Overtime compensatory time
Last updated: September 22, 2023
This page applies to all regular overtime eligible classified, contract covered, and professional staff.
Overtime
All overtime-eligible employees are paid 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for all overtime hours, unless a higher rate is specified in their collective bargaining agreement.
Overtime-exempt employees are not paid for overtime hours.
Work schedules and overtime pay (full-time)
Classified non-union
| Employees: | Overtime is paid for any hours in excess of: |
|---|---|
| Non-hospital employees | 40 hours in a workweek |
| Hospital employees on a 40-hour work period | 40 hours in a 7-day period |
| Hospital employees on an 80-hour work period | 8 hours in a 24-hour period or 80 hours in a 14-day period |
Contract classified
| Employees: | Overtime is paid for any hours in excess of: |
|---|---|
| Employees with a regular or alternate work period position | The full-time daily shift or 40 hours in a workweek |
| Hospital employees assigned to a 14-day schedule |
8 hours in a 24-hour period or 80 hours in a 14-day period |
| Employees with a nonscheduled work period position | 40 hours in a workweek |
| Employees with an excepted work period position | Do not qualify for overtime compensation, unless a collective bargaining agreement says otherwise. |
Contract classified employees should also check their collective bargaining agreement for additional overtime-related provisions.
Professional staff who are overtime-eligible
| Employees: | Overtime is paid for any hours in excess of: |
|---|---|
| All employees | 40 hours in a workweek |
Part-time employees
All part-time, overtime-eligible employees receive overtime pay only for hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek. Forty hours or less are paid at your regular rate of pay.
Holidays and paid time off
Your employment program determines whether holidays and paid time off hours are considered time worked when calculating overtime.
| Employment program: | Included in overtime calculations: |
|---|---|
| Classified non-union | Holidays, including your personal holiday, are considered time worked. Paid time off is not. |
| Contract covered staff | Check your specific collective bargaining agreement to determine if holidays and paid time off are included. |
| Professional staff | Only hours actually worked are included. Holidays and paid time off are not. |
Preapproval of overtime
Many departments require that employees get approval before working any overtime hours. Follow your department’s overtime authorization process to obtain preapproval.
Compensatory time
As an overtime-eligible employee, you can receive compensatory time instead of overtime pay if your manager approves (and for contract covered employees, if your collective bargaining agreement provides for compensatory time). However, your supervisor may not require you to accept compensatory time instead of overtime pay.
You receive 1.5 hours of compensatory time for every overtime hour worked, unless a different rate is specified in your collective bargaining agreement.
Overtime-exempt employees — or employees assigned to excepted work period positions — are not eligible for compensatory time except for the following situations:
- Classified non-union: A manager may authorize compensatory time on a straight-time basis if the overtime-exempt employee is required to work an excessive amount of hours for an extended period of time.
- Contract covered staff: Human Resources may authorize compensatory time if the employee in an excepted work period position is directed to work an excessive amount of hours for an extended period of time.
Using compensatory time
Follow your department’s usual leave request procedures to take time off using compensatory time.
Deadline
Unless your collective bargaining agreement states otherwise, you must use or be paid for your accumulated time by June 30.
Maximum accrual
You may not accrue more than 240 hours of compensatory time. However, contract classified employees should check their collective bargaining agreement as some agreements dictate a different maximum amount.
Transferring departments
You will be paid for any unused compensatory time before transferring to another UW department. Payment is based on your regular hourly rate at the time of your transfer.
Leaving UW employment
You will be paid for any unused compensatory time if you leave UW employment. Payment is based on your regular hourly rate at the time of your separation.