Task force to target city's soaring overtime

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healthier workers - 2009-12-24 10:32:55

Would it make too much sense to change people to work four, nine hour shifts? Then when you get alittle extra per day (arriving 10 minutes early, staying later transferring info to next shift, not whole lunch taken, mandatory meetings....) then you've got some cushion before getting into overtime.

And you've got happier, healthier workers.

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Rob Strootman - Crownsville, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Nice distortion of the fact Shubbie - 2009-12-14 17:11:03

Disclaimer... I work for UPS, but not upper (or even middle) management

The lawsuit is filed by one person, and is seeking $100 million in damages. It's not $100 million in withheld overtime. It's also filed by a person who works in sales, a position that is (almost) always exempt from overtime pay. Sales people are compensated in ways other than overtime for the hard work they put in.

Check with your "sources" on that.

I sometimes defend you from the treatment you get on this forum by people who downrate simply out of reflex from reading your name. But that was a stupid and possibly harmful thing to post about a company you obviously know nothing about.

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Laz Johnston - churchton, md - Karma: Neutral

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Blue Ribbon Commission? - 2009-12-13 13:46:01

Talking with a Blue Ribbon Commission? Is Mr. Sussman (who suggested raising taxes) getting paid for doing what is the city's work? If you need to outsource to find the answer to spending $3.3 million on overtime, you're definitely starting on the wrong path. Mr Davis has the answer: 'There will be no overtime'.

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harry trampolini - severna park, MD - Karma: Excellent

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how can - 2009-12-12 11:57:46

the Transportation Dept be so over budget on OT, they run fixed routes on a 13 hour service day. I don't get it. Could it be not enough money in the budget to begin with or are they just over-spending.

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Pat Magnum - Arnold, MD - Karma: Bad

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chuck/fred - 2009-12-11 10:55:52

you are comparing corporations to a public entity. The situation is not the same and it is fairly simple to reign in government overtime unless you are public safety or essential personnel. Most administration is "hours as required" and is not entitled to overtime in any circumstance.

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Fay Hall - Severna Park, md - Karma: Excellent

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quick note - 2009-12-11 10:35:36

Ok Chuck, you sound like one of their PR people : ). Anyway, Cohen should consult with his new HLS attorney before he acts--as I am sure he will and she will of course study all the current Maryland Case law.

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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible

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OVERTIME LAWSUITS - 2009-12-11 10:21:39

I would be very skeptical of lawsuits coming out of California. UPS is over 100 yrs old, you don't get that far or become that successful by messing with your employees. Thay are at the top of the industry in pay and benefits and are one of a very few companies that provides health care for part timers as well a tuition re-imbursement. I think that their realtionship with the union during these tough times is very solid which would explain the long length of their contract agreements.

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chuck davis - annapolis, md - Karma: Good

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Milton Friedman - 2009-12-11 10:03:19

Josh has to be careful about his directive and how it is implented or he will surely ruin the moral of workers, and entice his managers to open themselves up to lawsuits for workplace violations. Take UPS for instance, in theU.S. District Court for the Southern District of California UPS is being sued for withholding overtime pay ( up to $100 MILLION) from a group of non-union employees ( the least protected). I am not currently sure of the status but my sources tell me it is not looking good for UPS and as always they will drag their feet , load the plaintiffs with superfluous discovery motions and try to dominate by wearing the other side out. They will settle and try to keep it out of the press--but hey, I know about it.

Walmart , another corporate giant, has been and will be sued numerous times for payroll violations
Milton Friedman, the economist, has said that corporate america has no social responsibility and is accountable only to the shareholders. There is a lesson in there somewhere for Josh.

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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible

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OVERTIME - 2009-12-11 09:23:48

Fred you are correct, there are companies that operate this way which is why they are involved in lawsuits. My example which I guess your are referring to deals with admins, clerical and lower level management. I have heard directly from a couple of those who have benefited from the exceesive city overtime that it's like free money and there are no checks and balances. If reducing overtime is the goal then accountability falls on the mid level managers to see that it happen. There are some nice salaries being paid to control cost and hold people accountable. Everyone needs to monitor and control it.

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chuck davis - annapolis, md - Karma: Good

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cut out overtime - 2009-12-10 22:01:22

management at large transportations companies use a number of different tactics to eliminate overtime costs depending on the union contract and the ability of middle manager to game the system. My sources tell me they can make the worker jump higher , work faster and skip lunch hours if they use a bonus scheme that basically pays the based on his production if he produces more than the statistical norm per hour. There is often time card tampering involved.
The pathetic middle manager in fear of his own job will often resort to tactics that are illegal and in clear violation of Union Contracts. The smart worker in order to obtain bonus money ( get paid for more hours worked) learns to game the system and usually , in the long run, actually is getting paid a lot more to do a lot less. Incompetence is a very strong trait in the management of very large corporations.

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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible

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Excessive Overtime - 2009-12-10 18:55:04

Another fine example of incompetence from the Moyer Administration. Though i did not vote for Mr.Cohen I commend him for taking on this item of excess. If you will take my advice here is how you fix this. I work for the largest transportation company on the planet and when it's time to pucker up on excess spending no one is better. Here is how we fixed overtime. An email was sent to all managers and basically said. THERE WILL BE NO OVERTIME. Thats all there is to it. For those who ignored or did not comply, they were offered assignments with less responsibility or were coached and counceled on how to achieve the objective. Your procedures and processes are only as good or poor as your managers allow them. Mr. Cohen i wish you much success and hope you are a man of your word and that you will correct the excess that preceded you....

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chuck davis - annapolis, md - Karma: Good

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He is a 'them' now. - 2009-12-10 13:12:15

Josh should begin his term by undoing and rethinking the pay scales and increases given to members of his administration. If Josh has shown some restraint and good will by denying or decreasing the amount of not only his raise but of the other "others" his hollow words about the need for budget restraints would seem sincere.
But in light of the top heavy salaries newly granted to management, asking for a reduction of income for the working man seems hypocritical, elitist and unfair
I hope that Josh does meet strong resistance to a reduction of overtime pay until he is ready to sacrifice the a portion of his own income and that of his administration.

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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible