Homeland Security workers rake in overtime for manning phone lines
West Virginia's Homeland Security Office's inability to full staff its 24-hour emergency line has forced the state to cover surging overtime costs, according to a recent audit. Over the past six years, the Emergency Communications center has not been able to sustain employment, which forced it to recruit from the Homeland Security Office and pay $900,000 in overtime costs to 20 stand-in workers, according to The Charleston Gazette.
"Over the years, most of the staff have worked and been paid at a significant costs to the state because the salaries of those working overtime are much higher than the salary of the vacant positions," Jill Mooney, a research analyst with the Legislative Auditor's office, told the source.
In fact, the audit revealed that one individual managed to increase his or her earnings by $18,000 in one year, earning $35 per hour for any employee attendance past 40 hours. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guarantees workers the right to time-and-a-half their standard pay rate for any overtime hours worked.
If employers are looking to reduce payroll costs, they can invest in an advance payroll processing system that alerts supervisors when employees are nearing overtime, so appropriate substitutions can be made.
"Over the years, most of the staff have worked and been paid at a significant costs to the state because the salaries of those working overtime are much higher than the salary of the vacant positions," Jill Mooney, a research analyst with the Legislative Auditor's office, told the source.
In fact, the audit revealed that one individual managed to increase his or her earnings by $18,000 in one year, earning $35 per hour for any employee attendance past 40 hours. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guarantees workers the right to time-and-a-half their standard pay rate for any overtime hours worked.
If employers are looking to reduce payroll costs, they can invest in an advance payroll processing system that alerts supervisors when employees are nearing overtime, so appropriate substitutions can be made.
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