Pennsylvania bans mandatory overtime for nurses and health care employees

Pennsylvania nurses and health care employees achieved a major victory with the passage of House Bill 834, the "Prohibition of Excessive Overtime in Health Care Act." This new legislation bans mandatory overtime for Pennsylvania nurses and other direct-care providers. Governor Rendell signed the bill on October 9, calling the measure "long overdue."

The law prevents health care facilities from using mandatory overtime to manage chronic understaffing. It allows them to use mandatory overtime in some situations, however, including natural disasters or in the cases of unforeseeable absences.

The ban will go into effect in July 2009. The legislation allows the Department of Labor and Industry to assess fines of $100 to $1,000 for each violation of the overtime ban.

Read more about the legislation.