Question about overtime in BC

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 19, 2015

Generally speaking, extended shift hours aren't considered overtime. No employer is ever going to allow people to be paid overtime on every shift. Overtime would only kick in if you're asked to extend the shift you're currently working past the time you would normally be finished. The BC Nurses' Union collective agreement has a memorandum of understanding that says: "As a general principle and unless otherwise revised in this Memorandum, the Employer willnot incur any additional costs which would exceed the costs required to provide andmaintain the regular work day/work week as set forth in the Provincial CollectiveAgreement" ... The article covering OT says, "Overtime means authorized work performed in excess of 150 hours in adesignated four week period, which shall be compensated at the rate of time and one-halfof the employee's regular rate of pay." What that means is that for the purposes of determining overtime, the hours worked are averaged out across a number of weeks in the master rotation. (37.5 x 4 = 150) When you look at the scheduling provisions which state "no employee shall work more than six (6) consecutive days" it's possible that almost half of those 150 hours could be worked in the same week while the remainder would be distributed through the other 3 weeks, and none of those 6-in-a-row shifts would attract a penny in OT. Probably not what you want to hear, but that's how it is everywhere that 12 hour shifts exist.