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News
DAS,
Agencies to enforce new comp time rules
Dec. 15, 2004 -
Employees in some agencies will be in store for a dramatic change
in the way their accrued compensatory time is "banked"
and will be seeing tough enforcement of expiration dates
and cash payout regulations.
Like overtime, comp time is earned on a time-and-a-half
basis, and is often chosen by overtime-eligible employees in lieu
of direct overtime pay. According to the contract, state employees
represented by OCSEA must utilize accrued comp time within
270 days.
Comp time not used within 270 days becomes "expired"
and must be paid out at the employee's current rate of pay.
In fact, some agencies have been willing to either
ignore the time limit or have been inconsistent about enforcing
it. This frequently has been done at an employee's request, for
example, in order to minimize their taxes or maximize their retirement
benefits. As a result, many employees have banked comp time that
is far older than 270 days.
Now, however, DAS has announced that with a recently
installed upgrade to its payroll system, all comp time limits will
be rigidly enforced across all agencies, boards and commissions.
This new payroll system will automatically pay out
comp time as it expires and deduct it from the employees' totals.
In consultation with OCSEA and the other unions,
DAS has agreed to a transition period for moving
to this system. Use of the automatic payment system will not occur
until the pay period that includes June 25, 2005. Any
expired comp time at that time will be paid out in the following
paycheck.
By waiting six months, DAS is giving employees
with banked expired comp time the opportunity to use some or all
of it for leave purposes rather than receive cash. DAS warns, however,
that the approval of the use of comp time is still governed
by the policies in place in each agency and department.
Any OCSEA leader or steward with questions
or concerns about comp time should contact their staff representative
or the Dispute Resolution Department at union headquarters
614-865-4711 or toll free 800-969-4702, ext. 4711.
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