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Committee debates pay for emergency crews during administrative closings; seeks legal guidance
Summary
Committee members discussed a handbook provision that currently grants compensatory time for staff who must remain working during administrative closings; several members urged paying straight time instead and asked staff to seek guidance from Wage and Labor and relevant authorities before recommending any handbook change.
Committee members debated how ambulance crews and other emergency staff should be compensated for work during administrative closings such as snow days.
A committee member who identified himself as Michael asked that staff consider paying straight time for those scheduled to work rather than granting comp time. He said straight pay would be “easier” administratively and could be less expensive for the county because comp time can require hiring another employee to cover shifts when the comp time is taken. “For me, it would just be easier and, I I believe, less expensive on the county if we just change that to say that they just get their … 24 hours of straight time pay similar to how they do on holidays,” Michael said.
Other committee members pointed out legal and payroll implications. Committee members said wage-and-labor guidance is necessary because federal rules require overtime for hours actually worked; one member noted the county’s current practice for holidays does not push employees into overtime sooner. The committee discussed two options: (1) pay straight time for administrative closings like holidays, or (2) preserve comp time and track it more precisely for emergency staff.
Members asked staff to consult Wage and Labor and the ambulance authority and to return with a recommended approach. The Policies & Procedures committee was scheduled to meet Jan. 27; committee members suggested bringing the matter there and to the ambulance authority for coordinated action. No final change was approved at the Jan. 21 meeting.
Committee members said they want a fair outcome for emergency personnel who must work during county closings and also want to avoid creating budgetary overtime exposure.
