Re: Management Problems

I don't see anything in this article that indicates management was at fault. If anything, it appears that they complied with the law, and were supported by the courts. Just because employees don't like the regulations or laws, doesn't mean management is doing anything wrong.

Re: Management Problems

As a former manager, per your title, it is surprising that you make the assumption, seemingly automatically, that this is a management/employee relations fault.

It appears based on the facts presented that the employees were making their own decisions to work over, if they actually even did, based on their flawed interpretation and application of agency documents, sans direct authority from an authorized supervisor.

Did the employees work with management, ignore them, or decide it was not required of them, i.e., "beneath them" to "squarely discuss the issues before they ended up in court?" "It's sad."

SURE IS.

When some employees start to realize they are not in charge and are accountable, then they would find life more pleasant. I say "some" because the vast majority, thankfully, actually have some modicum of common sense in this regard, along with some manager's as well.

It's sad.

Re: Overtime work

Here is the problem. If they are doing this on a regular basis, you know they are working it, and you let them, then you are accepting voluntary services.

Re: Overtime Pay and Federal Employees

I believe the rules say you have to be in a paid status for 40 hours a week in order to be compensated for overtime not "physically work the 40 hours".

Re: Overtime Pay and Federal Employees

I have a question that I'm hoping someone could answer for me. There is a young lady working here as a contract employee. She gets paid $10/hours full time for 80 hours every two weeks. If she works any overtime, she gets paid for it. However, I don't know if her overtime (for example if she has 3 hours of overtime) will be paid at $10/hr as well or if she is allowed time and a half ($15) for her overtime hours.

Please let me know immediately. Thanks!

Re: Mngmt and overtime

Comptime or overtime is at the Agency's discression. Off the books comptime is not allowed. In one year, the comptime will be paid as overtime at the higher rate.

Re: Mngmt and overtime

To Supervisor, Defense Agency.

You're right about what the rules say. But reality is a lot of us put in off the books overtime/comptime/free work to the government. When the mission has to get done, you put in the hours to get it done. I'm not the only person who put in for hours only to have them rejected because I didn't get them approved in writing two weeks prior. No kidding. I wasn't planning on the commander grabbing me at 1555 with a "got to be done before you leave today" project either. While the clerk slamming the window closed on the customer precisely at quitting time is a very old joke, I've never seen that happen in reality, at least in the Air Force. Whether it's a generation, a contract award, or launching a satellite, the mission has to get done and we do it.

Re: Overtime

if the worker is not compensated as per the law (FLSA), how can you make them stay unless it is in their contract?

Re: Overtime

I don't think that's still true. Here is a link to hourly base and over pay rates:

http://opm.gov/oca/08tables/txt/gshour.txt

In addition this is from the OPM website:

https://www.opm.gov/oca/pay/HTML/FACTOT.asp

Overtime Hourly Rate

For employees with rates of basic pay equal to or less than the rate of basic pay for GS-10, step 1, the overtime hourly rate is the employee’s hourly rate of basic pay multiplied by 1.5.

Section 1121 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) amended the overtime pay cap provisions that apply to employees covered by 5 U.S.C. 5542(a)(2). The new overtime pay cap became effective on November 24, 2003. Under the amended 5 U.S.C. 5542(a)(2), for employees with rates of basic pay greater than the basic pay for GS-10, step 1, the overtime hourly rate is the greater of—

(1) the hourly rate of basic pay for GS-10, step 1, multiplied by 1.5,
or
(2) the employee’s hourly rate of basic pay.

Re: Overtime

It is not true that OT is capped at GS-10 step1, there use to be a requirement years back that GS-15, management types were capped at a OT rate of GS-10 step 1. I do believe this is not in effect anymore.

Re: Overtime

I'm GS 15 Step 10. I am a physician. My pay is capped.
Though I work overtime, nights, weekends, etc. I receive.....

NO overtime
No Comp Time
No Shift Differential
No Premium Pay

My pay stub shows the accumulation of all these things, summarizes all of them, and then says my final pay is reduced by those amounts.

I'm Capped.

So don't you believe you can get overtime, premium pay, comp time, or any other compensation for overtime if you are GS 15 Step 10. You can't and won't.

Problem is, my patients don't wake up during surgery at 3:30pm. They get sick nights and weekends. And I'm privileged to give their care. They need it. (Like the other ARMY guy says--it's the mission)

It's a royal screw job, but, in my case it comes with being a professional. I just clench my teeth, and accept it.

I doubt 99.999% federal employees could care less about GS 15 Step 10 people not making overtime/premium pay/shift differential. "They already Make Enough!"

Re: Overtime

I am only a GS 11 but am also capped at the GS10 step 1. So it's not just the GS15's that are getting the shaft.

Re: Overtime

There is a cap at GS-10 step one and there isn't.

Depends on your position and if it is "covered". Which there is a clear definition as to whether you position is covered. If you work in ATC in the FAA you may get it..but the rest of us do not. I don't get "TRUE" overtime which is 1.5 of your hourly rate. I get 1.5 of GS10 step 1 BASIC hourly rate(explained below).

I do get the 1.5 of the GS10 step one reate but guess what, I get a whole .95 cents more than my hourly wage because they don't factor in our locality(they use the base rate only). Locality has been used to screw government workers since it was created. What more my overtime is flat taxed in my check(30%) I think. So while I may see the .95 extra(minus tax basis) not based off my exeptions i claimed on my w4. I have to get it back when I file my return. I actully get less hourly take home pay from my overtime than I do my normal pay.