When an employee actually works more than 40 hours in a workweek, the employee earns either overtime or compensatory time, (which is stated in the letter of offer). Mississippi State’s workweek is from 12:01 a.m. Sunday and ends at midnight the following Saturday. Each workweek stands by itself when calculating overtime or compensatory time.
Prior to earning overtime or compensatory time, the employee must obtain their supervisor’s approval. Both overtime and compensatory time are paid at 1.5 times the employee’s regular rate of pay. When determining overtime hours, paid leave, compensatory time used, and paid university holidays are not considered.
It should be noted that compensatory time hours should be used before personal leave and employees cannot have a balance that exceeds 240 hours of compensatory time.
If Joe turns in the following time sheet, we see that Joe took personal leave on Monday. Joe would be paid for 42 hours straight time, (34 hours actually worked, plus 8 hours of personal leave).
| Day | Hours Worked | Other Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 0 | ||
| Monday | 8(Personal Level) | Regular | |
| Tuesday | 8 | Regular | |
| Wednesday | 10 | Regular | |
| Thrusday | 8 | Regular | |
| Friday | 8 | Regular | |
| Saturday | 0 | ||
| Total | 34 | 8 | 42-straight Time |
Using the same hours as above, except this week Joe works 8 hours on Monday and does not take personal leave. Joe would be paid for 42 hours of work, (40 straight time and 2 overtime/compensatory time.)