Survey: Tennessee prison officers dislike overtime plan

Prison tile
Prison tile

NASHVILLE - Amid ongoing scrutiny of how correctional officers are paid and scheduled in Tennessee, a new survey shows that the officers overwhelmingly dislike the state's recently changed overtime policies.

More than 80 percent of officers surveyed said they were negatively affected by the state's decision not to pay overtime until they worked more than 171 hours in a month, The Tennessean reported.

Previously, the officers received overtime working the 160 hours compiled through a traditional 40-hour work week.

The survey was conducted by the Tennessee State Employees Association, with the help of the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Officers were generally split on whether they'd like to work slightly shorter shifts six days in a row, or a longer shift with rotating days off: 55 percent preferred 8.5- or 9-hour shifts where they'd work six days and then have three off, while 45 percent preferred the 12-hour shifts with rotating days off.

In a statement, association president Bryan Merritt said he believes there would have been large support for a return to the department's traditional 40-hour work week if it had been included as a survey option.

"The results of this survey show that the Department of Correction has much work to do with regard to employee overtime pay and work schedules," Merritt said.

In a Dec. 16 letter to staff, department Commissioner Derrick Schofield noted the displeasure with overtime pay and said officials at each facility would be using the results to decide before the end of the year on what schedule they would like to use. Each facility may decide to use one of several different schedules, he said.

The survey included responses from 836 employees, more than a quarter of the 3,060 correctional employees eligible to complete the survey. Employees from each of the state's 10 publicly-run facilities participated in the survey.

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