Review of Overtime Practices and Controls at Selected Installations in the Department of Defense

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO: (1) analyzed management's use of overtime in selected departments and agencies to determine whether the use is justified and necessary; (2) examined the use and feasibility of overtime alternatives; and (3) evaluated the adequacy of overtime control systems. The review was conducted at 10 military installations since, in fiscal year 1982, the Department of Defense (DOD) accounted for 33 percent of total Federal overtime expenditures.

GAO found that the high overtime rates were generally justified and necessary to meet increasing workloads under personnel ceiling constraints. Managers were using alternatives to overtime, such as temporary employees, to deal with the increasing workloads and to minimize overtime costs. Although overtime control procedures were generally adequate at the facilities visited, managers did not always ensure that required procedures were followed. Also, at two installations, managers and supervisors were allowing many of their employees to take annual leave during the same week in which they worked overtime. This situation could result in additional overtime requirements. DOD plans to issue a memorandum to its components reemphasizing its requirements for overtime control procedures, and it agreed that leave should not be authorized during periods when overtime is planned.