Public Employee Press: PEP Talk
Social worker gets 4 months back overtime
By DIANE S. WILLIAMS
The union settled a grievance at Step 2 in April when a glitch in the payroll codes at the Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene caused a Social Worker to lose four months’ overtime.
Kevin Cleare, a Social Worker for three years, is part of the Core Response Team that works with police to help residents in mental distress. He refers them to DOHMH’s network of support services so they can live healthy and stable lives and avoid setbacks like hospital readmission and recidivism.
“Mr. Cleare had worked more than 50 hours of overtime from September to December 2018, but it was never reflected in his biweekly paycheck,” Scruggs said.
“Management approved the overtime, but when Mr. Cleare submitted his timesheets, payroll and management did not have the overtime codes because they had expired,” said Local 768 President Fitz Reid. “Cleare stood up for himself and called the union, and we filed a grievance to protect his rights and expedite payment.”
Cleare reached out to Scruggs and the next day the rep filed the Step 2 grievance that was resolved 10 days later on April 19. “We filed a Step 2 to take it straight to Labor Relations after payroll failed to compensate the member.” Sgruggs said.
“I am glad the union is here and advocated on my behalf,” Cleare said.
Payroll’s overtime codes are programmed to expire. The agency had to figure out how to resubmit Cleare’s timesheets and override the coding system to pay Cleare for the overtime hours he worked.
“Once the union stepped in, they expedited my case and I was paid by the next pay period,” Cleare said.
Scruggs added, “It worked out fast because we have new people in Labor Relations who are union-friendly. They are just as interested in making the member whole, so it was no problem.”
If anyone believes they are being denied overtime pay for hours worked beyond their 40-hour workweek, they should contact the union immediately,“ Reid said.
