Mandatory Overtime

Nurses General Nursing

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This question is for US nurses.

I am a nurse in a unionized hospital within a state that has made mandatory overtime for nurses illegal.

We are considering an out-of-state move, and I only recently learned that there are many other states that require their nurses to work more than the 36/40 hours per week which they are hired to work, with your job being at risk if you refuse to do so.

I have searched the boards for additional information and I still have so many questions about this. Is it a standard practice statewide? Is it hospital specific? Is this disclosed during the interview process? Is there any way to opt out? Are "mandatory overtime" facilities generally not great places to work, meaning would this be a red flag if it came up in a job search?

We would be moving for a better quality of life for our young family, but being mandated to work extra hours will impact our quality of life in a negative way. If anything, I am hoping to work less hours when we move vs more. 

Thank you in advance for any insight you can offer. 

4 hours ago, ChknWing said:
11 hours ago, canoehead said:

I've always discussed mandatory OT in the interview process. I'm not willing to do it, unless there's a disaster so bad that management is in in the hospital staying too. If it was asked of me, I'd refuse, and remind them I was clear about what I could do when I was hired. 

[...]

have you found that employers are agreeable to it? like if you make it clear in the interview, it has not kept you from getting job offers? your comment gives me hope. I have a similar attitude toward it

At a facility where mandatory overtime was an expectation, an applicant stating this during the interview would most likely no longer be consider a viable candidate.  And remember this, just because they might accept this in the interview, if it is contrary to facility policy, it most likely won't be honored in the future.

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatric Crisis.
4 hours ago, chare said:

At a facility where mandatory overtime was an expectation, an applicant stating this during the interview would most likely no longer be consider a viable candidate.  And remember this, just because they might accept this in the interview, if it is contrary to facility policy, it most likely won't be honored in the future.

wow. no wonder nursing is in such a staffing crisis.

Deleted, wrong thread.

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