NYC H+H Nurses Take Action Against Unfair Sick Leave Policy Changes

NYSNA nurses at NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H)/ Mayorals are keeping up the fight against H+H's new interpretation of its long-standing time and attendance policy that discourages nurses from using sick leave. NYSNA nurses mobilized and spoke out at three H+H Annual Board meetings reminding the board and H+H CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz about the public health risks of pressuring nurses to work sick saying, “If RNs work sick, our patients can get sick.” Nurses kept up the momentum by rallying outside H+H Kings County Hospital on April 23.

They’re calling out H+H management’s attempt to pursue the Pathway to Excellence designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Nurses know there can't be a pathway to excellence when nurses are pressured to work while sick, that’s why they wore buttons throughout the healthcare facilities saying, “There is no pathway to excelling without nurses!”

Now, nurses are calling on local elected officials for support. On July 29, NYSNA H+H nurse leaders including Executive Council President Sonia Lawrence, BSN, RN and Vice President Alizia McMeyers, MSN, MHA, BSN, RN met with NYC Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala to urge her support in advocating for the reversal of an unjust sick leave policy.

Earlier this week, NYSNA nurses at New York City Health+ Hospitals (H+H) continued to advocate for a fair sick leave policy in meetings with City Council Member Rita Joseph and Council Member Gale Brewer, the sponsor of the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law) in New York City.

Nurses will not stop until H+H management reverse the sick leave policy to maintain a safe and healthy environment for nurses and patients!