No Overtime

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 1, 2017

It is illegal to work and the employer not pay- the employer can be fined. If the employer is stating no OT, then employees should be clocking out and leaving, not returning to the floor. Nursing and healthcare is a 24/7/365 world. If you can't finish everything, then it falls to the next shift. Nurses finding ways to give the employer what they want (working off the clock) are only undermining the profession.

caliotter3 · Jul 1, 2017

The employer probably won't terminate a nurse that can't finish all work by the end of the shift. They want nurses to clock out, continue to work, and keep their mouths shut with the labor board.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jul 1, 2017

When you clock out, have your keys in your hands and may way to the front door...don't even think about looking back! If this is the new policy and EVERYBODY follows it, employers will soon mandate that you DO NOT clock out until you've completed all of the duties in which you were assigned for the shift.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Jul 1, 2017

Once 40 hours hit ask if the manager wants to take report to take over the assignment or approve your overtime. If a write up does occur, find another job and report the scum lords.

Wuzzie · Jul 1, 2017

Also if you are working off the clock and get hurt you will be denied workers comp benefits.

allnurses Guide · Jul 1, 2017

The rehab facility I worked in now just came up with a No overtime rule, otherwise you'll get a write up. So when you have 22-33 patients and you're struggling to finish everything within 8 hrs, is it right to clock out and go back in to finish the work, or clock out and leave all the unfinished work? I'm a new LPN and this is my first job, I'm trying my best to like this facility and job, but today, I really felt discouraged. I had 33 patients today, and I was struggling to finish all the tasks at hand. By the end of 8hrs, I was told to clock out. I did and then went back to work to finish everything.

It is illegal for you to be asked to continue to work after you have clocked out. I had a similar situation where I was working overtime and the supervisor came to me and told me to clock out. So I asked if she wanted me to go home when my charting was not yet finished and she told me no - to clock out and then finish. I told her it was illegal to ask me to do that and that if I clocked out I would be going home which is what I ended up doing. when I got home I downloaded and printed copies of state and federal laws regarding overtime and brought them with me to work the next day. No one ever asked me to do that ever again.

Hppy

JKL33 · Jul 2, 2017

DO NOT do anything remotely patient care related (including charting) while off the clock. In addition to the political and professional reasons that have already been mentioned, there are numerous permutations of legal issues. For instance, even if you're just charting, you have a problem on your hands any time you're signing off or timing/dating or doing computerized time-stamped charting for a time/date you supposedly weren't there.

Then what happens when you're sitting there doing that and someone says "can you help me with ____ [name of pt], everyone is busy?" You'll feel guilty saying no, so you'll go do that, too. Now you're handling patient/residents while off the clock, which involves risk of injury or unforeseen event.

You're finishing charting and you see someone fall out of their wheelchair or start choking, or ______. Now you're involved in an "incident" while off the clock.

The phone rings and it's Dr. So-and-So, who needs to give an order for a patient. No he doesn't have time to wait on hold for anyone else. Now you're taking and transcribing phone orders when, according to your lovely employer, you weren't there.

It goes on and on. If these scenarios aren't applicable to your exact situation, imagine ones that are.

If they're gonna play hard ball, it'll probably get ugly. Don't be bullied into doing ANYTHING where you don't have a legal "leg to stand on", such as all the examples above, and more. When you clock out, you're done. I just can't emphasize it enough.

HalfBoiled, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2017

That illegal. I would follow the chain of command and voice your concerns about what is going on. If problem persists about the "No Overtime Rule" then I would quit the job and find something else. Or consider legal advice if you the time and money for it.

SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN · Jul 2, 2017

I am shocked because right now the LTCs in my area are so hard up for nurses that they know better than to pull that crap because even if your a new LPN, you can just walk right next door for another LTC job. I had a job that did this, I was a new LPN at the time so I did it anyways like you and I wish I had not. I would never do that now. Go get a new job, 33 patients is a lot, even for LTC, I never took more than 25.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2017

Don't work off the clock. Hand off to the next nurse, and then clock out. Sorry that you are going through this. I hope it all gets worked out.

DowntheRiver · Jul 2, 2017

I agree with what others are saying about clocking out and leaving. However, just keep in mind when charting to prioritize your charting. There are some things that are not better left until the next day/shift so just keep that in mind.