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Iowa Ends Overtime for Many of the Most Overworked State Workers

Iowa has revoked overtime eligibility for about 2,800 state workers, a move critics say could cripple government services if employees leave for the private sector and better jobs.

Iowa has revoked overtime eligibility for about 2,800 state workers, a move critics say could cripple government services if employees leave for the private sector and better jobs.

In all,167 job classifications, including nurses, public defenders and social workers, can now be required to work more than 40 hours a week without additional pay or comp time.

And for 12,800 state workers who remain eligible for overtime, the state has altered how it calculates overtime in ways that reduce their pay and the circumstances when employees qualify for it. For example, the hours that count toward overtime must be those actually worked in a week. Before, sick or vacation days counted toward the calculation.

The state estimates the changes will save $5 million a year.

But critics say the moves unfairly change the rules for state workers and threaten the state's ability to recruit and retain employees. Some state workers say some of their peers have already decided they have had enough. 

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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