Dear OCEA member,
As part of our negotiations, your team brought up the issue of employees being forced to flex to avoid overtime. Your MOU has specific provisions to protect you from this practice. Here is what you need to know:
What Is Overtime and How Does It Work?
Overtime simply means working more hours than the usual full-time schedule. According to the General Unit MOU, if you put in more than 40 hours in a workweek—or more than 80 hours in a two-week period for certain divisions—you’re eligible for overtime. That means you’ll receive extra pay or time off, depending on what the MOU says.
Changing Schedules: Your Rights
The MOU also protects you from unexpected schedule changes. Supervisors and managers can’t change your schedule just to avoid giving you overtime. If you’re working extra, you deserve fair compensation for your time and effort.
Your Options for Flexing Time
- Flexing Is Optional: If you end up working more than 40 hours in a week, your supervisor might ask if you’d like to adjust your hours—maybe by leaving a bit early another day, for example. This is called “flexing” your time, and it’s totally up to you if you want to do it.
- No Pressure: Flexing is always your choice. If you’d rather not, that’s perfectly fine. No one can require you to flex your time to avoid overtime pay.
- Getting Paid What You Deserve: If you decide not to flex, you’ll still get paid overtime or receive comp time, just like the MOU promises.
Key Takeaways
If you work more than 40 hours in a week, you qualify for overtime.
Your supervisor or manager can’t change your schedule just to stop you from earning overtime.
Flexing your schedule is always up to you. If you say no, you’ll be compensated for your extra time.
You can find your MOU here. If you have questions or want to raise concerns, you can always contact OCEA at 714-835-3355 or one of your OCEA stewards.
In Solidarity,
OCEA
