Workers are never better off under the comp time bill: Consider a worker who typically works 40 hours a week for $20 an hour. During a normal two weeks, she makes $1600, and during a normal five weeks, she makes $4000.
| Under Current Law | Under the Comp Time Bill | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (Overtime pay) | (Comp time in lieu of overtime pay) | ||
| Works 44 hours one week, asks for 6 hours off the next week | Gets the time off she asked for | In the first week, earns $920 ($20 an hour for 40 hours plus $30 an hour— time and a half—for the four overtime hours). In the second week, works 34 hours and earns $680 ($20 an hour for 34 hours). In the two weeks combined, she earns $1600 for 78 hours of work. | In the first week, she earns $800 for 40 hours, and banks 6 hours of comp time (time and a half for the four overtime hours). In the second week, works 34 hours but gets paid for 40 hours— $800 —because she uses the comp time. In the two weeks combined, she earns $1600 for 78 hours of work. This is exactly the same as under overtime! Comp time gives her nothing she can’t have under overtime. |
| Doesn’t get the time off she asked for | In the first week, earns $920 ($20 an hour for 40 hours plus $30 an hour— time and a half— for the four overtime hours). In the second week, works 40 hours and earns $800. In the two weeks combined, she earns $1720 for 84 hours of work. | In the first week, she earns $800 for 40 hours, and banks 6 hours of comp time (time and a half for the four overtime hours). In the second week, she works 40 hours and earns $800. In the two weeks combined, she earns $1600 for 84 hours of work. She is clearly worse off in the short run under comp time than under overtime. If and when she is eventually given the time off, she will once again be as well-off under comp time as she would be under overtime. | |
| Works 80 hours a week for two weeks, asks for the next three weeks off | Gets the time off she asked for | In the first two weeks, earns a total of $4000 ($20 an hour for 80 hours plus $30 an hour— time and a half—for the 80 overtime hours). Gets the next three weeks off with no pay. In the five weeks combined, she earns $4000 for 160 hours of work. | In the first two weeks, earns $1600 for 80 hours, and banks 120 hours of comp time (time and a half for the 80 overtime hours). Gets the next three weeks off, but gets paid for 120 hours worked— $2400 —because uses comp time. In the five weeks combined, she earns $4000 for 160 hours of work. This is exactly the same as under overtime! Comp time gives her nothing she can’t have under overtime. |
| Doesn’t get the time off she asked for | In the first two weeks, earns a total of $4000 ($20 an hour for 80 hours plus $30 an hour— time and a half— for the 80 overtime hours). In the next three weeks, works 40 hours a week and earns $2400. In the five weeks combined, she earns $6400 for 280 hours of work. | In the first two weeks, earns $1600 for 80 hours, and banks 120 hours of comp time (time and a half for the 80 overtime hours). In the next three weeks, works 40 hours a week and earns $2400. In the five weeks combined, she earns $4000 for 280 hours of work. She is clearly worse off in the short run under comp time than under overtime. If and when she is eventually given the time off, she will once again be as well-off under comp time as she would be under overtime. | |