Overtime?

gypsyatheart · May 31, 2007

This completely depends on the hospital you work for. Many/most hospitals have adopted the "alternative work week" rule, so that they are exempt from the OT law, of OT after 8hrs. Basically, if you sign on as a 12 hr person you will get 'straight' pay. If you are hired as an 8hr person, it would be expected that you would get paid OT after 8....

Are you confused yet? :rolleyes: LOL!

California OT laws are confusing, and it really all boils down to the hospital/agency you work for. Best bet...clarify w/HR at time of hire.:)

ManyRN2B · May 31, 2007

Are you serious? Is that why I see so many 8 hrs shifts positions? Why would CA make such a law? The hospitals are going to go broke. Well that is if everyone works 12's. Here, we don't get paid OT until we are over 40hrs that week. So if you usually work 36hrs and you work an extra 12, you only get OT pay on 8hrs.

WOW!!!!!

gypsyatheart · May 31, 2007

Oh, yeah, I'm serious. Here's the link for 'ya:

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/FAQ_Overtime.htm

It actually behooves the hospitals to hire only 12hr shifts b/c they can get away ftom paying OT after 8. Most hospitals around here are doing away w/8hr shifts...on the units. Other areas not so much.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2007

I was a factory worker in California for 3 years (2001-2004), and I worked 12 hour rotating shifts. My employer paid me time and one-half for the last 4 hours of each shift. If I worked a 36 hour week, I would receive 12 hours of time and one-half pay (4 hours per day multiplied by 3 12-hour days).

However, hospitals can conjure up 'alternate work week' laws to become exempt from paying nurses the time and one-half after 8 hours has elapsed.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2007

Why would CA make such a law? The hospitals are going to go broke.

The hospitals have deeper pockets than you'll ever know. I feel no sympathy for the hospitals, because they are nothing more than a multibillion dollar industry.

Hospitals are not going to go broke if they have to pay time and a half. They make thousands of dollars off each patient, and countless patients pass through the doors of hospitals every year. The hospital cash flow is continuous, and they will not go broke.

Myxel67 · Jun 2, 2007

At the hospital where I started out in nursing, they first used the old rules where we were paid OT for more than 8 hrs in a day or more than 40 hrs in a week. Later on they changed to an 8/80 rule where we were paid OT for over 8 hrs in a day or over 80 hrs in a pay period. Pay period was changed so that it started on Sunday ended on Saturday 2 wks later. Under new rules people who worked a night/day double 8 shift did not get over time pay for the 2nd 8 hrs.

The new overtime rules endorsed by Bush admin are definitely pro employer. I'm surprised that nurses were not exempt under the new rules which do not pay overtime to "professionals."

BeccaznRN, RN · Jun 2, 2007

My hospital gets around the whole overtime after 8 hours thing by giving us a base rate. They pay a lower rate for the first eight hours, then pay time and a half for the last four hours. When you add it all up, it equals the base rate of pay. If I work only eight hours, I will get the base rate.

Anything to avoid paying overtime, I guess.

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Jun 2, 2007

We have to work 40 hours to get overtime pay, and I work 12 hour shifts. If I work an extra shift, the alternative is base pay plus $21 or so per hour. There is not that much difference, and the first option also adds to vacation pay, and in the long run, to my retirement. So lately that's been my choice.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jun 2, 2007

Hospitals and a few other public service entities have a few options.

They can choose from paying OT for:

working more than 8h per shift

more than 40 in a week,

after working 80 hours in a 14 day pay period.

This is to allow adequate staffing & patient coverage without being unduly burdened with overtime costs.