Crazy Overtime

Inherent in overtime are complications. Firstly, it's not available for all workers at all times. Secondly, managers account for hourly workers' time worked. Managers can use overtime pay to compensate for lack of raises or bonuses. Or managers can use overtime pay to compel workers to comply with them. It broods favoritism and contempt due to the human dynamics involved.

Office workers are often salaried and ineligible for overtime. It's a trade-off for other perks of being a salaried worker. However, a police officer that works behind a desk is eligible for overtime in Durham. Alesha Robinson-Taylor "oversees towing, ABC permits and police off-duty work", according to the News & Observer, yet she claimed so much overtime the State Bureau of Investigations will review the department.

Auditors found she claimed to have worked 79 extra hours per week and that the department failed to monitor her work time.

Do the math; 40 hour workweek plus 79 hours is 119 hours paid per week. There are only 120 hours in a five day workweek. Her base pay was $52k yet she earned $64k in overtime pay over the last year.

The employee submitted the hours. Managers approved it. The payroll department keyed the hours onto checks. Budgets factored in overtime expenses. It's a crime visible by many people that do not benefit from it. Since this person has worked for the department for 12 years it is reasonable to suspect there is more than the last year of one employee's overtime hours to investigate. Hopefully the SBI takes the time to delve deep in the Durham police department.

As for the officer paid all those hours she was sleeping? She's on administrative leave - with pay.