Policy Text
I. GENERAL:
With diverse job classifications, changes in employee collective bargaining agreements, and applicability of
the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), it is necessary to affirm the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO)
policy regarding payment of overtime monies.
A.
Scheduling:
MDSO supervisors will schedule all employees in the most efficient manner possible to minimize
overtime usage. Supervisors are directed to control the use of overtime to every extent practicable.
B.
Compensation:
When employees are required to work overtime, eligible employees will be compensated in accordance
with respective collective bargaining agreements, Miami-Dade County Administrative Order 7-9,
Overtime Policy, and FLSA guidelines.
C.
Categories:
1.
Scheduled overtime: Planned tasks that require personnel to work in excess of normal hours to
accomplish work essential to the operation of the agency.
a.
Scheduled overtime can frequently be prevented by utilizing proper supervision and planning.
b.
Authorization may be granted as prescribed by the Sheriff, Assistant Sheriff, or Division Chiefs.
2.
Operational necessity: Any situation that may develop which necessitates completion of the activity
outside the employee's normal working hours. Mature judgment by employees and proper
utilization of personnel by supervisors shall serve to prevent unnecessary overtime expenditures.
a.
Overtime can be minimized by utilizing oncoming personnel as relief.
b.
Supervisors shall authorize overtime in accordance with agency directives.
3.
Court-related: Court standby, depositions, court attendance, and filing of cases on off-duty time.
Scheduling of these activities shall be concurrent with normal working hours whenever practicable.
II.
FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT GUIDELINES:
To maximize the effectiveness of employees, regulate the payment of overtime, and to comply with court
rulings pertaining to the FLSA, the following will be enforced:
A.
Work Assignments:
Work schedules which normally will not reflect more than eight work hours per day or 40 hours per
week, shall be established and controlled by appropriate supervisors. Employees will not engage in any
work-related activity prior to or after their assigned duty hours without prior approval of their
supervisors. This includes, but is not limited to, care and maintenance of agency-owned vehicles,
equipment, or animals.
All employees are required to be punctual for work and complete their work assignments within assigned
duty hours. Non-job basis employees who are not paid for their lunch period must be allowed a minimum
of 30 uninterrupted minutes for a meal away from their work station. Employees who are paid for their
meal period are subject to interruptions during this time, since they are considered in an on-duty status.
All meal periods are in excess of any scheduled breaks allowed during duty hours. The FLSA considers
MDSO Sheriff’s Policy Manual Page 17.01.2
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any activity of an employee that is beneficial to the employer, before or after regular duty hours, suffered
or permitted work which must be compensated for at the prevailing overtime rate.