and then only with a warning) until between 7 and 11 days of unplanned absences."
According to the health system, the new policy offers employees a number of safeguards. For instance, the first time an employee takes multiple consecutive sick days it only counts as one occurrence, and planned absences, such as medical appointments and outpatient procedures, do not count as an occurrence.
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