(Atlantic) The Atlantic City Council approved Resolution #51-26, amending the city’s personnel handbook to align overtime policies with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Wastewater treatment plant operator Travis Hanson voiced his concerns about the amendment to the city’s personnel handbook during the public forum portion of the meeting. Hanson’s concern is how the switch from eight hours to 40 hours will affect his crew.
Under the previous policy, employees could earn overtime or compensatory time for working more than 40 hours in a workweek or more than eight hours in a single day. The change removes the daily overtime provision, as the FLSA only requires overtime compensation after an employee works more than 40 hours in a week. Hanson admitted that problems rarely occur during normal working hours, citing the recent continuous rain events that have affected plant operations.
City Councilman Jeremy Butler moved to approve the amendment to align overtime policies with the FLSA, but sympathizes with Hanson’s concerns. Mayor Rob Clausen pointed out that the department heads are mandated to send them home early. As stated in the City Council meeting packet: “If employees work longer hours during part of a week, department heads may either allow time worked beyond 40 hours to be converted into compensatory time or adjust schedules by releasing employees early later in the week to keep total hours below 40.”
City Administrator John Lund stated in the meeting packet that the amendment is needed because of budget pressures related to House File 2472. Under the revised policy, department heads will continue to manage employee schedules to meet workplace needs while also considering personal scheduling requests.
