Chapter 2

02

After my shift ended the next morning, I waited for two hours until the Director finally showed up.

Director Harrison was a grandfatherly man in his fifties. If I didn't know what he had done, I might have thought he was a good person.

"Summer, you just finished a night shift, didn't you? It's not easy. Come, have some tea and go get some rest. We need you tonight. This nursing team can't function without you. "

He calmly poured me a cup of tea. I didn't take it. I just stared at him.

"I won't beat around the bush. I'm here to ask about the salary structure. "

The Director's perpetual, kind smile cracked for a split second. He quickly composed himself.

"Summer, discussing salaries with colleagues is a major taboo in this industry. "

"A taboo? Or just a blow to your reputation? "

Since I was being so blunt, he stopped pretending.

"Fine. It's true that labor costs are high now. We have separate pay scales for new and old employees. "

"You know the group we just hired are from the big cities. They really are different. They bring a whole new vibe and energy to this hospital. "

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Director, a patient wants to see you. "

The Director hurried out, muttering, "They always find ways to trouble me. "

This gave me the perfect chance. I pulled open his desk drawer, and sure enough, there were two different salary policy sheets.

I looked at the AB system. Senior employees were promoted by rank; new employees were promoted by tenure.

Schedule A clearly had my name: Summer Raines. Base pay 4,000. No bonus, no meal allowance, utilities paid by the employee. Night shift bonus: $40 for graveyard, $20 for swing.

Schedule B was for the new hires. Kayla Young. Base pay 4,500. Annual bonus 20,000. Meal allowance 500. Housing included. Night shift bonus: $80 for a swing shift.

Her base pay was higher than mine, her night shift bonus was double, and I had zero bonuses or allowances.

Even though I already suspected it, seeing the cold, hard facts pierced my heart.

I fought back my emotions and put the documents back exactly where I found them.

The Director returned just then, starting another round of his "heart-to-heart" manipulation.

"But the hospital will definitely remember the help your nursing team has provided. Just wait a little longer. Once the hospital has more liquidity, it will be your turn to enjoy the rewards. "

It was always the same story. Wait, just wait.

I had already waited for five years.

I took a deep breath and looked at the Director with a professional smile.

"Understood, Director. Our nursing team will definitely stand by the hospital through thick and thin. "

The Director's smile bloomed again, replaced by his usual arrogance. "Summer, you are the anchor of our nursing team. Don't worry, I will definitely fight for your raise. "

"But this matter... well, it wouldn't look good if it got out. I hope you can keep it to yourself. "

I agreed without hesitation. "Of course. The hospital's interests come first. "

"The senior staff are truly different. You have such great perspective. "

Yeah, I had too much "perspective. "

That's why I kept swallowing the empty promises he fed me for five years.

But I was done. I didn't want another bite.

He talked about standing together, but I saw the hospital moving forward while we, the veterans, were being pushed out.

After a two-hour bus ride home, I didn't sleep. Instead, I took a personal day and spent the entire time researching.

I spent the night talking to my best friend, who was a lawyer, to understand the legalities.

With my years of nursing experience, I had a photographic memory. I recreated the AB salary system on my computer.

I had photos of the pay stubs and the recording from the Director's office.

I sent an anonymous email to several senior nurse leads I knew well.

Subject: "The AB Pay System: Treating Veterans Like Cattle and Newbies Like Royalty. "

Then, I immediately unlinked the email and deleted all traces.

After that, I asked some friends in the industry about the standard salary rates.

I took a nap and then went to the hospital to train the interns.

After all, they were being paid top dollar. I had to make sure they earned it.

For the next two weeks, I put them through hell. They had to memorize the hospital manual cover to cover.

I made them recite the nursing protocols ten times a day and explain the use of every medication.

Since they were "high-priced hires, " I wanted to see if they were actually gold or just gilded rocks.