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Johnson County proposes leave‑tracking change for 24‑hour exempt employees to reduce overtime
Summary
County staff proposed revisions to HR policies 05/2004 and 05/2005 to allow certain exempt classified employees who work 24‑hour shifts (battalion chiefs) to record leave in 8‑hour increments instead of half‑ or whole‑day increments; item placed on consent.
Brent Christiansen, director of financial management and administration, presented proposed revisions to county human resource policies 05/2004 and 05/2005 to change how certain exempt classified employees record leave. The change would allow exempt staff scheduled for 24‑hour shifts — specifically battalion chiefs in the Department of Emergency Services — to record leave in 8‑hour increments rather than the county’s current policy of half‑ or whole‑day increments.
Christiansen explained exempt employees are those who "fall outside the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act" and do not record actual work time but do record leave. He said battalion chiefs sometimes need shorter periods away from duty (for errands, medical appointments or family matters) and that allowing smaller increments could reduce the need for other staff to cover shifts and thereby reduce overtime costs. "By allowing battalion chiefs to record leave time in smaller increments ... the battalion chief can get back to their shift sooner, which also helps the department in reducing any potential overtime costs," Christiansen said.
Commissioners indicated they supported the quality‑of‑life rationale and raised no objections to placing the matter on consent. The proposal specifies the policy changes would take effect April 17, 2025.
