10/05 Overtime Policies and Time Off Requests

• An eight-hour work day shall constitute a work day.
• A 40-hour work week shall constitute a work week.
• A work week is defined as a seven-day period beginning Sunday and ending Saturday during which an employee is scheduled to work a total of 40 hours.
• Employees, if authorized and directed, may work 40 hours a week in less than or more than five days (4/40, 9/80, 12/80).
• The exceptions to the work week definition are alternate work schedules, such as the 9/80 and 12/80 schedules.  The work week for these two schedules begins and ends at the mid-shift of the alternate day worked/alternate day off.  “Mid-Shift” is defined as four hours after the start of the alternate day on shift.
• No employee shall work more than 96 hours of overtime per calendar month (excluding on-call court time).
• No employee shall work more than 12 consecutive days without a day off, except when necessary to appear in court.
• No employee shall work more than 19 hours consecutively.
• No employee shall work back-to-back doubles except when necessary to appear in court.  A back-to-back double is defined as working 16 hours or more (consecutively or non-consecutively), irrespective of start time, followed or preceded by another work period in excess of 12 hours (consecutively or non-consecutively) in any 48-hour period.

NOTE:   The 48-hour period begins at the start of any shift worked.

Prior to an employee working overtime at any unit other than their permanent unit of assignment, employees shall receive prior written consent from their unit commander to work overtime at other unit(s) of assignment. 

All standard notification requirements regarding call-ins are in effect for overtime assignments.

Personnel must obtain Unit Commander authorization prior to working any overtime.  The Unit Commander will evaluate the amount of time required.  Overtime will be approved in one (1) hour increments, unless less time is needed.  The Unit Commander will sign his name in the space provided on the overtime slip labeled “supervisor pre-approving o.t. and briefing.”  The approving supervisor shall review all overtime slips to ensure accuracy.

Minimum Staffing

In an attempt to avoid all unnecessary overtime, each supervisor needs to be cognizant of staffing levels for their sections.  The minimum staffing levels for acceptable service should act as a general guideline for each supervisor to assess their manpower requirements.  Staffing levels should be evaluated by the Unit Commander based upon level of service to be maintained, anticipated workload, and the manpower available.  The Unit Commander shall have discretion to approve overtime for additional personnel to provide required services in the accomplishment of Department objectives.  Additionally, the Unit Commander may allow staffing levels to fall below minimum by allowing personnel time off if he deems it appropriate.

Where appropriate the supervisors shall use staff from other sections for planned vacancies to minimize the use of overtime.