Speak Out: Are County Overtime Payments Too Much?
Some county employees worked more than 1,000 overtime hours each in 2011.
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Some county employees logged in more than 1,000 overtime hours last year, according to a report published last month by The Washington Examiner.
"More than 280 county employees earned more than $30,000 in overtime last year—with dozens nearly doubling their regular paychecks," The Examiner reported.
Still, the top overtime workers were those in harder-to-fill positions: firefighters, mostly, with some correctional officers and a few police officers and bus drivers sprinkled into the mix.
The Examiner published a document listing the overtime hours and overtime pay for Montgomery County employees. Notably, one bus operator worked more than 2,000 hours in overtime in 2011—"the equivalent of 57.4 extra 40-hour workweeks," The Examiner reported.
And, Chevy Chase Fire and Rescue Captain Raymond Sanchez, who works a standard 48-hour workweek, put in 1,386.25 overtime hours—the equivalent of 28.8 extra workweeks, The Examiner added.
But, most of the top overtime-producing jobs are not easy to fill. The hours could be difficult to work, and qualified candidates are hard to come by, Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manager said, Patch reported last year.
And, Montgomery County officials "said it's often cheaper to ask staffers to work overtime hours than it is to hire an employee with full benefits." Still, county officials are trying to lessen the amount of overtime hours worked by public safety and transportation employees to create a safer workplace and a safer Montgomery County, The Examiner added.
Read the full story on The Examiner.
See how many overtime hours were worked by county employees in 2011.
What do you think? Are the overtime checks too much money for the county to pay to employees, even if there is no alternative in understaffed departments?
R Lee
7:48 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
We have massive overtime which bloats salaries and pensions and then in the next story we have Veterans who need jobs and can't find them.
Is there a disconnect here?
Limit overtime and then hire a Vet who can assist or fill the position.
Most County employees love overtime, not for the money but for the pension effect and its gone on way too long.
John Gubbings
11:24 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
It can not be more obvious that overtime is being abused. This is what makes for a revolt against union power.
J P
10:33 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
You just don't get it. These are jobs that MUST be done. The people who earn this overtime WORK for it. They SACRIFICE time with their families. They RISK their lives for it, and for you. It's not a handout. These hours reflect individuals who are trained, willing, and able to work the extended hours and quite often if they didn't work the extra hours someone would be involuntarily held over after their shift is completed. Please don't get sucked in by the drama, but know the facts.
bill marshall
9:26 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Everyone in the system knows it is rigged. Most of the overtime can be easily avoided. additionally the county can hire part time time workers and skip the benefit package. Job descriptions can be rearranged so that people with uniqie skills are relived of their UNunique skills (ie an admin assistant) at half their salary. , Overtime should be divided and not handed out by seniority or nepotism.
It is scam and has been a scam sine at the 1970s when I worked for MCPS.
Nothing changes but the tax rate....