I'm an EMT in Oregon, and I work for a couple medical staffing companies. Last week, I got the call asking me to help with a pop-up MPX vaccine site about an hour away from home at $30/hr.
Right off the bat, the site was horribly micromanaged and a complete clusterfuck. I received next to zero instructions, except half a dozen “test” injections on a hot dog, since the shots were intra-dermal (like a TB test). It was also 90 degrees out, and they had a tendency to not put fresh ice in the cooler with the water. They didn't want us on our phones when patients were up at the tent, even if we weren't the ones helping them. This didn't stop the women in the back from being on their phones though. I asked the site lead what the reasoning was behind the phone policy, and he said it's not professional, and no jobs allow you to be on your phone. I pointed out that my last 3 jobs had allowed me to be on my phone. But whatever, I'll put my phone down when there's somebody there.
Things came to a head on day 4, this past Sunday. It was a short day, only 6 hours, so they weren't going to give us a lunch. After another worker spoke up and complained about the way we were being micromanaged, and treated like crap, I spoke up and pointed out that the site lead was violating Oregon Labor Laws. He just kept repeating that we were only there for 6 hours, and I told him that my scheduled hours were 0930-1600 which is 6.5. Regardless, the BOLI web site states that a six hour shift is required to have one break, and one lunch. I was dismissed out of hand.
So I go to the MPX tent, and start working. We're required to be in full PPE, which is gloves, face shield/glasses, and a gown. In between helping patients, I'm taking my arms out of the gown, because again, it's 90 degrees out, and the MPX lead (different from the site lead) tells me I'm required to keep my arms in the gown. There are zero patients at this moment, BTW.
- I've been doing this for 4 days, and this is the first time ANYONE has spoken to me about it.
- It's 90 goddamn degrees out, and I'm not going to risk my health for performative theater.
I tell her I will wear my gown when I'm dealing directly with a patient, and make a point of sitting down while she's still talking to me, and pull out my phone. Again, there were zero patients at the tent when this happened.
A few minutes later, I get called into the site lead's trailer, and he tells me that I'm “not a team player” and that they're letting me go. I'm smiling out of righteous fury at this point, show him the BOLI site showing Oregon laws, and then leave without complaint. I called and left a message with my medical staffing company, and came home. Today, I spoke with a lawyer, and just got off the phone with my employment contact. They're looking for another site for me, so after speaking with the lawyer, I'm letting this play out for a couple weeks, because a suit may not be worthwhile given that it was a temp contract job, and I'm still in good graces with the staffing company.