Topeka — Seems like a no-brainer — state agencies paying a lot of overtime, might save money by hiring more people.
That’s the bottom line from a new state audit that found the state paid $13.1 million in overtime in fiscal year 2008. The study didn’t include regents universities.
Auditors said they identified six state agencies that could cut salary costs by as much as $240,000 a year if they hired more workers to reduce their overtime, which is essentially time-and-a-half pay.
“While there certainly are situations where overtime makes sense for an agency, it’s important to remember that overtime is costly,” the report states.
But sometimes that’s easier said than done.
Charles Simmons, deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections, said the department has historically experienced problems in hiring and recruiting staff at its prisons.
And, he added, “Overtime is often necessary in emergency situations and in the correctional environment those situations cannot be fully accounted for in the budget process.”
Auditors concluded the primary reasons cited for overtime were to cover temporary gaps in staffing caused by illness or vacation, which was especially true at agencies that required round-the-clock staff, such as prisons; and to fill in for long-time vacancies.
Also, auditors said some low-paying jobs were made more attractive with the opportunity to work overtime.
And some state jobs just require odd duties that result in overtime.
The audit states two employees of the Kansas Lottery increase their annual pay by nearly 50 percent because they serve as “draw officials.”
At least one draw official is required to come in every evening to help draw lottery numbers. If there is any problem with the drawing, such as a machine malfunction or ticket sales aren’t appropriately shut down, then the Lottery facility has to be locked down until the situation is resolved, the audit states.
“Draw officials often have to remain at the facility until well into the morning when there is a lockdown,” the audit said.
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trinity (anonymous) says…
in my lil' neck of the woods state agency, we do NOT get overtime! if we must stay past our regular 8 hour work day, we're expected to take "flex" time...if i stay an hour over, for example, i am to take that hour within that pay period. i understand that some agencies just cannot do that...
LogicMan (anonymous) says…
Seems like a formal system of having retirees (who worked for Kansas or elsewhere, but live nearby) on-call for part-time work might be a partial solution. Very much like what is done for substitute teachers.
pace (anonymous) says…
The City of Lawrence has several departments that use overtime as rewards. Scheduling would eliminate regular overtime in the Public works department, but when that is suggested their response is they have done it that way for a long time and can't see any reason to change. what a bunch of old ladies.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
If state workers would actually do their work and stop screwing around, then there'd be no need for overtime. State workers are the laziest group of individuals I've ever seen.
Jane (anonymous) says…
Overtime for lots of shops on the KU campus the last weekend of june, end of the fiscal year. Why? 'Design & Construction Management' cannot do their job properly and cause delays of up to a month, then shops have to scramble to get the job done on time. Same thing happened when DCM didn't create accurate blueprints for the remodel of the old print service building...and to think the director of Facilities Operations just received a $40,000 pay raise just this last spring...
Yes, state workers are standing around a lot, but a lot of times it's because the people making the real money haven't done their job properly. I've yet to see a blueprint that is NOT labeled 'NTS' (not to scale), and just this last week the plumbers had to move a sewer line over 4" to comply with a code that has been on the books for twenty years or so...there is gross incompetence at the higher levels of KU Facilities.
budwhysir (anonymous) says…
Duuuhhh, they needed a study to tell them that not paying overtime to employees would save money????
Thats like telling me that my gas tank would stay full if I always ride my bike... Get a clue people. The real reason for this study was for someone to have a job and make money off of something.
StateWorker08 (anonymous) says…
Confrontation.....
Real mature, that would solve everything! Wow I wish I would have thought of that! No, no it can't be that we are overworked and underpaid because of budget cuts. No, no if we all just stopped screwing around our budget problems would be solved. Enjoy your cushy private sector job while we actually work to make a difference.