Does this seem wrong to you?
The facility I have worked at for five years (Long term care) has went from 8 hour shifts, to 12 hour shifts.
We have a union and they held a vote for the union member employees who would be afected by these shifts. We strongly voted NO. Okay, problem solved, it should have been left at that!
Well apparently the administration, and union (the union isn't for the employees, just the employer) were miffed by our vote. So they held another vote, with all unioun member employees, including those not affected by these 12 hour shifts. Then they throw in the threat of raising the payroll deductions for insurance if they revieved another NO vote. We were outnumbered by the unaffected employees such as house keeping, office staff, and other departments who won't even have to do these damn 12 hour shifts. California labor code 511 states that a shift change such as this can be deemed adopted if it seeks approval of 2/3 of affected employees
So as of February we began our 12 hour shifts. 3 overlapping shifts . . . (A shift) 6a-6p,(B shift) 9a-9p, and C shift) 9p to 9a.

There are 2 A team aides, 3 B team aides, and 2 C team aides for 40-50 residents . . . many total care. Its a total mess! especially for the B shift . . .the one I work. After 6, right in the middle of dinner, we are left with only 3 aides to finish dinnar, and put the facility to bed. I have left every day since this mess started either hurting so bad, angry, in tears, or all of the above. We have to move so fast to take care of our residents, keep our cool when it gets frusterating. Having to work this fast, the patients don't get the care and compasion that they deserve. All they get is a rush job of changing a diaper, and geting tucked in. people have had call lights going off for over 15 minutes at times. The patients are frusterated with us not getting to them in their normal routine time, and thats even more frustrating. Its not just after dinner, the whole day is messed up like that. The union and administration know how we feel about it, and they know what goes on, but it doesn't matter to them!!!!

Has anyone else been in a situation like this in a long term care facility? And what do you think about this situation?