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Compensation for working overtime
The Office of Human Resources recently received a letter from an employee that raised a number of wage/hour and overtime issues for SPA non-exempt employees. The most significant issue raised in the letter was a complaint that non-exempt employees work overtime without overtime pay or compensatory time off.
It is a violation of University and State policy, as well as federal laws and regulations, not to compensate eligible employees if they work more than forty hours in a work week.
These rules affect only SPA non-exempt employees. SPA exempt employees are not eligible for overtime compensation.
Sometimes employees work more than forty hours in a work week without giving prior notice to their supervisors or without receiving advance approval from their supervisors. If this happens, departments still must compensate the employees for overtime worked either with overtime pay or with compensatory time off (comp time).
The added cost of overtime compensation can cause problems for many departments. This is one reason why the department needs to give prior approval to overtime work. The appropriate response to unapproved overtime is to compensate the employee for the time worked and then counsel the employee about the correct procedure for requesting to work overtime. If the situation recurs, disciplinary action may be appropriate.
The letter also raised the issue of whether a meal period is required. A meal period is strongly recommended by both state and University policy, but is not required. If a non-exempt employee works through his or her meal period, that time must be counted as work time and compensated appropriately. If a meal period lasts longer than thirty consecutive, uninterrupted minutes, the meal period is not considered work time.
For further information on this topic, please contact your department's Human Resources facilitator or refer to Section VIII of the HR SPA Manual at http://www.ais.unc.edu/hr/spaman/ The manual also contains example timesheets that show how to code overtime appropriately.
Disney discount program changes
The Magic Kingdom Club card, one of Employee Services' most popular discount programs, has changed. The Disney company has discontinued this program, but now offers "The Disney Club."
Disney Club offers expanded discounts (including local Disney stores and special monthly specials) and more travel services, however there is now a charge associated with this program. The regular price is $39.95 per year, but University employees will be able to join for $29.95.
For more information see the Disney Club website at employee_services@unc.edu
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