Nurses, Will you work OT for straight pay?

Published

  1. Will you work OT for straight pay?

    • 16
      Yes
    • 286
      No

302 members have participated

If you currently work OT for time and one half pay will you continue to work the hours for straight pay? What do you think of the new OT legislation and how it will effect nursing? What do you think of the exemptions for male dominated professions? ie, Police officers, firefighters and EMTs.

Replies to this intrigue me.

It seems so many start out strong, but when it gets right down to it--what are you doing about it? What actions can one take to help all nurses in this regard? What guarantees do you or anyone have over this?

This is exactly why I think nurses are a bunch of pansies. Quit turning your cheek-time and time again! Stand up for our rights and privileges for our hard work, long hours, and never-ending "caring." We have cared for others for so long-we've forgotten about ourselves. We deserve better wages, better hours, better education, better benefits, and most certainly better respect from everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too frequently I have heard "Oh, I can't afford to lose my job." Or this one, "It just comes with the territory." Get with it NURSES!! The majority of our problems are our own "undoing." You must speak up and the time is now!!

This forum is an absolute Godsend for sharing ideas and venting-utilize your resources and get involved. You deserve it-and your fellow nurses deserve your support.

Enough said.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Great posts, Infinity & Klondike!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ED,.
Great posts, Infinity & Klondike!
Thanx. Getting steamed about this issue helps keep me warm up here in Barrow AK. Not to mention a freebee T shirt for posing the question. Seriously. What can we do to start getting more nurses active in this and the other issues that we may be concerned with but seem to do little about as a group? I'm one of the many who don't belong to any nursing organizations. I'm ready to start. Here's a quiz. Name another profession that pays what nursing does that has a shortage of this magnitude. What does the pay vs shortage disparity say about this profession?
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Your state nurses association is a great start- they all should have political action committees that can help keep you informed on local political issues that may affect you. They are the state arms of the ANA. My state's nurses assn. posts all legislative activities that occur (that can affect nurses), and how everyone voted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nope, not this girl...

I can barely stand to work as hard as I do for straight pay in my regular hours!

This issue will have many more nurses unioninzing, to be sure that overtime pay is in their contract!

Haze

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, maybe they're already salaried and do work > 40 for straight time. That's why I originally asked the question. It wasn't just rhetorical. I find it puzzling too. I'd be interested in the views of nurses who have answered yes. I also wonder if more nurses are concerned about the idea that legislation to protect certain professions from the OT exemption rule would appear to have a gender bias. Firefighters, police officers, EMTs, these are all male dominated postions. This entire issue will be played out in the months and years to come. The view that really amazes me is the one expressed by a few that this is a non-issue. That somehow if we sit back and do nothing, nothing will happen. Even the growing nurse shortage will not protect us if we do nothing.

Klondike,

Thanks for clarifying. I had taken the question a bit differently - to address people who currently receive overtime, asking if they would still work overtime if their employers suddenly decided to declare them "salaried" and take overtime away (like now you get it, now you don't). That's why I couldn't believe that ANYONE would say yes. If they can pay OT today, they can pay it two weeks from today, two years from today, etc. If they want to take away the extra money that we are getting, then it is only fair that we take away the extra work that we are doing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh hell no! We work with low wages as it is. That OT really helps many of us out. Plus that is the incentive of me working 12 hour shifts if it was straight time oh they can forget it. Nursing will really suffer because many of us have come to depend on that OT I can work 4 days 12 hrs because of that OT W/O it I would definately not work! Slavery is not legal. It is so easy for the rich they don't have to worry like Americans who work for a living to just to have a decent lifestyle!!!!!!!!:uhoh21:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No Way!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have heard about this new law, I am wondering if anyone knows of a reliable site that has it written out and perhaps interpreted. As it stands I would not work overtime without overtime pay. However the institution I am working is ignoring this law and overtime pay will continue as always. Thank goodness.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nope. My time is valuable..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.

NO WAY!!! I will not work OT for straight time pay....

My hospital has informed all nurses that we will continue to receive OT pay :)

We should copy this & send it to Bush & his administration.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think that if any hospital or nursing related institution even TRIES this, the mass exodus of nursing staff will be likened to a stampede and they will be sorely affected, even more so than now...And, rightly so....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion