Subscribe
Shop Local
Magazine
Gas Prices
Today's Poll!County OKs plan to limit overtime overage
Courtesy/Metro Creative Connection
Friday, November 16, 2012
After incurring more than $100,000 in unexpected emergency medical worker salary costs during the 2012 budget year, the Cole County Commission has approved a two-pronged approach to prevent such an overage next year.
To limit the additional hit to the salaries budget, the commission:
• Eliminated additional pay of $1.25 per hour for eight- and 12-hour shifts, which was intended to keep general payroll costs down. Employees still will get overtime after 40 hours worked each week, but it will be calculated based on their standard wage.
• Ambulance employees will need pre-approval from a supervisor to work more than 36 consecutive hours. Ambulance Director Mike Shirts said that doesn’t occur too often, but is a safety issue to make sure employees don’t get too tired to do their jobs well.
Marry Me
Comments
wow 6 months, 1 week ago
I would think working a person 36hrs straight would be a safety concern for all public safety officer's...not just Ambulance employee's. Cops working longer than 10 to 15 hour shifts is a normal thing and in my opinion isn't the smartest thing, especcially since these folks are armed with firearms, driving cars, have to make spilt second life or death decisons, often deal with the dangerous people and will most likel have to repeat another shift after only a few hour cat nap...that's if there isn't a honey do list, or kids to play with when they get home. No knock on the Amubulance folks, but at least over those 36hrs they do get some rest time back at base camp. That isn't the case with the Cop on the street or working in the Jails or walking the Prison yards. My hat's are off to all the folks that do these jobs and they all need to be taken care of better.
Please review our Policies and Procedures before registering or commenting
Or login with:
OpenID