How common is time and a half after 8 hours?

U.S.A. California

Published

Specializes in Stepdown.

Hey guys! I have a question and was wondering if anyone who is working in Southern California or elsewhere in California could give me some insight. I currently work in a small hospital in Southern California(350 beds) on a Cardiac Telemetry floor. I am trying to relocate to the LA area(2 hours away) since my Fiancee lives out there. I just interviewed for another Tele position and they are offering me a little more than I make currently for my base rate...but they do not pay time and a half after 8 hours.

How common is this? I told the recruiter that I would have to think about it since it is in fact a pay cut. Those last 4 hours with time and half really bring up my salary. She responded by saying that many hospitals don't do time and half after 8 hours, and that moving out to the city(LA area), many hospitals are not as generous as them. Was wondering if this is true? I'm stuck in a pickle where I am debating whether to take this job(to be close to fiancee, or to wait for something better since I am not in a HUGE rush, and currently have a job)

Thanks everyone!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

While I can't say for certain how prevalent OT in hospitals really is after 8 hours, I can say that given a valid collective bargaining agreement, the "rules" can be modified to an alternate work week. Chances are they pay OT after some cumulative point per week. In other words, if your hospital's agreement says they pay OT after 36 hours or 40 hours, then you'll get "straight time" until you reach that point.

I would imagine that hospitals have you working 12 hour shifts, then they probably have an employment agreement that's basically straight time to 36 or 40 hours every week. If they're scheduling 8 hour shifts, they're probably on an 8 hour workday/40 hour workweek where if a worker goes past either, OT then begins for that day or the week.

All I can say is that you should consider the base pay, the shift schedule, and if daily OT is given or not. Then consider your own situation and make your decision as to whether or not this particular offer makes sense for you.

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You must be in Bakersfield or Fresno? That's the only place I'm aware that does that.. Only way to keep their nurses I assume. You are obviously hesitating to move the city for your fiance haha. In all seriousness, you (probably) won't find 1.5x after 8 hours pay in a metropolitan.

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I have never heard of getting time and a half after eight hours unless you're working eight hour shifts! That's crazy! lol

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Nurses here in LA hospitals are in a contract for 12 hour shifts so you don't get overtime pay for the usual 36 hours/week.

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I work in a large hospital in LA and straight time for 12 hrs but the pay is higher than another hospital I worked at that was 8 hr shift. Also we get double time after 12 hrs and if worked over 40 hrs within one week then we get time and half

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I currently applied to an RN residency in the city and if hired on a 12 hour shift they pay first 8 hours at a set rate and the last 4 at time and a half.....

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Which hospital?

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Which hospital?

Children's

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I get paid straight time for 12 hr at a lower base rate; weighted time for hours over the first 8 (basically time and a half for last 4 hr); double time for anything over 12 hr. Some hospitals pay straight time for the whole shift (usually the are unionized).

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In home health have found that some employers will state that there was an agreement in the past to move to an alternate workweek, but if you ask to see this info in writing, they won't provide it. Would suspect the hospital setting employers wouldn't attempt this.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but children's pays a little bit less but is competitive with the area after the last 4 hours is considered annual salary wise. New grads get shafted quite a bit though and get a decent bump after they are cn2s or whatever equivalent title is. Do you mind sharing your base/annual? There's a forum on pay which had been posted but... Too lazy.

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