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Antiwork

My job has mandatory overtime. This was not disclosed to me during the interview. Should I find a new one?

I work as a nurse for the largest hospital system in my state. My unit practices mandatory overtime, which is basically where you are expected to stay 4 hours over your shift (totaling a 16 hour work day – 7 AM to 11 PM) on a moments notice. Usually this happens because they don’t have enough staff coming in for the night shift. If you refuse and go home, you receive a ‘point.’ 8 points gets you disciplinary action, 10 points gets you fired. (Mind you, you also accrue a point every time you call in sick.) This is my first job as a nurse, and it seems like mandatory overtime is a common practice for many hospitals across the nation. I know it is unethical, I just didn’t realize it was legal? Should I try to find a new job?


I work as a nurse for the largest hospital system in my state. My unit practices mandatory overtime, which is basically where you are expected to stay 4 hours over your shift (totaling a 16 hour work day – 7 AM to 11 PM) on a moments notice. Usually this happens because they don’t have enough staff coming in for the night shift. If you refuse and go home, you receive a ‘point.’ 8 points gets you disciplinary action, 10 points gets you fired. (Mind you, you also accrue a point every time you call in sick.) This is my first job as a nurse, and it seems like mandatory overtime is a common practice for many hospitals across the nation. I know it is unethical, I just didn’t realize it was legal? Should I try to find a new job?

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