Mandatory Overtime?

[ALH2004]

Hi everyone. I work nights on a busy ortho/neuro floor. My manager informed us recently that we would have to work mandatory overtime for the time being due to staffing issues. She claimed that this is hospital wide, but I haven't heard of any other floors having to do this. I also noticed that this is something she's only enforcing on night shift. We currently have 2 nurses on maternity leave on nights and 2 nurses have left on days. They're actually shorter on days than nights right now, so I don't understand why this is only a night thing. When I got my schedule today, I saw that I'm working 4 (12 hr shifts) a week for the next 3 out of 4 weeks. I also noticed that not everyone on nights is having to work this type of schedule, only a select few. My biggest concern with this is safety, especially considering I have a long commute to work. When I first started working here we were required to take call once a month, which was fine. Just a few months ago, the hospital took away call time and cut out a lot of overtime due to financial issues. Now it baffles me that they're enforcing mandatory overtime for staffing issues.

I'm curious to know how this works in other facilities or if they even have it. I can see mandatory overtime being used for natural disasters/emergency situations but is it common to use it for staffing issues?

[noctanol]

I have never heard of such a thing as mandatory overtime. I'd just refuse.

yes, there is mandatory overtime, anything after 40 hrs is overtime. we once worked 4 days a week with 12 hr shifts (48 hrs), with three days off, it was either take the assignment or hit the highway, just part of the bureaucracy that nursing facilities/hospitals deal with every day in addition to the pile stack of paperwork

[makes needs known]

In NYS there is a new law that requires that management has to try to get coverage, and they have to have documentation to prove that they have attempted to cover that empty spot. If this is to cover a maternity leave they have probably had enough time to hire and find coverage. In NYS in only an emergency situation can they require mandaory overtime. if you are scheduled for 8 hrs they can not make you work 12 hrs. We have been through this and I have a copy of the state law stashed at work that says this. Check with your state law about nurses working mandatory overime.

[EmergencyNrse]

Time to shore up the resume...

Personally, I don't believe in mandatory "fun".

3 12's or maybe flexed to 40 but I don't know that they can make you work more.

Hit HR or just call in for the extra shift.

I actually work 6-8 12's straight but they comp me for it. They should pony up and do the same. I don't envy you with your position. Good luck...

[Isabelle49]

Mandatory overtime sounds like communism. I wouldn't do it, job or no job, wouldn't matter.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

no mandatory overtime where i work, although there is no law in our state preventing it. Because i work in the hospice industry we have more seasoned nurses, and they are good advocates for themselves and others.

[NaKcl, BSN, RN]

Like any other professionals, we nurses work for the money.

Getting additional incentives will encourage staff to respond more positively.

However, it is not safe to force existing staffs to work extra.

Either they should hire more staffs or use agency nurses.

Paying extra incentives to regular staffs will be alot cheaper than using agency nurses.

The management should know this fact.....

[adampricecna]

OMG they are doing this at my job...We work a rotation, and we have rotated off days and weekends. But lately they have been taking our off days and making us work. But they said if you refuse, they will call it a "no call no show" which they can terminate you for.....

[JSlovex2]

wow. where i work there are staffing issues, but the incentives that are offered for picking up extra shifts are pretty hefty so that pretty much takes care of the problem. for example, if you get paid 20 bucks an hour, you would get paid an additional 20 bucks per hour on top of that for incentive to bring you to 40 bucks per hour - and you'd ALSO get overtime pay on top of that to bring it to 60 bucks an hour. just an example.

they are probably supposed to do that, but in an effort to save money they are telling you there is "mandatory overtime." i'm sure if enough stink was raised they would have to offer incentive pay, but if the sheep follow along with the herd then the leader will keep trucking forward.

[MunoRN, RN]

It's worth checking to make sure there isn't already a law that prevents mandatory OT in your state. My state has a law but that doesn't mean my employer doesn't try, hoping we don't know any better. Many states have these laws, although pretty much anywhere in the southeast you'll be out of luck since HCA pretty much controls every law that relates to healthcare, or at least healthcare profits.

[RNKPCE]

We have no mandatory overtime.

Is the mandatory overtime premium pay? Like time and a half?

Why can't they hire traveling nurses to cover maternity leave. Like a previous poster said about New York, if they are required to show they tried, then traveling nurse would be the way to go.

How about calling your local paper and letting them decided if they want to write a story, anonymously of course.

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

I'd ask why the load isn't evenly distributed, and why she didn't ask for volunteers first. Or provide incentives like double time. Then I'd call in sick for at least half the extras. After all, if you're being worked that hard you are bound to get sick.

My LTC facility did this, I called out sick a couple times after working a couple months of 6 straight days. I was written up for excessive absentism. Sometimes you just can't win!