Work Drama - How to keep out?

There is a lot of drama going on at work. I want to butt out of it, but unfortunately, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I don't want to be continuously taken advantage of, either.

Current situation:
We are required to do rotations this year at one or the other hospital. Hospital A is known for busy call (after hours shifts). Hospital B is known for quiet call.

Hospital B is a teaching site for medical students. The residents at Hospital B are required to do additional 3-4 hours of rapid assessment clinic as well as teach x2 as much, and we have to find patients for upper year's tests and assessments (which involves a lot of paperwork).

The residents at Hospital A say their call is too busy. We were allowed to pick which hospital we wanted to be at, and we knew the pros and cons of both hospitals before we picked them.

Currently, the residents at Hospital A are demanding that the residents at Hospital B do at least 50% of their call shifts at the other hospital. They are NOT willing to take on any of the additional teaching site responsibilities at Hospital B, however.

I initially wanted to be at Hospital A because of a good relationship with some preceptors, but I bowed out because one of my colleagues REALLY WANTED to be at Hospital A. Now she's telling me that I should do half of her call? I am kind of angry, but do not want to make a big deal out of it.

My response:
I told the residents that I understand why they want us to help them out with their call. I am not happy, however, that they are asking us to do so without taking on some of the burdens of the teaching hospital. It has been traditional that residents do call at the same hospital for patient consistency and for medical student training consistency.

Some thoughts:
Am I being unreasonable in not supporting my colleagues with this? I feel very angry and betrayed that they feel we should take on their burdens, but they should not help to shoulder ours.

I have always tried to be very collegial and fair - I have already traded my training position x3 to accommodate other's preferences - and I feel if I give way again I will forever be branded as the resident who gets pushed around.

Is this a big enough issue for me to butt heads against people with?

12 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Is there any benefit to YOU in covering at A? Like will you accelerate your residency, get a lot more money, or any other perk? Otherwise, I'd say to put your pretty foot down, calmly and professionally. People knew what they were getting into and battled you for it. To quote Jiminy Cricket (which I often do), tell them nicely, "You buttered your bread - now sleep in it!"

Raisin

I don't think you are being unreasonable. Like you said, people knew what the pros and cons of each hospital were before they chose. Just because they now don't like the cons of their hospital doesn't mean you should have to pick it up. You had cons to your choice as well. It seems to me that the work is distributed evenly, just in different manners. If that's the case, then you should put your foot down.

DonnaF

Am also thinking of the stereotype of the timid, obedient Asian woman who can be bullied around. . .Don't feed into that stereotype. All the more you will need to fight against that and practice assertiveness in ways that may not come naturally. Seems like the pros and cons of each hospital balance out, and that you would not be getting anything from the *deal*. Don't be a chump. --From another Asian American woman who says do as I say, don't as I do, lol.

lyn*

(website)

@ Alaskagirl - not really any benefit for me to cover the busier hospital - I do like the staff there, though, and we get along great, but everyone expects you to stay at one hospital. I will Cricket Quote them!

@ Raisin - yeah, it feels like they're having second thoughts now! Too bad! :p

@ DonnaF - Oh... I am pretty timid, you're right on the money! I will try not to be that way and be more assertive!

Nicole D

I think that proposal is ridiculous. If there is an imbalance of service to education at A then that needs to be dealt with by the educational and hospital administration. This should not be sorted out amongst the residents IMHO (and as a program director for IM). HOWEVER, you may need to work with these colleagues for years to come and goodwill goes a long way. Perhaps you could suggest striking a working group to figure out a way to make the experiences equitable at both sites or have everyone do equal time at A and B. I would get your PD involved in this discussion as it sounds like it's getting acrimonious...

@ Nicole - I am worried about damaging goodwill vs. being a soft pushover. The sites have been divided for the last 10 years (same volume of patients) and are divided that way with no problems in the past. Prior to this, people did 50% of time at A and 50% of time at B, but the staff attendings thought that this fractured the resident group, so we were switched to 100% A or 100% B.

If it goes any further, I may speak with our PD, who is very kind and understanding.

I hope the snark goes down soon.

Archer

It sounds to me like the person/s managing this are leaving too much space for people to negotiate on aspects of their work. This can be part of good management but it almost always comes unstuck because there will be people who use the opportunity to 'look after themself' at the expense of others. Usually these are the more agreeable and less selfish people- like you.
Is it possible to request a meeting with represtatives and a manager to look at: Covering the Loads- without calling a meeting that is aimed at conflict resolution.
One of the jobs of the manager is to avoid pitting colleagues against each other which is particularly damaging in a hospital. (Despite the ridiculous soap operas we see in hospitals!!!!)
So if you can summon your assertiveness I suggest you calmly request a group discussion to the manager in a very constructive approach. As you are known as a worker not a whinger it should be appreciated by her/him.
Put your shopping hat on and go forth with YLF confidence!

Just read Nicole's entry- yep same wave length. A

Adelfa

Sometimes people don't like it when someone who used to be accommodating gets assertive, and there is extra push back (extra above what would be normal if someone with a history of assertiveness said/did the same things). Be prepared!

chewyspaghetti

I'm with Archer- these people made their decision knowing what that means, and who is allowing them to demand you to help them out without giving in return?? This needs to be taken up with someone higher- and no, you're not being unreasonable.

Glory

Wow this is a tough situation. Do the residents come and ask individually for the group at Hosp B to help?
I think you are spot on regarding goodwill, not burning bridges etc. I think this is absolutely key.
But my question above is me wondering whether you can just sort of ignore the request and not commit (if it is not official from someone who assigns the work), and it will eventually just go away.

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