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Payroll clerks tell Police Commission they worked unpaid overtime; department promises documentation process
Summary
Payroll clerks and a union representative told the Police Commission that staffing shortages forced them to take payroll work home and that overtime claims have been repeatedly denied or left unpaid; department leaders pledged to meet clerks and the union and provide a template for documenting prior work.
Members of the public and several San Francisco Police Department payroll clerks told the Police Commission they have repeatedly worked overtime to close payroll but were denied pay or left without resolution.
Frank Martinez of SEIU (speaking for affected members) said staffing shortfalls forced clerks to take work home and that earlier promises by department managers to compensate clerks ‘‘appear not to be fulfilled.’’ "We would have asked for your assistance to pay payroll clerks for work performed," he said during public comment.
Several payroll clerks gave specific examples. Theresa Lang, who said she has worked in the department since 1998, said clerks filed claims for unpaid overtime and often were denied overtime but still worked late to meet pay deadlines. "We have to take work home and stay late to make sure the payroll has been done within the deadline," Lang said. Nuala Campbell and Petra Diao described repeated denials of overtime and months of unpaid extra hours; one clerk said some work has gone unpaid for nearly two years.
Commissioners asked department leadership to respond and to calendar a formal briefing. A department representative told the commission that managers had met with clerks, acknowledged the problem and committed that "nobody would work for free" and that the city will pay documented work. The representative said the department will meet with Human Resources director Alice Villagomez and provide a sample of the documentation employees should submit to claim prior unpaid work, and would continue meeting with the union to resolve outstanding claims under civil-service rules.
Commissioners and union representatives pressed for a near-term follow-up; the department said payroll work will no longer be taken out of the Hall of Justice and promised a process to document and adjudicate prior claims.
Next steps: commissioners asked staff to arrange meetings between the payroll clerks, Deputy Chief Cohen and HR to clarify the recordkeeping required for claims and to return to the commission with a report.
