PER DIEM PROGRAM
 
PURPOSE
The Per Diem Program has been established to make available a resource group of Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants and Unit Secretaries to supplement the staffing in individual units or departments on an as needed basis, and, to provide an option for nursing staff who wish to be employed on a casual, as desired basis.

 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Per Diem status is defined as a part time, casual, as needed employment option. There are no requirements that Catholic Medical Center make specific hours available to schedule work or to work. However, if the Per Diem employee chooses to make a commitment, she or he must schedule and work a specific number of hours and specific shifts to meet the commitment of the respective option.

 

SCHEDULE/PAY OPTIONS ARE AS FOLLOW
Option A: Commitment to at least 32 hours in every six-week schedule. 16 hour weekend requirements. Holiday requirements include 1 major summer holiday* and 1 major winter holiday.** Per Diem premium pay in the amount of a 5% differential will be paid on base rate of pay for all hours worked.
Option B: Commitment to at least 96 hours in every six week schedule of which at least 24 hours must be weekend and 16 additional hours must be evening or night shift hours. A shift of 8 hours on Saturday evening will count towards either the weekend or the evening shift hours, but not both. Holiday requirements include 1 major summer holiday* and 1 major winter holiday**. Per Diem premium pay in the amount of a 20% differential will be paid on base rate of pay for all hours worked.
Option C: Commitment to at least 144 hours in every six week schedule of which at least 32 hours must be weekend hours and 48 additional hours must be evening or night shift hours. A shift of 8 hours on Saturday evening will count towards either the weekend or the evening hours, but not both. Holiday requirements include 1 major summer holiday and 1major winter holiday**. Per Diem premium pay in the amount of a 30% differential will be paid on base rate of pay for all hours worked.
Option D: Commitment to at least 80 hours in every six-week schedule on a Saturday or Sunday. Schedules can include 8 or 12-hour shifts. No off shifts are required. If a holiday falls on the weekend, 1 major holiday is required. Per Diem premium pay in the amount of a 35% differential will be paid on base rate of pay for all hours worked.

 

Holidays will be any of the hospital-designated holidays on the day designated for payment of holiday differential. A shift of 8 hours worked on a holiday that falls on a weekend day will count once (as 8 hours credited towards the 16 or 32 hours required for the weekend/holiday commitment).

 

Differentials will be paid for orientation to the unit; CMC orientation and Nursing Organization orientation education days will be paid at the base rate of pay.

 

COMPUTATION OF TIME/PAY
The employee will be responsible for completing time sheets according to normal procedure with the regular requirement of procuring the signature of the Director/Clinical Leader at the end of the week to authorize payment for the shift as outlined.

 

Each Per Diem employee must meet the conditions of the option chosen in order to be eligible for the rate of pay, differential, and premium pay associated with the respective option.

 

The differential will be paid in each paycheck for time worked. In the event that the sixth pay period of the twelve-week period results in time worked that does not fulfill the requirements for the option selected, no differential will be paid for any hours worked until the requirements have been met. The employee will automatically be moved into Option A and will be required to reapply for Option B or Option C. The opportunity to transfer into Option B or C will only occur effective January 1 of the following year and must occur upon recommendation of a Director.

 

No exceptions are made for the number of hours and shifts required meeting the commitment for Option B or C.

 

SCHEDULING
Scheduling of time/assignments will be made in accordance with normal departmental procedure. Directors have the ability to make changes to the Option requirements to meet the needs of the department.

If a Per Diem employee cannot come in to work after an assignment has been confirmed, she or he will contact the nursing unit or department to which she/he has been assigned according to the existing policy on sick call-in which requires a minimum of 3 hours notification.

 

If staffing/workload needs require a cancellation of a Per Diem assignment, the employee will be notified no less than 90 minutes before the shift start time. In the event that the employee cannot be reached after a reasonable attempt has been made, an effort to provide a work assignment will be made but cannot be guaranteed. Catholic Medical Center reserves the right to reassign the employee to another work area. When the employee is canceled after exhausting all efforts to reassign the employee to another work area, the conditions under the Option they have selected will not be affected.

 

BENEFITS
Employees in Per Diem status are not eligible for benefits except as described in overall hospital policies, procedures, and practices.

 

SENIORITY
Per Diem employees are eligible for hospital seniority, but not for unit or department seniority.

 

APPLICATION
Application to the Per Diem Program is made by completing an Application for Per Diem Pay/Program available from the Human Resources Department. The application is processed. As appropriate, according to the policies and procedures of Human Resources, an interview with a representative Director is scheduled. Upon completion of the interview, the Director makes a recommendation regarding hire in consultation with the Human Resource representative. The hiring process is then completed according to Human Resources Department policies and procedures. The Director who recommends hire arranges an appropriate orientation.

 

TRANSFERS
Per Diem employees who wish to change to a different Option may do so January 1st of the following year by completing an Application for Per Diem Pay/Program. Exceptions are made when changes in the employee’s personal status occur. Per Diem employees are responsible for notifying the Nursing Administration Office in writing of any change in their personal status that might affect their Option choice within 30 days of the event.

 

An employee who wishes to transfer into Per Diem status may apply by completing a Request for Per Diem Status Form. Only an employee in good standing with satisfactory work performance will be considered. The employee will indicate a preference for Per Diem Option A, Option B, or Option C. Approval for the transfer will be at the discretion of the Director for whom she or he has worked and in accordance with the needs of the Program. In the event that more than one candidate applies for the same Per Diem Option, the most senior of the candidates will be selected. Other candidates will be placed on a waiting list. Future candidates will be placed on a waiting list from which selections will be made on a first come, first served basis. In the event of two or more requests for transfer by current employees of Catholic Medical Center being received at the same time, the more senior employee will be placed in the first available spot on the waiting list. Positions will be offered to employees in order of placement on the waiting list.