5 Things You Need to Know About the ‘Comp Time’ Bill

[Teamster Jeff]

>>>
If you are one of the millions of workers who count on overtime to stretch your paycheck, including the 59% of US workers paid by the hour, it’s time to tell House Republicans, “Don’t cut my overtime with your so-called Working Families Flexibility Act (H.R. 1406).”

The bill would allow employers to stop giving workers any extra pay for overtime work and instead substitute “comp time.”

What would that mean for most workers?

1. “Comp Time” means a pay cut—Workers compensated with time off rather than cash would see a reduction in their take-home pay.

2. “Comp Time” means mandatory overtime—“Comp time” legislation would make mandatory overtime less expensive for employers. Under “comp time” legislation, employers may be able to receive the benefits of overtime work at no additional cost to themselves.

3. “Comp Time” means more unpredictable work schedules for employees—Making mandatory overtime cheaper for employers would keep workers on the job longer and result in more unpredictable worker schedules and, for workers with children, higher day care costs.

4. “Comp Time” undermines the 40-hour workweek—The only incentive for employers to maintain a 40-hour workweek is the requirement under the Fair Labor Standards Act that they pay a time-and-a-half cash premium for overtime. “Comp time” legislation, by contrast, would encourage employers to demand longer hours by making overtime less expensive.

5. “Comp Time” is not voluntary—Workers can be coerced into accepting “comp time” and the employer has the ultimate authority to determine when a worker can use accrued “comp time.”
>>>

http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/5-Things-You-Need-to-Know-About-the-Comp-Time-Bill

[msongs]

1. surely our workers-supporting president will veto any such bill....right?

[Teamster Jeff]

2. Damn straight he would.

I think. Right?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Federal employees already have a comp time program

So why would he not want to have it apply to everyone?

[Shrike47]

4. Good luck being allowed to use that comp time.

I worked under a program like that and it was never quite convenient for the business for us to use that comp time we had theoretically accrued.

[Starry Messenger]

5. I worked at a non-profit that used comp time.

It fucking sucks. My #6+++ things you need to know about comp time:

Is that your employer whines when you want to take it, finally.

If you accrue "too much" comp time, they can be a pisser about you banking it to take a whole day off. "We need you!" Fuck you, pay me.

Many employers just don't understand the concept of "employee not here during usual scheduled hours". They act like you were absent even though you took mandated comp time. Getting hassled for doing what you're supposed to do instead of claiming overtime? Also fucking sucks.

[Sherman A1]

6. K&R

Thanks for posting.

[limpyhobbler]

7. We had a comp time system when I worked for the state.

You could chose either overtime pay or to put 1.5 hours comp time in your comp time bank. It was pretty cool there but I could see how some employers might abuse this to cheat people out of OT pay.