Renowned Kenyan nurse, Judy, who is based in the U.S., encountered a challenging situation after losing her main position at a U.S. hospital in December 2023. This departure occurred before completing the agreed-upon two-year commitment under the Green Card program. The unexpected termination comes with financial consequences, including the repayment of a $10,000 (Ksh1.65 million) bonus.
Nurse Judy explained, “I received a termination notice from the hospital where I worked full-time, and they sponsored my Green Card in exchange for my commitment to work for two years. Since the contract ended prematurely, I have to pay the hospital, including refunding a $10,000 bonus.”
Nurse Judy's termination stemmed from her request for time off. Wanting to visit her children in Kenya and attend to family matters, she had sought vacation days well in advance. Unfortunately, her request was denied due to high demand, prompting her to explore the possibility of a leave of absence.
“Around early November, I requested December vacation days to travel home to see my kids and handle a personal family matter, as my husband was undergoing a procedure. However, vacation days were unavailable, with four nurses already on leave,” she shared.
Confronted with few alternatives, Nurse Judy sought a leave of absence, only to have it denied at the last minute, leaving her in a difficult predicament.
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“I then requested a leave of absence. They took so long to respond, only to deny my request days before the flight I had already booked, assuming they would grant me the leave,” she explained.
Even after communicating her departure and providing the reasons to the hospital, Nurse Judy received a termination notice just three days later. Emphasizing the priority of family, she asserts that her leave request clearly communicated her intention to address her family's needs.
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