UNION TELLS MANAGEMENT: TOPS IS A DISASTER!
“TOPS is a disaster and it needs to go,” we told management representatives at a step 3 Grievance hearing on Monday, January 26. Despite claims by management that problems are being fixed, we presented overwhelming evidence that the TOPS system continues to constantly violate our contract by causing undue hardship, harassment, and incorrect pay for the majority of our members.
“I had to make 45 pay corrections just today which has been normal since TOPS started,” said Danny Ducello, a nurse manager in SICU who was one of several union members who shared the problems they have experienced trying to use TOPS. Assistant Nurse Manager in Mental Health Crisis Nick Cassun testified that he has had the same problems. He also shared his frustration with having to open and work in three computer programs and a written schedule in order to process payroll. He also has to spend many additional hours making sure information shows up in TOPS. Often it does not, he said.
“We are working twice as long as before to make sure that people get paid properly,” said Ducello.
PROBLEMS ARE WIDESPREAD AND COSTLY
Hundreds of TOPS problems gathered from our recent online survey were presented at the hearing. Of the 520 people who responded, an overwhelming 97% have spent more than 9 minutes (47% have had to spend over 20 minutes!) to report and request leave. Thirty-three percent have experienced disrespectful or incompetent customer service. Thirty-six percent of survey respondents were unable to get the leave approval they were requesting, and many reported in written responses that they were so frustrated that they just put in for PL because they couldn’t get TOPS to record their request properly.
“Is this how you are saving money?” asked SEIU Local 1991 President Martha Baker, “by harassing employees to the point that they don’t use their leave?”
We also pointed out that many employees are getting excessive and costly mailings that are outdated, incorrect or just plain unnecessary.
Member Catherine Holden, an RN in Infection Control, told how her attempt to get her ongoing FMLA leave reported to TOPS has been a nightmare. It took several phone calls (most with poor and disrespectful customer service) and emails to get a form, and by the time she got it she had one day to get her doctor’s signature before the TOPS deadline.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Management has two weeks to respond to our grievance. If JHS management denies our grievance and refuses to fix or get rid of TOPS, we will take our fight to the next level.