maximum mandatory overtime?

Just wondering if, in California, there are any regulations governing how many hours an RN can be required to stay overtime? Can your employer make you stay 24 hours? or more? And if yes, are there any mandated break time? Just wondering

thanks,

Gracie V

I believe CA labor law allows for no more than 16 hour shifts in a 24 hour period and at least 12-hours between shifts. Yes, the law also requires mandatory breaks.....10-minute (most employers give 15-min) for every 4 hours of work, 30-minute meal breaks for every 5 hours of work. These breaks (by law) may not be combined. In other works in a 12-hour shift the law requires 2 meal breaks and 3 rest breaks. There are some exemptions to the law (like if you are the only worker available and can't take a break, but then the employer must pay you for your untaken breaks) but the wage and hour department is pretty strict about making certain employees get their breaks.

Gomer,

Thanks so much for your reply. I have tried to find a specific regulation on the internet, but I guess Im a hopeless searcher. Would you happen to have an idea on where to find some document that actually spells these regs out?

Thanks again,

Gracie

I just found what I wanted, if anyone is interested it's on the California Department of Industrial Relations website http://www.dir.ca.gov and has quite a few versions. The part concerning maximum overtime is Section 3, (B) (9) .Its called the Industrial Welfare Commission Order (varies by date) Regulating Wages, Hours and Working Conditions in the Public Houskeeping Industry (I always knew nurses had to be housekeepers too!!)

G.V.

Yes, http://www.ca.gov is where you will find the regulations. California has 15 or 16 Wage Orders. I can't remember which on nurses are under (5 maybe?). But there are specific Wage Orders for nurses and other healthcare workers, especially when it comes to OT.