O.T. Isn’t as Simple as Telling Time

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/fashion/20Work.html?_r=1&ei=5087%0A&em=&en=bcb03c8abd512111&ex=1190520000&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1190381041-FybwSPAMuvePZ3x0FhpubQ&oref=slogin

By LISA BELKIN
Published: September 20, 2007

A WOMAN in a Chicago workplace caused quite a stir recently when she submitted her time sheet. She had worked 800 hours of overtime in 17 weeks, meaning she had been on the job about 12 or 13 hours a day, seven days a week, January through April.

Because the woman, Carla Bird, is an assistant at Oprah Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Studios, and because some seemingly jealous co-workers spread the word to the news media, her $32,000 payout was the talk of those who pay attention to workload for a living. The work/life experts were predictably appalled that Ms. Bird had logged so many hours.

And the labor lawyers?

They were impressed — that she had actually collected her overtime pay.

Time was when overtime was extra money for extra work, which in its simplest form it still is, but there is nothing simple about it anymore. In today’s perpetual workplace, where downtime has merged with work time, where you can carry your office in your pocket, where collars are no longer distinctly blue or white, how does one measure overtime?

Most states have dense rules about overtime, of course, and the federal government has the Fair Labor Standards Act, which says that unless you are an “exempt worker” you must be paid time and a half after a 40-hour workweek.

FULL story at link.

[NMMNG]

1. In a 16 week period

I put in 771 hours of overtime. Sadly I didn't get anything near $32 grand for it. Then again, I don't work for Oprah Winfrey. :shrug: