Massachusetts’ new law prohibiting hospitals from requiring nurses who deliver patient care to work mandatory overtime will become effective this November 4, 2012.  Employers should take steps now to prepare for this change.  To read more about the new legislation, see Mandatory Overtime Bill For Hospital Nurses In Massachusetts Becomes Law.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2009 dismissed a registered nurse’s claim that a California hospital violated the Fair Labor Standard Act’s overtime provisions when it used different base hourly rates to calculate regular rates of pay depending on whether RNs chose to work an 8-hour or 12-hour shift.  Thus, the