I love my job in the sense of what I do and the kinds of diagnoses I get to treat. I don't like my job in the sense that they play the "because you're the new guy" card far too often. It started out with little stuff and with a question "since you're the new guy, would you mind..."; but has progressed onto bigger stuff and just happens without any warning or effort to get my input... and that is what is starting to worry me. Something new has popped up and I'm getting ready to put my foot down; but some 3rd party opinions are greatly appreciated in case I am being too rash.

I work in Lafayette, a roughly 35 minute drive from where I live. We also have a West Lafayette clinic, which is an additional 30+ minutes from where I live. The West Lafayette clinic only has physical therapy up to this point; but they want to have occupational therapy (what I do) as well because we see a lot of patients from West Lafayette and they would like the option of occupational therapy closer to home.

So they asked all of the OT's if they wanted to split mornings and afternoons between the clinics. The other 3 OT's live in Lafayette and one (the owner's wife) lives pretty equidistant to each clinic. They said they'd rather not because they like being in the main clinic where we have more equipment. I said I'd rather not because I don't want to spend 2+ hours a day in my truck. The next day I was told I would be the one going... but I already saw that coming.

What I didn't see coming is that they want me to spend my lunch time driving to the West Lafayette clinic and that time will not be factored into my "8 hour" work day. I'm a salary employee and already work 48+ hours a week and get paid for 40. Our office is understaffed; so I come in 30 minutes early to get my own charts ready, work through lunch to finish notes and fax stuff to case managers for my morning patients, then stay late each night to fax the stuff for my afternoon patients. Pulling charts and faxing/calling are supposed to be done by the office staff while I'm seeing 16 patients a day; but it doesn't get done unless I do it and I'm not going to let my patients' quality of care suffer from our being understaffed. So beyond just having to drive through lunch, I'll have twice as much faxing/calling to do at the end of the day because I can't use lunch to handle the morning patients... topped off by over an hour drive back home.

I said something to our business manager about wanting that drive time factored into my work day. She said she already mentioned that to the owner and he said no and commented that "that's just part of having a salary job."

So I'm pissed (you probably figured that out by now <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> )... and very tempted to draw a line in the sand and say I'm not willing to go to the other clinic if the drive time isn't factored into my work day. The issue becomes, if they say 'no dice' I at that point will need to decide whether to fold and fully establish my role as their *****, or put up an ultimatim regarding my employment. I'm willing to walk if it comes to that point; but IMHO it shouldn't have to. Stuff like that has been slowly dropping my level of regard for the owner. This may be the straw that breaks the camel's back; but I know all of the other little things are influencing my view as well and I want to make sure I'm not making a mountain out of a mole hill for this one issue. I have always been the "whatever it takes to get the job done" type; and I feel like they are capitalizing on that personality to the point that I'm being taken advantage of. Please be honest, your input very well may play a role in a pretty major life decision.

Thanks for reading all of that if you did. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Yes, you're being taken advantage of.

Do you have any other documentation that you can lay out in terms of the 'No or I quit' discussion to support your position? Your actual time vs your paystub is one such piece of documentation. What you have layed out here needs to be placed in an orderly fashion to be justified.

If they still say 'no', then at least see about writing off your mileage and lunch stipend while you look for other work. Sounds yer workin' for a buncha shitbirds. They've probably never had anyone stand up to them before either. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />

I drive 45 miles each way to work, but I'm treated well. The VA can always use an OT, anywhere.

We don't know how you're set up with your home situation, but if'n ya ain't happy working for them, move on.

Just my plugged nickels. A good tech in a patient's eyes is worth their weight in gold.

"Thank you very much for the opportunity to have worked here. I hope y'all know how much I appreciated the experience. Is there anything extra I can to to help, especially with training my replacement, from now until my last day next month?"

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Just to be an instigator; granted, it's civil service work if you don't hang yer own shingle. I'm still tryin' to figure out wth your STAFFERS are doing. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

www.usajobs.opm.gov

I had a bit of a similar problem with my old employer back in Oregon. They wanted me to be happy about driving all over the state for a fixed salary. I made it known that I was unhappy, and they made it clear that I could be replaced.

I left, then I called the state labor commission and let them know what was going on. Seems that not being a manager or supervisor means that I'm entitled to overtime.

I don't know if they've changed their ways since my experience, but I do know that I got the final shot in the end.

I have played this card in the past and while it feels rewarding at the time it really doesn't get you anywhere IMO. The first thing I would do is to voice your complaints with your supervisor (is that the owner?). If that doesn't work, go to their supervisor. If that doesn't work, then let them know that you are leaving. Threatening to leave is never a good situation for you or the employer in my experience and probably means that you will not have a long future there. It is easier to see if they make it right, and if not then start looking for work elsewhere.

I don't think it was supposed to be a threat. Simply a lice way of telling them to get bent.

I still like it for when the hash produces no cash.

Oh yeah Sean, whatever you are promised, if anything, GET IN WRITING. If you need to file a grievance later, you'll be glad for it.

Thank you all for the feedback <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> I didn't say anything today. We had our monthly staff meeting during lunch and the tension was high enough over other issues that I wasn't about to approach the owner with this one afterward. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

The owners are my only real supervisors. One of my coworkers is technically the OT supervisor; but that is just by default of being the first OT they hired. She is likely unaware of the situation and definitely has no say in the matter; so I'd just be needlessly dragging her into something. They just lost a very good PT over some scandal and then, unsuccessfully, tried to hire her back after they had a change of heart; so I think that will be in my favor if I make an issue out of what is going on. It took me less than 3 months to exceed the 1 year patient load goals they set for me. My best piece of documentation is my 3 month eval (which they finally got around to 5 months into my employment). On the 1-5 scale, with 3 being "meets expectations", 4 being "exceeds expectations", and 5 being "exemplary"; I had mostly 4's and the rest were 5's but nothing 3 or lower. Not to come off cocky; but they will be hard-pressed to find another new grad that can fill my shoes and bringing in an established OT with a good ortho background is going to cost them much bigger bucks than that 30 minutes a day I'm requesting. He is at the West Lafayette clinic until Friday afternoon; so I'll probably take care of it then. That gives a couple of days for the fires from today's staff meeting to cool a bit and, once I present my case, the weekend for him to decide how much he loves me. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

If it were me I'd be putting irons in the fire now, just so you aren't left in the cold.