Thirty-five state jail officers locked up $100,000 or extra in extra time in 2022 — a 66.6% soar year-over-year with the DOC saying they’re attempting to rent extra guards.
Three prime earners final 12 months pushed their pay previous $300,000 with the bonus hours and have been rapidly adopted by 26 largely fellow jail officers who took dwelling $200,000 and up in gross pay due to OT, payroll data present.
It’s the most recent instance of extra time being spent throughout the commonwealth at eye-popping charges, because the Herald first reported final week.
DOC spokesman Jason Dobson stated the mission is “balancing its security needs and fiscal responsibilities.” He didn’t deal with, nevertheless, if the in depth hours clocked put guards or inmates in danger.
“There are circumstances when overtime is required to ensure the safety of those living and working in secure facilities. Overtime needs fluctuate for a variety of reasons including but not limited to attrition, illness, inmate hospital trips and retirement,” he added.
Dobson, deputy director of communications, did say the DOC is in search of recruits.
“The Department remains focused on recruiting, training, and activating classes of new, diverse candidates. In the last 4 months, we have engaged prospective candidates at more than 50 job fairs, civil service informational sessions and career days,” he added.
It’s clear from the information that some guards are going for all of the OT they will seize.
A Herald payroll evaluation — a part of the “Your Tax Dollars at Work” report — discovered that jail guards with modest base pay from $82,000 and up nonetheless earned $200,000 or extra from additional hours.
It was as soon as the State Police who dominated the annual record of extra time earners, however a crackdown on abuse has eased these rolls. Now the OT additionally contains the guards, a couple of nurses and MBTA staff.
One Department of Correction guard advised the Herald per week in the past a couple of colleagues appear to be those who soar on all of the OT.
“A couple of us do a lot of hours,” stated DOC officer Edward Johansen, who earned $215,168 in extra time ending with $313,896 in whole pay, Comptroller data present.
“I have 10-year-old twins and after 10 years your body gets used to” the shortage of sleep, he added. “I eat right. I do my job,” he stated when pressed if he can work all these hours and never see any slip in his efficiency.
He added he’ll most likely ease up within the coming 12 months. Others, nevertheless, didn’t return messages left by the Herald looking for solutions to the identical questions.
Go to bostonherald.com to view each DOC wage and 160,000-plus extra state worker pay. Send tricks to [email protected].
Source: www.bostonherald.com”