Workers Applaud Pennsylvania Law that Bans
 Mandatory Overtime for Healthcare Workers

WASHINGTON – Pennsylvania has joined the growing list of states that have banned mandatory overtime for healthcare workers, a move that will improve working conditions and help ensure patient safety and consistent, high-quality care.

“Forcing exhausted nurses and other caregivers to work excess hours is a dangerous gamble that puts patients at risk,” said Beth Pardee, a registered nurse and president of Health Care-PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association). “Although the bill is not perfect, we are pleased that the Legislature moved on this critical issue before the end of the session. It’s a win-win situation for nurses and patients, who are better protected under this new law.”

In 2004, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing found that nurses who worked more than 12 hours per shift were three times more likely to make errors than nurses who worked a standard eight-hour shift. The new law allows healthcare workers to volunteer for overtime, but protects them from being disciplined or dismissed if they refuse to work the extra hours. Employers can require overtime in the case of an unforeseeable emergency, including a natural disaster or widespread disease outbreak. The new law comes after seven years of debate in the Pennsylvania Legislature. Gov. Edward Rendell signed the legislation, entitled the Prohibition of Excessive Overtime in Health Care Act, into law yesterday.

“We applaud Gov. Rendell for swiftly signing this vital piece of legislation into law. There is still work to be done, and we will continue to pressure other states that have not yet banned this dangerous practice,” said American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. “Banning mandatory overtime for workers who hold other people’s lives in their hands—whether it’s nurses or airline pilots—is the responsible and ethical thing to do.”

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