Our Chinese Water Torture

[Supsalemgr]

What are the advantages of an "as needed" employee vs. full-time?

For me, not necessarily true at all workplaces, and applies vis a vis full or part time -

Advantages:
Freedom to say "no" to any given shift/s.
Ability to vacation anytime, even popular ones, and not being restricted by not having enough leave time. This includes holidays, though I work them way more often than not to help out the family types - Thanksgiving, Xmas eve and day this year.
Get to work all shifts instead of with just one set of people.
A small pay bump if available for a minimum number of shifts per pay period, not the motivation for me.
Ability to avoid colleagues with predictable schedules that one conflicts with.
Could work at another hospital or anywhere else simultaneously.

Disadvantages:
No benefits other than a small 403(b) contribution from the boss and the ability to contribute myself.
No pay when sick.
Getting fewer hours than desired, not a factor for me. They like me and I'm first in line for shifts among the "as neededs".
Having to take whatever shifts I'm given from amongst the ones I've made myself available for, though they try to accommodate my preferences.
Working more night shifts than not, not a problem for me.
Erratic schedule, not a problem for me.
First to lose hours during cutbacks, only happened during the worst of the Shrubcession.
Unpredictability of scheduling further out than 3 to 6 weeks.
No seniority, a new grad that's worked a single part time day has priority for an open job slot over me with 20+ years experience and 5+ years with the current employer.

The seniority thing is a little weird theoretically, though it's not mattered to me. The only thing I take issue with is not being able to buy into the group healthcare at zero cost to my boss.

Vrede has clearly explained his situation. He obviously has made a decsion to be an "as needed" emplyoyee which includes no access to group health insurance. That is what this country is all about. The freedom to make our own choices.

[Supsalemgr]

This seems to be a "local" issue between Vrede and his employer.

[Supsalemgr]

I was attempting to acknowledge Vrede had weighed all the options and make a decision and I get attacked. Not surprising. Therefore, I will remind Vrede that choices have consequences. If one does not like the consequences he has the feedom to chamge his choices. I accept he is in a profession that is worthy and fortunately his skills are in demand. He is not like so many in our country who do not have his options.

[billy.pilgrim]

I was attempting to acknowledge Vrede had weighed all the options and make a decision and I get attacked. Not surprising.

Hardly an attack, you delicate thing. I just pointed out that you took the time to tell the forum something about me that I'd already said about myself on this same page. Not surprising that you're now whining about my doing so.

Therefore, I will remind Vrede that choices have consequences. If one does not like the consequences he has the feedom to chamge his choices.

Again, why are you reminding me of something that I've already stated? Care to "remind" me which direction the sun rises in, too?

I accept he is in a profession that is worthy and fortunately his skills are in demand. He is not like so many in our country who do not have his options.

There, you finally got the real point - it's not about me. I'm doing fine, thank you. All along it's been about an "example of how f'ed up our healthcare system is." Whew, I thought I was going to have to "remind" you a bunch more times.

ain't it weird that he may actually understand the reasons for health care reform

[Sometime Lefty]

Thanks Vrede.

What are the advantages of an "as needed" employee vs. full-time?

For me, not necessarily true at all workplaces, and applies vis a vis full or part time -

Advantages:
Freedom to say "no" to any given shift/s.
Ability to vacation anytime, even popular ones, and not being restricted by not having enough leave time. This includes holidays, though I work them way more often than not to help out the family types - Thanksgiving, Xmas eve and day this year.
Get to work all shifts instead of with just one set of people.
A small pay bump if available for a minimum number of shifts per pay period, not the motivation for me.
Ability to avoid colleagues with predictable schedules that one conflicts with.
Could work at another hospital or anywhere else simultaneously.

Disadvantages:
No benefits other than a small 403(b) contribution from the boss and the ability to contribute myself.
No pay when sick.
Getting fewer hours than desired, not a factor for me. They like me and I'm first in line for shifts among the "as neededs".
Having to take whatever shifts I'm given from amongst the ones I've made myself available for, though they try to accommodate my preferences.
Working more night shifts than not, not a problem for me.
Erratic schedule, not a problem for me.
First to lose hours during cutbacks, only happened during the worst of the Shrubcession.
Unpredictability of scheduling further out than 3 to 6 weeks.
No seniority, a new grad that's worked a single part time day has priority for an open job slot over me with 20+ years experience and 5+ years with the current employer.

The seniority thing is a little weird theoretically, though it's not mattered to me. The only thing I take issue with is not being able to buy into the group healthcare at zero cost to my boss.

[Reality]

Vred, there's a difference in earning a government pension, Obama will get one, and living off the government dole with no skin in the game. You seem to have a hard time understanding the differnce between earned and unearned.

I take it you do not intend to take Social Security when you become eligible or are you already drawing SS and that's why you control the amount of hours you work.

[O Really]

You won't get any argument from me defending what we euphemistically refer to as a "healthcare system." But there are more black hats here than one. Let's start with employee classifications. The law doesn't define "full-time" or "part-time." That is up to the employer. The law doesn't specify a minimum number of hours per week to qualify for medical insurance. That is up to the insurance company, although employers do get a limited or structured choice. Some health insurance plans are "self-insured" and covered by ERISA as an employee benefit, and subject to a different set of rules than plans offered fully insured via, for example, Aetna. But in any case, an insurance plan offered by an employer has to be for "employees" (and eligible dependents), and cannot be mixed and matched with individual plans. Even where the former employee continues coverage via COBRA, that coverage is still based on the employment relationship. So an employer can sponsor a plan, and can determine within limits what segments of employees are eligible and/or what minimum hours are required, and what portion of the total premium will be paid by the employee. Thus, in theory, anybody on the payroll, including PRN's could be made eligible for a self-insured plan, and, with sufficient insurance company tail-twisting by the employer, could be made eligible for an insured plan. But practically no employer offers benefits to "temporary" employees or PRN "as needed" employees. Why? Too much paperwork, mostly. Low level financial risk. Not interested in making the effort. A person who is not assigned a fairly set schedule cannot be relied on to have enough earnings to deduct premiums from, and the company doesn't want to bother to try to get him/her to bring in a check when the deduction is insufficient. They can't set it up for the employee to pay the insurance company direct, and they can't set it up like an individual policy. They could set up a separate employee-paid plan for PRN's, of course, but one of the reasons employers use PRN's is so they can treat them like crap with no repercussion.