Residential Services of Northeastern Minnesota, Inc.
2900 Piedmont Ave
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: (218) 727-2696
Fax: (218) 727-2893
Website: http://www.residentialservices.org
Residential Services of Northeastern Minnesota, Inc.
2900 Piedmont Ave
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: (218) 727-2696
Fax: (218) 727-2893
Website: http://www.residentialservices.org
Residential Services of NE MN, Inc.Staff schedules at RSI are designed to match program or departmental needs with staff availability. All RSI clients have a designated number of hours needed for support services. It is important for all staff working directly with clients to understand that most programs operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our clients’ health and safety are dependent on staff reporting to work on time as scheduled.
Employees are required to provide their availability at least one full pay period before the schedule is posted. Changes to the schedule will require prior approval, as well as written documentation.
RSI believes it is important that DSPs have a schedule that is as consistent as possible through fixed schedule. Due to the nature of this business, circumstances can change at a program without notice and staff flexibility is imperative. Supervisors try to allow as much flexibility as possible in developing and implementing staff schedules without compromising quality care. This requires a team effort.
Employees are expected to adhere to all posted or implemented schedules. Any changes require the approval of the program/department supervisor. Employees are asked to limit the number and frequency of shift changes. Employees repeatedly requesting the same scheduled shift off may be permanently replaced for that shift.
Full-time staff must be scheduled for enough hours each week to maintain their full-time status. Failure to work a minimum average of 35 hours per week on a continuing basis may result in loss of full-time status and benefits. There may be situations where staff will be asked to work over 29 hours a week, due to program specific circumstances. Staff who can work extra shifts for multiple pay periods will be asked to sign a waiver form.
| Back to HandbookBecause of the nature of the business, it is difficult to assign scheduled breaks for staff working with clients. When feasible, staff may take one break lasting no longer than 15 minutes for each four hours worked. The breaks must be worked around the client’s schedule and needs. No more than one staff per program may take a break at the same time. Staff must remain on the property during their break and may be called back to work at any time during their break. Smoking breaks are treated as any other break period and are subject to the same rules as described within this section.
Hourly employees of RSI that do not perform direct care at least 50% of the time are subject to the Rest Period and Meal Break Guidelines. (Please refer to Rest Period and Meal Break Guidelines).
| Back to HandbookDue to the changing program or department needs, RSI may assign shifts to employees that are not part of their regular schedule. In addition, all scheduled meetings, appointments, and training classes are treated as a scheduled shift. Failure to report to a scheduled shift will result in disciplinary action.
| Back to HandbookOnce the schedule has been posted, employees requesting a shift change will be asked to find their own replacement. A request for a shift change must be done in writing, on the appropriate form, and must be approved by the supervisor in charge of scheduling. Approval will be based on how the change impacts the program or department with regard to the following conditions:
If a supervisor is not available to approve the change prior to the shift being worked, approval may be granted after-the-fact only if all of the above conditions have been met. If these conditions are not met, the staff originally scheduled for the shift will be held accountable and disciplinary action may be taken.
| Back to HandbookAll employees shall request time off before the schedule is posted. The general rule is to request time off at least one full pay period before the schedule begins; however, this may vary by program or department and more time may be required. Request for days off should be done in writing, on approved forms, and should include all days, not just those regularly scheduled. The supervisor in charge of scheduling will consider all requests and make scheduling adjustments based on the following criteria:
Note: In cases that involve permanent or regularly scheduled shifts, staff may be asked to find their own replacement.
| Back to HandbookEmployees calling in sick must call in as soon as they reasonably know they are too sick to work. It is very important to allow adequate time for a replacement to arrive for the shift on time. Staff are expected to find their own replacement unless they are unable due to dire circumstances or an emergency. The acceptable reasons for calling in may include: personal illness, illness of a child or dependent (when sick care is not available), and family emergencies.
Employees are asked to use good judgment when calling in sick. If staff are unsure if they should report to work, they may seek guidance from their supervisor, or after hours the On-Call Nurse or the On-Call Supervisor. RSI will not allow staff to work if they pose a health risk to either clients or coworkers, or if they:
When reporting back to work after missing three consecutive scheduled shifts, or if an employee is absent under suspicious circumstances, they may be asked to provide RSI with a doctor’s note as proof of illness.
| Back to HandbookRSI tries to avoid the use of overtime because of its high cost. For this reason, staff members are asked to explore all other available options before replacing themselves with a coworker who will be in overtime. Once all options are exhausted, approval for overtime must come from the Program Coordinator/Team Supervisor or On-Call Supervisor.
RSI utilizes the Department of Labor’s method of calculating overtime of hours worked over 40 in a seven day calendar period (Sunday through Saturday). All hours worked over 40 in one week will be considered overtime and paid at least 1½ times the regular hourly rate.
| Back to HandbookWhen a staff member does not arrive for a scheduled shift, employees working at the home must stay until the shift is covered. Take the following steps:
Refer to the Inclement Weather section under "Health and Safety".
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