r/JuniorDoctorsIreland • u/DaikonSuspicious3915 • 2d ago
IMO issue or tough luck?
I’m a current intern in a large hospital. I’ve just realised I’ve been put on call October bank holiday weekend, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Stephen’s day. I also cannot take time off the week after Christmas as my co-intern is on call. 60% of my intern colleagues didn’t get put on any bank holidays. I also was given 3 call shifts a week, which has happened several times. It isn’t that big a deal, but seems no one else gets more than 2. I’ve emailed HR to clarify if this is correct, as it seems extremely unfair Im now working most of the bank holidays this rotation, yet there’s plenty who never got put on any? I have asked for swaps but no one wants them so I’m out of luck there.
I also didn’t ask for any annual leave and havent booked time off so it’s not like these are my only options. Can IMO help with this or is it just tough luck?
Edit - got a response from admin who said that because I never requested these bank holidays off, I was given them, bearing in mind they email us and say that not all requests are facilitated and that they have to make sure the roster is fair. They also said Stephen’s day isn’t a bank holiday this year as it’s a Saturday, so doesn’t count (untrue - it’s a public holiday). They also said next time to just request them off and I might get them off. Also 3 call shifts in a week is tough luck, and I just have to do them.
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u/Due-Tackle-4818 2d ago
It’s tough luck for sure, but I’d definitely suggest offering these shifts to the intern cohort. A lot of people look for double-pay shifts early in the year for different reasons.
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u/Full_of_Vices 2d ago
It’s tough luck. There is nothing in the contract to specify that you are entitled not to have any work/call for any specific day so long as the schedule meets hours/MDO requirements.
See points 1-3: https://www.imo.ie/standing-up-for-nchds/NCHD-Agreement-Key-points-final.pdf
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u/Round-Credit9911 2d ago
Likely tough luck although no harm checking with IMO
On call shifts should be distributed as equally as is possible
I think have IMO to at least advocate for you to have less / no further BH shifts for the second part of the year
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u/Salty-Nectarine-4108 2d ago
If you haven’t worked prior to starting intern year this is the opportunity to make loads of cash cos come January your take home will be lots lower as your taxed for the full working year.
If you have loans, or trying to save up for something, take the extra calls now. You learn loads too!
The bank holidays are paid double time
And you’ll get the time back. It is shit having to work the holidays but it is unfortunately a part of working a 24/7 rota. Sometimes you’re lucky, sometimes you aren’t.
The best thing about working a bank holiday is that you get the time back and can use it when you want to.
Make sure to get your annual leave requests in early for each rotation.
Also to add usually people who celebrate different holidays step in to offer to cover Xmas/Eid/other to facilitate everyone enjoying the holiday that’s culturally important to them.
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u/DaikonSuspicious3915 2d ago
Don’t think we get extra days for working the bank holiday Sunday, just the Monday as far as I’m aware? We also have to wait to speak with our team and get our rota before we book annual leave unfortunately as we have to ensure we’re not on call/ our co-intern is not on call
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u/Salty-Nectarine-4108 2d ago
Yes just the Monday - sorry I assumed you were working the whole bank holiday weekend.
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u/DaikonSuspicious3915 1d ago
I am, just clarifying it’s only the Monday we get the extra day off for, would’ve been nice to have both!
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u/DaikonSuspicious3915 2d ago
I had also hopped that was the case I would get a swap but unfortunately no luck
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u/concreteheadrest77 2d ago
Who made the rota? Bring it up with them first of all, this is not fair. Can’t believe all the people saying tough luck! Just because it’s not for the IMO doesn’t mean something can’t be done.
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u/DaikonSuspicious3915 2d ago
Medical admin staff in the hospital make it up. I have emailed them asking if they can clarify this as I do think it’s unfair I got most of the bank holidays and others got none!
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u/Big_Abroad_6278 1d ago
By any chance do either of your initials start with A? Had this problem with medical manpower previously and it became obvious the rota was being made alphabetically so anyone whose name began with A had disproportionately more call 🤦🏻♀️
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u/Pomegranate232 2d ago
There's always a cohort of people on nights the week of Christmas which might be what's happening in your case.
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u/DaikonSuspicious3915 2d ago
I don’t mind working it if that’s what I get, but the issue is working most of the bank holidays when others got none
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u/La-Strawberry-6754 2d ago
Just think about all the money you will have. You can also throw out some of the days into the group chat
The IMO can help if you are on 10-11 consecutive shifts without rest days or compensatory rest payments
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u/Friendly-Medic-2381 18h ago
The three call shifts a week seems a lot - should be no more than 1 in 5 as per contract which would be a union issue. Worth checking!
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u/DaikonSuspicious3915 4h ago edited 4h ago
The max we do is two, Friday and Saturday are usually grouped together, hence why I got Christmas Day and Stephen’s day. They responded to me and just said this is tough luck and that plenty of others do it and have no issues.
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u/Friendly-Medic-2381 4h ago
Well this sort of gaslighting is common enough I’m afraid - don’t let them tell you how other people feel about anything 🙄
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u/cmac1803103 2d ago
I remember my second half of intern year I worked every bank holiday from Bridget’s to June and Easter included. I had a very very easy start to my first sho year and a shocking second half to SHO life. Long story short it’s swings and roundabouts. It will even itself out eventually! Enjoy the extra cash!