City in Kansas to alter overtime pay format
City commissioners in Lawrence, Kansas, will meet to re-organize the schedules of city employees, making it more difficult for them to accumulate overtime pay, the Lawrence Journal-World reports.
In a cost-saving move, employees will now be required to work more than 40 hours per week. Previously, city employees could earn overtime by simply working more than eight hours in a day, even if they did not go over the 40-hour limit during the work week.
Additionally, employees will not be able to consider vacation or sick leave when deciding whether they have worked more than 40 hours in a week. The paper reports that the current system allows employees to accrue overtime if they work 34 hours and then take eight hours of vacation time in a week. The new payroll process will close that loophole.
"I think we've had a lot of practices that have been put in place over the years related to overtime," City Commissioner Rob Chestnut said. "As we started asking questions, it wasn't always clear why we're doing things the way we’re doing them."
Overtime pay became a contentious issue after the police and fire departments were responsible for $900,000 of the $1.6 million the city paid in overtime, the paper details.
In a cost-saving move, employees will now be required to work more than 40 hours per week. Previously, city employees could earn overtime by simply working more than eight hours in a day, even if they did not go over the 40-hour limit during the work week.
Additionally, employees will not be able to consider vacation or sick leave when deciding whether they have worked more than 40 hours in a week. The paper reports that the current system allows employees to accrue overtime if they work 34 hours and then take eight hours of vacation time in a week. The new payroll process will close that loophole.
"I think we've had a lot of practices that have been put in place over the years related to overtime," City Commissioner Rob Chestnut said. "As we started asking questions, it wasn't always clear why we're doing things the way we’re doing them."
Overtime pay became a contentious issue after the police and fire departments were responsible for $900,000 of the $1.6 million the city paid in overtime, the paper details.
All data and information provided on this news blog is for informational purposes only. Infinisource makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. Information regarding employment suits and other legal action is not updated after publication, and may not be current.