Chicago Public Employee Earned $90,000 Overtime

For a total salary of $169,000. And this isn't unusual.

Overtime payments in the City of Chicago appear to have gotten a little out of hand, with one employee - a vaguely-titled "police communications operator" - making more in overtime than his or her $77,784 salary last year.

Said employee earned $91,116 in overtime pay - which is a good deal more than America's average per capita income, $27,915.

And this worker's overtime comp is not that exceptional. "Overall, 26 city employees made over $50,000 in overtime last year, while 223 made more than $30,000," according to Redeye.

Before you get too outraged, many of these employees are in policing and fire-fighting – lines of work that most Americans would agree warrant decent compensation. However, it's unlikely that many people – other than the Chicago employees themselves – will think any variety of public work warrants such generous overtime.

Chicago government has no plans to cap overtime pay - they've just increased their overtime budget by $3 million, to $32 million total. As Gawker's Jordan Sargent puts it, "who says the American dream is dead?"

Via Gawker.

Should Chicago rein in overtime payment for city employees?

[Hireman]

IF the time is actually warranted, they could easily hire more people and still save money.

[harold_lloyd]

That's the right question, but I'm not so sure of the answer. Don't forget that a new employee costs a lot more than just another salary.

[PuroChorizo361]

@harold_lloyd Bull!! It's poor management!

[harold_lloyd]

@PuroChorizo361
The obligation of a government is to meet the needs the people demand be met in the most efficient way possible. If cost accounting shows that paying overtime is cheaper than hiring new people, then whatever it looks like to you, it's the correct strategy

[Hireman]

@harold_lloyd I guarantee that OT for these people is AT LEAST time-and-a-half. Based on this, they could hire a person at regular wage, and save money if this is a regular practice. I agree, it's very poor management.

[harold_lloyd]

@Hireman
I still maintain that without knowing all the details, you just can't be in a position to know whether it's smart management or not.

[woodtick57]

when we bid on certain construction projects, some of the specs require a police officer to be there for traffic control. we have to hire them. they are off-duty on overtime pay and we pay that to the city/county /state...

how much of the police earning overtime is not paid for with taxes?

[tomincali]

thats strict. you guys can't just use a laborer?

[jessejaymes]

I know at one time in Los Angeles the police working overtime were making in excess of 60.00 an hour. I don't know about today but that seems a bit excessive for traffic control.

[Rocker]

In Woody's defense on hiring OT Police, some jurisdictions have that as a requirement because of their insurance policies. The next county over had a situation where there was a fire at a house beside the road. A volunteer fireman was directing traffic and there was a minor collision. Because of the circumstances the vol fireman was held liable in damages, not the county, not the fire department. Outside the city limit the policy was that Sheriff Department was to handle traffic. So now all traffic is stopped at the scene until a LEO arrives to direct. Now I don't know that for fact but it's second hand.

[Politicskid]

This is nothing. In my area, Portland, Oregon, there are six bus drivers being paid six figures due to overtime (EXCLUDING generous benefits), including one that's paycheck read $117,000. Worst of all, these drivers are working seventeen hours a day to do it, and they are a danger to the passengers and motorists when they get sleepy. Of course, the transit union is blocking reform.

[stepped_in_it]

Nice.....since the Fed Gov. won't allow OTR truck drivers to drive more than 11 hours during a 14 hour day and then you must take a 10 hour break to reset that 11/14 hour period. I know some drivers cheat, but, getting caught will get you a hefty fine and subsequent loss of your CDL.

[ConserveUSA]

@stepped_in_it The Federal Government does not know how the hard workers struggle to make it. I am not a trucker but truckers do their part in keeping America alive!

[hwyangel]

@stepped_in_it

Federal government should stop harassing truck drivers and stop issuing licences to people who can't drive.

[dances-weebles]

it depends upon the position. is everybody qualified to be a police officer, or a firefighter?

[NTBFW]

If they work the hours pay them.

[drpeeper]

And you wonder why Illinois is broke?

[LGRepublican]

And yet they keep saying there's no money to be cut from the budget....

[JustTheFacts]

... just another example of government waste! No dumbass cop or firefighter is worth $90,000 in overtime! Hell, if you want to actually pay someone that's earning their pay ... try paying our damn soldiers in combat who are being shot at everyday!

[texas_cutie75]

I have to say I'm disappointed in your calling firefighters and cops dumb asses.... remember that when one of them saves your life. I do think that if $90,000 was given in overtime, more personnel could be utilized. Just watch the insults.

[Cheenoguy]

1)Next time your house is on fire just put it out yourself then. When your car gets stolen, well you are out of luck because cops are useless to you.

2)You do realize Chicago doesn't have authority over the armed forces pay don't you? No? Oh well color me surprised.

3) Yes, lets pay soldiers more.

4) If you don't think cops and firefighters risk their life everyday then go ask a 1st grader to explain it to you.

And those are " just the facts" mate.

[jessejaymes]

I support tripling military pay for combat assignment. And I don't mean stinking clerks sitting behind a fence with 2,000 soldiers around them. I mean COMBAT troops. But when you hit 90,000 in overtime for a non field operative in LE I think it's time to hire another person. You can fund another person top to bottom for 90 grand a year and if you can't you're bsing someone.

[texas_cutie75]

@Cheenoguy

I think this is the very first topic we have ever agreed on!!

[jules61]

90,000.00??????? crimany. talk about waste. but it is chicago after all. alot of us in Illinois would like to get rid of Cook county. Illinois is corrupt. and it is embarassing. cannot wait to move so I can quit trying to explain why our governors keep ending up in jail. so maybe this much in overtime is not such a suprise. but it is infuriating because governor quinn is trying to pretty much take my husbands retirement, charge double for health care and make him work till he is 109. all so he does not have to quit his pork barrel spending. The courts have shot him down every time but he is still appealing. he is a moron, does not see anything that he is doing wrong and is a big part of the problem. and does not care to be part of the solution.

[stepped_in_it]

HMMM.....one of the first things I was taught in mgr training was payroll was the only expense you had control over! Why not hire more people than pay the excessive OT?

[MilitantDucky]

Did they not teach you in manager training that employees (especially public employees) have more costs associated with them than just their base salary? Cities have to pony up for salary, insurance, pay out on un-used sick and vacation time, and contribute to pensions. Most places would rather pay out OT than take on those extra costs.

[DARSB]

I'm pretty much pro anything that keeps cops & firefighters happy and dedicated.

Beats hell out of a vigilante with a garden hose.

[jessejaymes]

You know I agree with you but this wasn't a cop. It was support. Let get real here. Twice the national average? Nope.

[mudzangandoro]

The word "Chicago" is right next to the word "Corruption" in the Dictionary!!!

[jessejaymes]

It isn't just chicago. People in city govt are double dipping every big city. they spend 20 years in one job "retire" get full pension, take another job in the city and for some reason only have to work 10 more years and they get full pension from the second job as well. All the time drawing down full pension from the first job while on the second job. Just boggles the mind.

[mudzangandoro]

@jessejaymes Yep! its not Chicago only however Chicago is the poster child for corruption. You have got to agree with me on this one my friend; Blagojevich, George Ryan, Dan Walker, Attorney William Scott, Otto Kerner, Paul Powell....the list goes on and on and on. These are just politicians of course.

[Cheenoguy]

Police communications manager sure sounds like dispatcher to me. If cops and firefighters are getting this much overtime it is time to do some hiring.

[russ]

I'd say it's safe to say none of the overtime is going to teaching gun safety....

[Republican5001]

I see no problem with this. You can 1 guy $90,000 or 10 guys $9,000. Still got to be paid. Especially anything relating to public safety or protection. Often times we do not pay them for what they do, but what they may have to do.

And that is protecting us from ourselves.

[commonsense51]

Don't you just hate unions? Why on earth do they have any say whatsoever over how much tax payers pay public employees. Get rid of these public unions. They are bankrupting our states.

[Thunderchicken]

Simple math says this employee worked 71 hours a week, every week, with no vacation time. I think someone's padding their time card.

[jessejaymes]

Of course they are.

[Sabio]

i cant believe 9 people said it was okay!?!?!?!

[Republican5001]

Whether you pay 1 guy 90k or 10 guys 9k, what's the difference? Still has to be paid.

[Sabio]

@Republican5001 ya, but you get 10 times the work.

[Republican5001]

@Sabio maybe....maybe not.

[Sabio]

@Republican5001 we are talking unions, so yes, that is up in the air as to them actually "working"

[falco_alba]

It is not unusual to work 75 hours a week, which is probably what this person worked.

My guess is that they were on 12 or 24 hour shifts.

They earned their money. Let them keep it.

[SignifiedNBlue]

Well Chicago has the most of everything including murders...so apparently the overtime is dont helping.. Perhaps they are paying overtime to the wrong people.. Fire their asses lol

[scotta]

Wonder if they get a discount on banner care

[MadAmerican]

And you wonder why the murder rate is so high there? The whole city seems out of wack. Where are your leaders?