Many nurses arrive 15 minutes early to get handover and leave 30 minutes late to finish notes. Over a year, that adds up to weeks of unpaid work. Some see it as part of being a professional. Others call it wage theft.
The question: Should every minute nurses spend at work be paid, including handover and late finishes?
The case for
- Time at work is work. Unpaid time effectively lowers hourly pay.
- Unpaid overtime hides understaffing from managers and the public.
- Other professions are paid for overtime; nurses should be too.
- Recording unpaid time builds evidence for better staffing.
The case against
- Safe handover sometimes cannot be timed exactly.
- Claiming every extra minute could make teams less flexible.
- Some nurses fear being seen as uncommitted.
- Budgets may lead managers to cut shifts rather than pay overtime.
What the evidence says
Surveys by nursing unions in the UK, Australia and elsewhere regularly find that most nurses work unpaid extra time on their last shift, often more than half an hour. Missed breaks are also common.
Employment law in many countries requires workers to be paid for all hours they are required to work, though how this applies to handover varies.
The bottom line
If handover is part of the job, the rota should include it. Recording extra time, even when unpaid, turns a hidden problem into data that can change staffing.
Related: How to say no to extra shifts
Where do you stand? Tell us in the comments. We read every one, and the best answers may feature in a follow-up article.
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