This Law Firm Publication by Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. discusses a new law in Massachusetts that will prohibit hospitals from requiring nurses to work mandatory overtime except in emergencies. Under the law, regularly scheduled work cannot exceed 12 hours in any 24-hour period, and nurses will be not be allowed to work more than 16 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period. If an emergency situation creates the need for overtime, a hospital must make a good faith effort to have overtime covered on a voluntary basis before resorting to mandatory overtime. Other provisions include employer reporting requirements and anti-discrimination measures. The law was signed into law on August 6, 2012 and will go into effect 90 days later (November 4, 2012).