Overtime pay for nurses

Nurses Career Support

Published

Hi,

I am looking into nursing as a career [i am from the UK], but wondered whether there is such a thing as being paid overtime?

From my research it would appear that in some parts of the US there is overtime pay [in some cases double overtime?] but I am not so clear as to whether this is so in the NHS.

If there is double-overtime in the US, is this down to the way healthcare is admninstrated there?

Grateful for your advice!

Adam

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Hi Adam and welcome to the site

May want to consider asking this in the UK forum (under the region tab above in the International section) but last I worked in the NHS I struggled to get paid overtime they wouldn't pay it, we had to either take it as time owing or it was paid at agency rates (even better they preferred us to) join the agency

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In my area in the US there are labor laws regarding overtime. Most employers follow the law when offering overtime work and pay to their employees. However, there are employers that do not follow the law. Usually, they will try to get an employee to sign a waiver of overtime pay. If the employee signs this waiver, the employer might legally be off the hook to pay overtime. The employee is caught between having a job and being taken advantage of, or not having a job at all. I would guess that there might be similar circumstances in the UK.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

You betcha, anything over 40 hours where I work, must be paid at time and a half. It sure makes a difference on my yearly wage. I work 12 hour shifts so the first shift has 4 hours of non overtime, but 8 hours of overtime.

I think this is a union agreement, not the law.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment