Members of Providence-based Rhode Island Hospital's two unions will hold a march and rally Thursday over Lifespan's sick policy, according to a GoLocalProv report.
The unions — the United Nurses & Allied Professionals and Teamsters Local 251, will hold the march and rally to highlight changes to Lifespan's attendance and tardiness policy that it claims are "unfair and draconian," according to the report.
"Lifespan's policy is putting patients and health professionals at risk. By refusing to work with the UNAP and Teamsters, Lifespan management is forcing its employees to make an impossible choice: come to work when you are ill, or face disciplinary actions up to and including termination," Helene Macedo, RN, UNAP Local 5098 president, said, according to the report.
Lifespan released a statement in response to the unions' plans, saying its policy was recently updated "to better reflect industry best practices while also continuing to provide all employees generous sick time benefits."
"The policy is intended to eliminate excessive absenteeism, thus the overwhelming majority of our dedicated workforce will not be impacted," the system said.
Lifespan also noted that the new policy allows between seven to 11 unplanned absences, depending on full- or part-time status of the employee, before disciplinary action is taken — and only then it comes first with a written warning. Lifespan said absences employees plan in advance do not apply to this disciplinary policy.
"It should be noted that unplanned absences of six or more days trigger a short-term leave application which, if approved, does not count as an occurrence of unplanned absence. Also, absences related to chronic or long-term illness are protected under the Family and Medical Leave Act," the system added.
UNAP represents more than 2,200 nurses, technologists, therapists and other healthcare workers at Rhode Island Hospital. Teamsters Local 251 represents certified nursing assistants, maintenance and clerical staff at Rhode Island Hospital.
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