Overtime Pay to State Employees Increased Again in 2012

A report issued by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli shows overtime earnings at state agencies rose nearly 11 percent in 2012 to $529 million, escalating a trend that began in 2009.

DiNapoli says State agencies spent nearly $52 million more on overtime in 2012 than the year before for nearly 14.5 million hours of overtime. New York State policy requires limiting overtime to a minimum, and DiNapoli urges all agencies to ensure that this expense is reduced whenever possible.

Generally, state employees who are eligible for overtime compensation are paid at a rate of one-and-a-half times their regular pay. While total earnings for all state employees have declined in the past two years, overtime pay has continued to increase during that time. Overtime represented 3.6 percent of state agency payroll in 2012.