Washington Supreme Court: Hospitals Must Pay Nurses Overtime for Missed Breaks

The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that hospitals must pay overtime to nurses when they do not receive breaks during their shifts, according to a Puget Sound Business Journal report.

The decision ends a 2007 lawsuit filed by the Washington State Nurses Association against Sacred Heart Medical Center, part of Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health & Services, located in Spokane. The WSNA sued the hospital to recover unpaid wages for when nurses' duties prevented them from taking a rest period.  

The hospital was ordered to pay regular damages — WSNA's attorneys fees, costs for the lawsuit and recovered wages to employees the hospital owed, according to the report. But the Supreme Court's decision sets a precedent. Therefore, any hospital in Washington that fails to pay nurses for missed breaks in the future will be subject to double damages, attorney's fees and costs.

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