BOSTON — SEIU Local 1199 and hospital staff testified in support of legislation extending a ban on mandatory overtime — currently covering nurses in some form — to the broader hospital workforce, saying mandated double shifts and last‑minute forced overtime cause fatigue, burnout and harm to patient care.

James Wilmoth of SEIU 1199 said the bill would extend protections that have existed for nurses since 2012 to other hospital staff, maintain reporting requirements, and preserve exceptions for true emergencies. “Voluntary overtime shifts are often welcome opportunities,” Wilmoth said, “but mandating over time and double shifts for hospital workers is a pernicious practice that is very stressful and difficult for the workers.”

Wilmoth read a member statement describing missed family events because of forced overtime and said mandatory overtime erodes job satisfaction and contributes to staff attrition. Committee members asked about the definition of emergency; witnesses said prior rulemaking established emergency criteria (for example, immediate surgical or trauma situations) and emphasized hospitals should plan staffing to keep such occurrences rare.

The committee did not vote on the measure during the hearing and accepted written testimony.