Are Prescheduled 4 hour shifts Legal in California?

Published

  1. does your hospital allow a shift to be partially covered by another nurse?

    • 1
      Yes, as long as there is no overtime involved.
    • 0
      We can get anything covered, vacations or single day, with partial shifts
    • 2
      No, we must trade or get someone to work the whole shift.

3 members have participated

Specializes in NICU.

Hi All,

I really need some feed back on this issue. Recently our manager and HR have claimed it is against the labor code for a 12 hour nurse to get the last 4 hours of a shift covered by another nurse. They claim it is against the Alternative Workweek Schedule rules in California's labor law. We are told a 12 hour employee can not be scheduled for 8 hours ever, even if there is no overtime involved and vacation time to cover the 4 hours requested off. We are a non union hospital so I do not know if they can make their own interpretation of the law and make us abide by it. So I want to make a case for flexibility, and that it is legal and good for the unit.

Thanks :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

While I admittedly know nothing of California labor laws, this makes ZERO sense.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

That sounds so not right. Where I work we are hired for a certain amount if hours...and we can be scheduled 12's 8's or even 4's if absolutely needed to cover.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

When I worked 12-hour shifts in California, I used to cover staffing needs with partial 6-hour shifts somewhat frequently. However, I have not worked in CA since 2004 or lived there since 2005, so laws might have changed (but I doubt it).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

That makes no sense and is most likely not true, but on the other hand I don't think they are required to permit their employees to independently take time off without notice or agreement of the employer if they schedule their own replacement to cover the hours they will be absent

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

From my understanding....that is not true. But as per the Terms of Service we cannot offer legal advice....I say call your local labor board/division of wage and labor and ask them.

http://law.onecle.com/california/labor/511.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion