Claim for Overtime Compensation
Highlights
A Government employee union requested an opinion concerning an Air Force employee's entitlement to overtime pay for time spent in a travel status during nonduty days. The employee spent a total traveltime of 24 hours and 15 minutes during nonduty hours and was authorized payment for 8.25 hours of overtime compensation. Contending that he should receive overtime payment for the entire traveltime, the employee filed a grievance with the Air Force. The Air Force did not grant relief, stating that there was no legal basis for it. The employee further contended that the Air Force violated the applicable labor agreement and regulations controlling the payment of overtime compensation. GAO found that the labor agreement was consistent with regulations and with the policy contained in legislation with respect to the scheduling of official time. None of the conditions contained in the legislation for paying overtime spent in travel was in, or supported by, the record in this case. After a review of the record, GAO found that the Air Force had correctly computed the employee's overtime entitlement under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Accordingly, the employee was not entitled to additional overtime pay for the travel performed.