State employees in Texas were able to boost their earnings by accruing overtime that cost the city $122 million throughout 2011, according to an analysis by the Houston Chronicle. Workers who are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and do not qualify for an exemption are usually owed time-and-a-half rates for any hours worked in excess of 40.

While some employee overtime is permissible to cover for workers who are out on sick or vacation leave, too much can jeopardize a business' or department's payroll budget, especially when taxpayers are footing the bill. Last year, approximately 40 Texas state workers doubled their salaries through excessive time attendance and an additional 56,948 earned more than $10,000 on top of their normal salaries.

The top earner across the state was a Department of Public Safety sergeant who earned $65,136 in overtime pay, more than twice his $64,401 annual earnings.

Some departments, such as the Health and Human Services Commission, have recognized overtime abuse in the past, and have installed the computer programs necessary to cut back, according to The San Antonio Express-News. Since the changes were made, the department was reduced additional payouts by half, spending just $6.9 million on premium pay so far this year. 

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