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THE TOH IS UNFAIR TO THOSE WHO CARE

4-200 Bargaining Committee
June 15, 2026
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FAST FACTS for Nurses to Know About "Time Off Harmonization" (The TOH)

THE TOH IS NOT FAIR TO THOSE WHO CARE

Currently, OUR CONTRACT PROTECTS OUR NURSES from negative changes that have been forced onto our colleagues on campus. Our campus cares for the sickest of the sick, which requires an advanced level of skill and excellence in our staff to be able to provide high caliber care. We hear your concerns and are working hard to improve all the conditions related to our critical work as nurses every day, not just during negotiations. Our workplace should be a positive environment in which we can thrive. USW 4-200 represents the largest nurses union in the system, with a legacy that spans almost 5 decades. Please keep in close contact with your union representatives for the FACTS related to the “total wellbeing promise” that does anything BUT promote wellbeing. 


 

USW 4-200 Nurses currently have comprehensive time off and other benefits/practices protected by our contract. Under this policy’s changes, NURSES WILL LOSE TIME OFF. 

  • We would earn less sick time in the future under this plan.

    • We currently earn 96 hours of sick time per year (pro-rated). Their proposal has just 40 hours per year frontloaded in January, the minimum legal standard provided by the state. That 40 hours is supposed to last the whole year and will be depleted first. IS 40 HOURS OF SICK TIME PER YEAR ADEQUATE FOR THOSE CARING FOR THE SICK? 

    • Over 40 hours, nurses will likely have to burn vacation time. Your union team is concerned and awaiting response on how it is a positive benefit to possibly force nurses to come to work sick. Is this wellness? You be the judge.

  • We would lose vacation time.

    • Nurses between 3-9 years would earn 136-152 hours vacation, which is less than the current 160 hours; nurses over 18 years would earn 184-200 hours vacation, which is less than the current 192-216 hours

    • Losing vacation accrual is equivalent to losing money.

    • Vacation rollover time would be capped at 80-hours. Any unused vacation over 80-hours will be lost. The current rollover is capped at 1.5x your annual accrual.

  • Personal days would be eliminated.

    • 32 hours of personal time lost- that is your time, your health, and your money

  • Unused time off you’ve already earned would be banked indefinitely, but will need to be depleted in order to take advantage of the company's proposed supplemental LOAs.

    • Your hard-earned banks of PTO and sick time would be dumped into Legacy Banks that only shrink over time.

  • The hospital proposed temporarily "protecting" us from the loss of time through “Transitional Accrual” hours.

    • They want to continue granting our current accruals for up to five years to make up the difference in hours lost under the new plan.  

    • The fact that they proposed this temporary "protection" shows that they do intend to take away time off benefits.

  • Their proposal would create a two-tier system.

    • The “Transitional Accrual” and Legacy Banks would mean newly hired nurses have less time off.

 

What to do next?

  • Go to rwjbhtotalwellbeing.com and compare your current benefits to those under this proposed policy. Ask HR why SICK TIME is being taken from those CARING FOR THE SICK and to provide you with your personalized letter to see where your time off changes. Note that “if business needs change”, so too can your time off banks and usage. Let the facts speak for themselves- this policy harms staff. Empower yourself, your colleagues, and our community with accurate information and stand up for the safeties and protections we all need and deserve. As human beings, we all require a standard of care, especially when our focus is the quality care of other human beings.