COMPENSATORY TIME

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

There are several principles to keep in mind when administering this type of compensatory time.  

First, the benefit applies only to required service above and beyond the normal professional obligation. Questions arise regarding how one can identify the normal limits of the professional obligation. Each employee's professional obligation will vary, depending upon the client base to be served, the specific assignments given, the performance program, and any cyclical aspects of the employee's job such as registration, the start of classes, athletic events and the like. Normal duties will often include some weekend and evening activities, so work during those times is not invariably beyond the normal professional obligation.

Second, a supervisor can offer this comp time  and prior approval must be obtained for an employee to use this compensatory time.  For example, an employee who is required to work into the early morning hours to complete an emergency project, by arrangement with the immediate supervisor, might not report to work until noon on the following day even though the office is open to serve clients at 8:00 am.
While compensatory time administration is normally expected to be between the employee and the supervisor, management retains the inherent responsibility for attendance monitoring. Therefore, particularly in cases of suspected or actual abuse, the administration retains the right to assign a reviewer to monitor all aspects of compensatory time assignments and use or to correct inappropriate application of the benefit.

Third, non-holiday compensatory time is distinctly different from other types of leave in that it is not usually reported, recorded, or administered on a centralized basis; and is not provided on an hour for hour basis. The entire transaction can occur between the employee and the immediate supervisor without notation on the monthly attendance report form and is simply reflective of the flexibility in scheduling attendant to the overall performance of a professional obligation. The flexible arrangement typically occurs within the same pay period and/or week.

THE FOLLOWING FORM CAN BE USED: 

TO: Professional Employee

FROM: Immediate Supervisor

SUBJECT: Compensatory Time for Service Exceeding Normal Professional Obligation

This memorandum shall confirm our mutual agreement that you will not be reporting to your work station on (DATE) for the full time that the office is normally open. The use of this time is in recognition of the services you have performed beyond your normal professional obligation as provided for under this memorandum.   For attendance purposes, you are regarded as having been present at that date sufficient to meet your required professional obligation.

This compensatory time is not subject to accumulation in the same way that vacation is. Therefore, when an employee leaves State service, there is no payment for this type of Compensatory Time.

Questions about comp time can be referred to hrs_timeatt@stonybrook.edu.