Overtime and Temporary Help Policy

Personnel
Policy No. 101 / Overtime and Temporary Help
Approved: / October 22, 1991
Resolution No. / 91-267

The use of temporary employees and occasional overtime is recognized as sometimes necessary to assure the efficient functioning of County offices and to provide needed resources in the absence of employees in authorized positions; however, it is also recognized that the reduction or elimination of such expenses is preferable to reductions in permanent staff or programs. Consequently, the use of temporary employees and overtime is subject to the following.

A.Elected officials and department heads are encouraged to reduce or eliminate expenditures for temporary help and overtime as a means of containing costs. Managers are encouraged to arrange employee work schedules to avoid overtime situations and, where overtime does occur, to use the options provided for in collective bargaining contracts for time off in lieu of cash payments.

B.Elected officials and department heads shall not authorize the use of overtime or temporary help unless and until funds are specifically budgeted for that purpose, except that employees may be hired to fill fully vacant authorized positions on a temporary basis or that overtime for existing employees may be authorized on a limited basis to perform the most critical functions of the vacant position, provided that funds arising from the attrition of that specific position are available, as certified by the Controller, taking into account any final compensation paid to departing employee. In such case, the Controller is authorized to transfer the appropriate amount of funds from the salary and wage line item to the temporary wage line item.

C.Budget transfers to either temporary help or overtime line items except as provided above shall not be authorized unless approved in accordance with existing budget transfer policies; provided however, that the Controller may authorize such a transfer if an emergency need exists only in such amounts as is necessary to meet that need until the next meetings of the Committees.

D.Budget transfers made necessary to provide for expenditures for overtime or temporary help incurred by a department in violation of this policy shall be made from within the department budget from line items, such as supplies, travel, membership, within discretion of the elected official or department heads to control. Such transfers will be made by the Controller, acting upon the recommendation of the elected official or department head, and reported to the appropriate liaison committee for consideration of further action.

E.This policy shall not apply where the total cost of the overtime or the temporary help is paid from sources other than the General Fund, or where its use is necessary to achieve budgeted revenue targets. This policy is also not intended to contradict and provisions in labor contracts regarding overtime payment obligations.

F.The reference in this policy to temporary employees applies equally to persons hired as independent contractors or hired from temporary service agencies.

Page 101 - 1