Contract at Full Time Place of Employment

[mapets, BSN]

We are critically staffed in one of our units, and regularly have to go on diversion. Like many other facilities, we have short term contracts that at times of need are offered to PRN and part time employees. When signed, the employee agrees to work 'x' amount of hours per pay period at an increased rate of pay for 'x' amount of weeks. Due to the critical need in this unit, administration has approved these contracts to be offered to full-time employees as well. Due to my skills, I was offered one of these contracts. I regularly work full-time 3 days/ week. My question is:

When working in the contracted unit, will I receive overtime at the contracted rate?

I ask because, once I've worked 4 hours in the contracted unit, all of my other time would be overtime. We have always assumed this is why they have never allowed full-time employees to sign these contracts.

Typically, the contract replaces, the PRN/Part-time employees other schedule, as it fulfills their duty as that type of employee. They do get overtime when worked overtime as a contracted employee.

Will my full time hours count towards my total hours even as a contract employee, so that the majority of my hours in the contracted unit are overtime?

[klone, MSN, RN]

We really don't have the ability to answer that. It depends on the laws in your state, your pay rule at your facility (e.g. 12/40, 12/36, 8/80, etc), your union contract, and the verbiage in the short-term contract you signed.

[mapets, BSN]

The pay rule is 12 hr shifts, and all hours over 40 hours are paid at an overtime right (time and a half). I'm in Mississippi (no union). They just follow the federal rules regarding overtime. The contract was very brief (less than one page). Basically, just indicating how many hours per pay period for how many weeks; that the contract did not change the at-will status of my employment or the terms of my employment; that no benefits (health, vacation, or pto) would be changed by this contract.

I don't know that my information it makes it any clearer. My nurse manager said I would get the overtime at the contracted rate once I hit 40 hours in a week.

I guess we'll see on my 1st check...yay!

[smf0903]

When we have contract we are paid overtime for anything over 40hrs/week. A lot of people space out their contract days, but I always butt mine together so I can get the most bang for my buck ?

[CritterLover, BSN, RN]

They have to pay you OT for anything you work over 40 in a work week, but that *can* be partially accounted for by your increase in pay for the contract period.

Most places don't do that -- usually your OT is calculated as 1.5x your base pay, with bonus/shift differentials on top of that.

[Waiting for Retirement]

I would think the Department of Labor in your area (county? state?) could answer this for you most accurately. They at least will tell you what the minimum requirements are for OT and whether what you're describing is what you are expecting.