Board passes ordinance tightening overtime reporting and exemptions; amendment sets 25% threshold

The Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance amending the Administrative Code to increase reporting and oversight when employee overtime exceeds a set threshold. After an amendment negotiated with labor, the Board set the exemption threshold at 25% (reduced from the prior 30% rule) and added reporting and caps on weekly overtime days.

President Chiu introduced the measure, noting that the Controller's mid‑year overtime report showed 74 employees had worked more than 600 hours of overtime by mid‑year and five employees had worked roughly 900 hours, equivalent in some cases to 80‑hour workweeks. Chiu said the ordinance aims to address safety and work‑quality concerns and to change a culture of excessive overtime.

The mayor and labor representatives had met with supervisors during "meet and confers" that produced amendments. The final ordinance caps full overtime days to four in a regular workweek, requires departments to implement reporting mechanisms, and directs the Department of Human Resources to process exemption requests and provide oversight. DHR Director Mickey Callahan told the Board he expected an increase in exemption requests but said the department could manage the additional workload with current staff.

Supervisor Avalos voted no; the roll call yielded 10 ayes, 1 no. (Roll call recorded: Ellsburn, Farrell, Kim, Mar, Mercarimi, Weiner, Campos, Chu, Cohen — aye; Avalos — no.)

The ordinance passed on its first reading at the meeting and will proceed through the normal ordinance adoption process.