Mandatory Overtime Bill For Hospital Nurses In Massachusetts Becomes Law

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed into law a bill prohibiting hospitals from requiring nurses who deliver patient care to work mandatory overtime. “Mandatory overtime” is defined as “any hours worked by a nurse in a hospital setting to deliver patient care, beyond the predetermined and regularly scheduled number of hours that the hospital and nurse have agreed that the employee shall work . . .” (The statute limits such predetermined and regularly scheduled number of hours to 12 in any 24 hour period.) Hospitals must report all instances of mandatory overtime and the circumstances requiring its use to the department of public health. These reports will be public records. The law, signed on August 6, is effective on November 4, 2012.