GSFC-GESTA Collective Bargaining Agreement
Article 13 Overtime
SECTION 13.01 Under a basic and Flexitour System, overtime work is in excess of 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week that is ordered in advance by Management and performed in addition to an employee's basic work requirement. Under a Flexible Work Schedule, overtime work is in excess of 80 hours in a bi-weekly pay period ordered in advance by Management and performed in addition to an employee's basic work requirement. Overtime assignments will be distributed among employees as fairly and impartially as possible depending on the skills, abilities, and job related knowledge required in the performance of the work. Management will give consideration to an employee's request not to work overtime. If Management determines that the work requirements can be fully met by other employees in the organizational element who are willing to work overtime, the employee's request will be granted.
SECTION 13.02 Overtime must be officially ordered or approved by Management officials. Employees required to perform authorized overtime services shall be compensated by overtime pay or compensatory time off in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and the provisions of this Agreement. No employee shall be required to work uncompensated overtime. Employees may claim entitlement to overtime as described herein or declare such work to be part of their basic work requirement as described in Article 10 of this Agreement.
SECTION 13.03 In the assignment of overtime during the workweek, Management agrees to provide employees with advance notice unless there are emergency conditions or exigencies beyond the control of Management which preclude advance notice. Employees who are asked to work either Saturday or Sunday or on a non-workday will be provided advance notice of at least one (1) full workday prior to the requested workday. When work is to be performed on a holiday, normally at least three (3) workdays advance notice will be given.
SECTION 13.04 In the event of emergencies, retroactive approval shall be granted for overtime worked if the responsible Management officials determine that there were valid reasons for unscheduled overtime. In the event such a request for overtime is not granted, upon request Management shall provide a complete written delineation of the reasons for the denial.
SECTION 13.05 An employee called back for unscheduled overtime duty, whether on a workday or non-workday, shall be compensated for a minimum of two (2) hours regardless of whether the employee is required to work the entire two hours.
SECTION 13.06 Compensatory time off in lieu of pay shall be granted when requested by an employee whose basic rate of pay is equal to or less than the maximum rate for GS-10, unless it is determined that the work situation is such that the granting of compensatory time off is not practical. If the request is denied based on the work situation, overtime pay shall be paid. An employee whose rate of pay is in excess of the maximum for GS-10 shall be required to take compensatory time rather than paid overtime, at the option of Management, unless compensatory time off would be lost or impractical based upon the work situation. Premium pay may be paid or compensatory time granted to an employee whose basic pay rate is less than the maximum of a GS-15 only to the extent that it would not cause his/her aggregate rate of pay (straight-time base pay plus premium pay) to exceed the amount payable to the maximum rate for grade GS-15 for any pay period. Similar to the situation described in Section 13.02 of this Article, employees may optionally treat compensatory hours of work as time towards their basic work requirement as described in Article 10 of this Agreement.
SECTION 13.07 Earned compensatory time off must be used not later than the end of the seventh pay period after the pay period in which it is earned unless an extension is granted. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that eligible employees are granted compensatory time off within the prescribed time limit. An employee who fails to take compensatory time off within the time limit, loses the right to both compensatory time and overtime pay unless the failure is due to an exigency of the Service beyond the control of the employee. The supervisor shall inform employees of any impending loss of compensatory time.
SECTION 13.08 Management shall provide existing records of overtime, to the extent available, for employees in the Units to GESTA, upon its request, to aid in settling specific or potential grievances.
SECTION 13.09 The supervisor will normally not change an employee's tour of duty to avoid overtime.
SECTION 13.10 Overtime shall be calculated in half-hour increments.
