This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA.
At a time of severe understaffing at Highland, we truly need our rest when we finally go on break. But there is never enough time to break when the hospital is always in dire need of us to be back in the building, working.
At Highland you don’t have to clock in or out for lunch, but you’re expected to consider your colleagues when you take your breaks. It shouldn’t have to be this way – that we have to budget our break time so as to not jeopardize the breaks of our coworkers.
But here is the catch: if Highland does not hire enough workers, there is never enough time for us to take a rest. Short staffing leads to shorter breaks, which is a sure path to burn-out. Staff up now!
