An Act to prohibit mandatory overtime

This bill prohibits hospitals and certain correctional facilities in Massachusetts from requiring staff to work mandatory overtime, directly affecting registered nurses, support workers, and other healthcare personnel. It defines mandatory overtime as hours worked beyond a pre-agreed schedule of no more than 12 hours in a day and allows such requirements only during genuine emergencies where patient safety is at risk and no other options exist. Facilities must make a good faith effort to fill these gaps voluntarily before mandating overtime, report all instances to state agencies, and ensure staff do not work more than 16 consecutive hours with a required 8-hour break afterward. The law also clarifies that refusing to work beyond these limits cannot result in discrimination or dismissal.