Tag Archives: maximum hours

Today’s Burning Question: Am I being Cheated Out of Overtime?

Today’s burning question: My department pays us on a 14-day cycle. However, we work a 53-hour work week. For some reason, our department does not pay us overtime until we reach the 106-hour mark in the 2-week period. If we are on a 53-hour work week, why are we not paid overtime after we reach 53-hours in the week.

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Overtime, Vacation Credit, and the FLSA

Today’s burning question: My fire department if we work overtime during a work period during which we take vacation, rather than pay overtime for the extra hours worked, they credit back vacation time. Our HR and Fire Chief claim it is against the law (FLSA) to be paid overtime and receive vacation hours in the same time work period. Is this true?

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Part-Time Firefighter Overtime

Today’s burning question: Does a fire department have to pay overtime to a part-time firefighter who works more than 212 hours in a 28-day period? Answer: Yes. The FLSA does not distinguish between full-time and part-time employees. Any non-exempt employee ...

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Comp Time For Civilian Fire Department Employees

Today’s burning question: Is a fire department secretary entitled to comp time? Admittedly she is a fire department employee, but she is a civilian employee of the city. Answer: First of all, no one is “entitled” to comp time, not even firefighters. The FLSA permits public employers to allow employees to accrue and use comp time.

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Should Additional Hours Be Paid as Overtime or Straight Time

Today’s burning question: Our attorney is claiming we are wrong to pay overtime to firefighters unless they physically work 212 hours in a 28-day period. We have always paid overtime to our personnel for all hours over and above a firefighter’s assigned work schedule. Is he right?

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Overtime, Straight Time, or No Time

Today’s burning question: My fire department works a three shift schedule on a 12 day pay cycle. We work four complete 24 hour tours during this time for a total of 96 hours. We get paid overtime for anything over ...

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Anti SLAPP Laws and the DC LT OT Debacle

Last week Dave Statter asked me to look into a case out of Washington, DC, where a fire lieutenant accused of working excessive overtime sued a local TV station claiming its coverage defamed him. The case was recently dismissed under a ...

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FLSA and Volunteers

Today’s burning question is one that has come up before, and will no doubt come up again: I am the new chief of a mostly volunteer fire department. The six career firefighters, who are all former volunteers, have never been ...

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