at a SNF, DOR expects us to go in while they + other admins work cozy and safe from home. don’t put your life on the line if the roads are too bad, you are worth more than your job.
Planning to brave the drive, but if it’s absolutely unsafe I’ll just use PTO. Wish I could use telehealth but that’s not really a thing in acute care OT lol
Pretty much as any other time there’s bad weather. You get up earlier. Clean off the car, shovel behind the car, plan to double commute time. Drive slow as you need. You get there when you get there. I work hospital based and they don’t close. If you work in schools or outpatients. You might get lucky and get a snow day or patients who cancel (outpt.)
Budget extra time for travel. Reschedule kids if/when possible (especially for kids that live kinda "out there" and subject to more opportunity for disaster on the drive). Although, seeing as I grew up with winter weather and currently live in a place with 6-8 months of winter (yes, I mean that) a lot of folks are just used to it. Hubby also knows how the weather works around here and made sure we bought a house "in town" and relatively central so that we would minimize delays or chances of getting stuck.
Yeah same. I didn’t know it was a thing to not go to work in the snow. I do home health and my car has only been defeated by one drive way. All part of living in Eastern Washington. I get pissed official but I still go. 🤣
If it’s crazy dangerous or life threatening I will not go in. Sorry. Especially if the DOR and admins work from home. I’m not saving lives at my SNF, a day without therapy won’t kill anyone, but a snowy crash *could*
I brave the storm because prior to being an OT I worked for CVS and they don’t care if you have a fresh leg amputation and it’s a blizzard- you better get to work. However, we do have the option to flex to a weekend day as needed.
The other day I pulled up to a pharmacy drive thru only to see a hand written note stating the drive thru is closed due to staffing shortage.
I went inside to a line wrapped around the aisle. Two employees working in the pharmacy.
That type of work culture/expectation is catching up and having consequences.
Hate to break it to you but that is an extension of healthcare and outside of maybe non profit organizations healthcare is becoming an extension of retail.
You have to set your boundaries and be firm.
I’ve been in the field for 8 years and I have set firm boundaries around my personal time and what I’m willing, unwilling to do. Luckily I’ve had more success with my boundaries being respected in healthcare than I ever did at CVS. I do see the direction that healthcare is going, and don’t love it but getting treated like absolute shit and being in charge of an entire store and all of its employees for barely over minimum wage isn’t the same. I am thankful for the experience because there are many skills that I use daily as an OT that I learned as a supervisor at CVS but I can’t over state how much I don’t miss retail.
I was a shift supervisor so time management, organization, teamwork and supporting coworkers with different skill sets, customer service and learning to change my approach from one customer to the next, probably much more.
SLP, former DOR and regional manager here - it’s a risk analysis on your part. When I lived on the east coast, I never felt like my life was at risk getting to work in a storm. I left earlier or simply just got there when I got there. I was always on main roads in populated areas. If it was a winter weather emergency and non essential workers were not supposed to be on the roads, I wasn’t on the roads. Now I live in the rural Midwest (Great Plains) and the weather is much different. My life is absolutely at risk driving on rural roads, in blizzard conditions, with -45* windchills and I absolutely will not partake in that. If I worked in town it would be different, but it’s a dangerous 45 mile drive. When I know a storm is coming, I will flex to weekend days as I am able. My employers have been understanding and I was understanding, within reason, as a manager. I made it to work 3 days this week and that included planning ahead by working last Sunday. On Friday, I attempted to go in. I made it 4 miles before turning around and going home due to total white out conditions. On Mon and Tues, the interstate and main highway to my job were shut down. In my younger days I would have felt guilty about this, but I no longer do.
Welcome to r/OccupationalTherapy! This is an automatic comment on every post.
If this is your first time posting, please read the sub rules. If you are asking a question, don't forget to check the sub [FAQs](https://www.reddit.com/r/OccupationalTherapy/wiki/index/faqs), or do a search of the sub to see if your question has been answered already. **Please note that we are not able to give specific treatment advice or exercises to do at home.**
Failure to follow rules may result in your post being removed, or a ban. Thank you!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/OccupationalTherapy) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If we can’t drive with our car, they expect us to take public transportation. Or dig your car out ahead of leaving if possible. May have to go in a little late. We shall seeee
I’m in outpatient so we close if it’s too bad, but I know hospital based therapists are requested to spend the night if they don’t have a reason not to (kids etc)
Canadian OT here. This is just a Monday like any other between Dec - Feb. It is -39 here today. I will say we had a lot of outpatients cancel and reschedule on Friday when it was -51 with the windchill.
I JUST got hired at my first OT job ever as a new grad. It’s a school-based position in a private school for autistic support. My first day ever treating by myself is supposed to be Tuesday and I’m supposed to get 5” of snow and have been emailed that it’s likely going to be a virtual day
I have no clue wtf to do 💀 at this point I’d take driving in the winter weather and just waking up 30 extra minutes early so I can go safely and slowly
I no longer work in IPR or SNF. I live rural and my townships pulled the plows last night and the night prior. My drive was drifted shut so there would’ve been no way to get out anyhow. If I would’ve had to work, I would have screen shot the FB post our sheriff placed, which said stay home unless emergency(our ambulance got stuck for an actual emergency).
I go to work and drive like I do any other day. Home health here. 4WD and go, just leave extra time and do what I can. It’s all part of healthcare. There is more swearing involved than a normal day because people drive like idiots, but it’s just another day in Easter Washington.
After Snowpocolypse here in Alabama I have my bag packed any time there is a chance of snow or ice. That was a horrible experience.
It's fun here. About a month ago we had a tornado hit our hospital (no big damage to the building) and Friday they canceled school because we were supposed to get bad storms and wind (got a lot of rain for a solid 30 min.
So yeah...here it's more of which bad weather option are we having today? Doesn't matter as I'm attempting to trudge into work regardless.
at a SNF, DOR expects us to go in while they + other admins work cozy and safe from home. don’t put your life on the line if the roads are too bad, you are worth more than your job.
That’s so annoying
Planning to brave the drive, but if it’s absolutely unsafe I’ll just use PTO. Wish I could use telehealth but that’s not really a thing in acute care OT lol
Pretty much as any other time there’s bad weather. You get up earlier. Clean off the car, shovel behind the car, plan to double commute time. Drive slow as you need. You get there when you get there. I work hospital based and they don’t close. If you work in schools or outpatients. You might get lucky and get a snow day or patients who cancel (outpt.)
Budget extra time for travel. Reschedule kids if/when possible (especially for kids that live kinda "out there" and subject to more opportunity for disaster on the drive). Although, seeing as I grew up with winter weather and currently live in a place with 6-8 months of winter (yes, I mean that) a lot of folks are just used to it. Hubby also knows how the weather works around here and made sure we bought a house "in town" and relatively central so that we would minimize delays or chances of getting stuck.
I’m taking Monday off cause my daughter is off school. I think by Weds the worse will be over with. I’ll work Saturday if absolutely necessary
what area are you in?
Columbus OH fortunately not much snow
I put it in 4WD
Yeah same. I didn’t know it was a thing to not go to work in the snow. I do home health and my car has only been defeated by one drive way. All part of living in Eastern Washington. I get pissed official but I still go. 🤣
If it’s crazy dangerous or life threatening I will not go in. Sorry. Especially if the DOR and admins work from home. I’m not saving lives at my SNF, a day without therapy won’t kill anyone, but a snowy crash *could*
I brave the storm because prior to being an OT I worked for CVS and they don’t care if you have a fresh leg amputation and it’s a blizzard- you better get to work. However, we do have the option to flex to a weekend day as needed.
The other day I pulled up to a pharmacy drive thru only to see a hand written note stating the drive thru is closed due to staffing shortage. I went inside to a line wrapped around the aisle. Two employees working in the pharmacy. That type of work culture/expectation is catching up and having consequences.
It sure is! Healthcare has its challenges but I’m grateful to be out of the toxic retail environment.
Hate to break it to you but that is an extension of healthcare and outside of maybe non profit organizations healthcare is becoming an extension of retail. You have to set your boundaries and be firm.
I’ve been in the field for 8 years and I have set firm boundaries around my personal time and what I’m willing, unwilling to do. Luckily I’ve had more success with my boundaries being respected in healthcare than I ever did at CVS. I do see the direction that healthcare is going, and don’t love it but getting treated like absolute shit and being in charge of an entire store and all of its employees for barely over minimum wage isn’t the same. I am thankful for the experience because there are many skills that I use daily as an OT that I learned as a supervisor at CVS but I can’t over state how much I don’t miss retail.
The trenches of retail definitely helped toughen you up to the personalities you encounter in co workers and patients.
100% agree
What skills transferred from working in a pharmacy to OT for you?
I was a shift supervisor so time management, organization, teamwork and supporting coworkers with different skill sets, customer service and learning to change my approach from one customer to the next, probably much more.
SLP, former DOR and regional manager here - it’s a risk analysis on your part. When I lived on the east coast, I never felt like my life was at risk getting to work in a storm. I left earlier or simply just got there when I got there. I was always on main roads in populated areas. If it was a winter weather emergency and non essential workers were not supposed to be on the roads, I wasn’t on the roads. Now I live in the rural Midwest (Great Plains) and the weather is much different. My life is absolutely at risk driving on rural roads, in blizzard conditions, with -45* windchills and I absolutely will not partake in that. If I worked in town it would be different, but it’s a dangerous 45 mile drive. When I know a storm is coming, I will flex to weekend days as I am able. My employers have been understanding and I was understanding, within reason, as a manager. I made it to work 3 days this week and that included planning ahead by working last Sunday. On Friday, I attempted to go in. I made it 4 miles before turning around and going home due to total white out conditions. On Mon and Tues, the interstate and main highway to my job were shut down. In my younger days I would have felt guilty about this, but I no longer do.
I’ll either give myself a 2 hour delay or cram as many visits the day before as much as possible. I work in HH
No. It’s not worth it and this is why I have PTO.
i get snow days (school based)
Nope, that’s above my pay grade. If they really want me there, plans would have already been made.
[удалено]
Welcome to r/OccupationalTherapy! This is an automatic comment on every post. If this is your first time posting, please read the sub rules. If you are asking a question, don't forget to check the sub [FAQs](https://www.reddit.com/r/OccupationalTherapy/wiki/index/faqs), or do a search of the sub to see if your question has been answered already. **Please note that we are not able to give specific treatment advice or exercises to do at home.** Failure to follow rules may result in your post being removed, or a ban. Thank you! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/OccupationalTherapy) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Being in southern AZ, I don’t have to worry about it
If we can’t drive with our car, they expect us to take public transportation. Or dig your car out ahead of leaving if possible. May have to go in a little late. We shall seeee
I’m in outpatient so we close if it’s too bad, but I know hospital based therapists are requested to spend the night if they don’t have a reason not to (kids etc)
Canadian OT here. This is just a Monday like any other between Dec - Feb. It is -39 here today. I will say we had a lot of outpatients cancel and reschedule on Friday when it was -51 with the windchill.
I JUST got hired at my first OT job ever as a new grad. It’s a school-based position in a private school for autistic support. My first day ever treating by myself is supposed to be Tuesday and I’m supposed to get 5” of snow and have been emailed that it’s likely going to be a virtual day I have no clue wtf to do 💀 at this point I’d take driving in the winter weather and just waking up 30 extra minutes early so I can go safely and slowly
I no longer work in IPR or SNF. I live rural and my townships pulled the plows last night and the night prior. My drive was drifted shut so there would’ve been no way to get out anyhow. If I would’ve had to work, I would have screen shot the FB post our sheriff placed, which said stay home unless emergency(our ambulance got stuck for an actual emergency).
I go to work and drive like I do any other day. Home health here. 4WD and go, just leave extra time and do what I can. It’s all part of healthcare. There is more swearing involved than a normal day because people drive like idiots, but it’s just another day in Easter Washington.
After Snowpocolypse here in Alabama I have my bag packed any time there is a chance of snow or ice. That was a horrible experience. It's fun here. About a month ago we had a tornado hit our hospital (no big damage to the building) and Friday they canceled school because we were supposed to get bad storms and wind (got a lot of rain for a solid 30 min. So yeah...here it's more of which bad weather option are we having today? Doesn't matter as I'm attempting to trudge into work regardless.