State Reps. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette) introduced House Bills 5471 and 5472 this week to create overtime protections for nursing assistants and other employees of long-term health care facilities through the Prohibition of Overtime in Health Care Act, as well as establish fines associated with violation of the Act.
Mandatory overtime employment practices often lead to negative impacts on the quality of care patients of long-term care facilities receive. Rural communities can be even more vulnerable to the effects of understaffing and high turnover rates with an ever-growing shortage of health care workers.
“Our legislation will better support, protect and empower these hardworking Michiganders. Health care workers dedicate their days to caring for our loved ones. Fair working conditions mean having a say in your overtime work schedule and having the peace of mind of job security,” said Anthony. “By fighting for these changes, we are fighting for higher quality patient care and better health outcomes for some of the most vulnerable residents in our state.”
Currently, health care facility employees are often exempt from most mandatory overtime regulations, leading to minimal notice given to workers for overtime expectations and few protections in place if employees are unable or refuse to work the extended schedules.
“In every corner of our state, Michigan’s health care workers are being forced to work longer hours despite lacking the support they need to provide our vulnerable patients the care they deserve,” said Cambensy. “Rural communities like those in the U.P. are especially hard hit by high turnover rates as the health care staff employment gap continues to grow. Supporting our workers doesn’t just lead to a better quality of life for themselves and their families, it ensures Michigan residents can get the highest level of care when and where they need it.”
“Nursing homes have short-staffed our workers for way too long, and our patients have suffered because of it,” said Andrea Acevedo, President of SEIU Healthcare Michigan. “We must end the shortsighted practice of mandatory overtime.”
SEIU Healthcare Michigan hosted a rally at Wayne County Community College District to advocate for better long-term care facility conditions and in support of HBs 5471 and 5472 Saturday, Feb. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 200 health care workers, community leaders and elected officials will be in attendance, including Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, U.S. Reps. Brenda Lawrence and Andy Levin, State Rep. Sarah Anthony and many others.
State Reps. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette) on the House floor at the Capitol in Lansing after submitting House Bills 5471 and 5472 (Courtesy of MI House Democrats Photo Archive).
