Swedish talks a big game about equity and patient care, but behind the scenes the culture is fear-based, rigid, and often unsafe - especially for staff with real-world responsibilities outside of work.
The attendance policy allows for only 5 unplanned absences or tardies PER YEAR. including sick days, child care issues, family emergencies, or traffic delays. That means you're expected to be 98% perfect across 250 full time work days or face disciplinary action. (the number doesn't change if you work less than 5 days per week). There is no flexibility, no compassion, and no room for life to happen.
Meanwhile, salaried leadership freely works from home, comes in late, and leaves early without consequence. My leader spends most of the day chit chatting with staff stopping them from doing work they are later spoken to about not getting done. The double standard is blatant.
Leadership at Swedish is largely non-clinical, with little to no understanding of the roles they oversee. Policies are regularly made without clinical insight which not only disrespects those on the ground - it directly puts patients at risk. This isn't just bad leadership, its dangerous.
Swedish also routinely fails to meet safe staffing levels even when union contracts require it. I was the only nurse on staff for a busy clinic for a day, something that leadership was fully aware of in advance yet took no steps to mitigate. They all went on vacation and left me to run the entire clinic alone. I had no guidance on what to do if something went wrong. I had to stay late to clean up the mess, and ended up being late to pick up my child from child care - which cost me in late fees. And they wonder why people burn out.
This isn't an isolated case. Swedish has a pattern of disregard for labor protections as well - There are several labor law suits open and recent.
If you're someone with a family, a disability, a second job, a dog, or any other responsibilities outside of work and need to commute to work in a manner other than jet pack, be careful. Swedish's public mission says "equity" but the internal culture says control, punishment, and top down decisions made by people who in some cases never went to college.
Ask the hard questions before you accept an offer.
