I received numerous phone calls and texts about an email that originated with NOPD Payroll this afternoon stating emergency pay will not be on the payroll check dated 9/17/21. This is a preliminary response to those inquiries.

The NOPD’s payroll is opposite all other city employees. When NOPD has a pay day, everyone else has a week to go.

Today, NOPD was told that the FAL forms had to be turned in by Thursday to be processed for payroll the following week. However, NOPD’s payroll was locked Monday morning because NOPD’s payroll is opposite all other city employees.

Therefore, the Emergency Rate of Pay, which is calculated based on the FAL forms, cannot be entered prior to payroll being locked because payroll is already locked and the 9/17/21 checks will include overtime but not the Emergency Rate of Pay.

I got this question: What is the difference between emergency pay and overtime? Emergency pay is generated as a result of Civil Service Rule IV Sec. 11.1(a) which says that if there is a declared state of emergency and only essential employees are required to report to work, then those employees required to report to work will be compensated at a rate of time and one-half. Overtime is dictated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA requires employers to pay time and one-half for all hours worked in excess of 85.5 hours in a 2-week cycle (for police employees).

Under these unfortunate circumstances, NOPD employees will get their overtime paid on the regular paycheck, but might have to wait for the emergency pay.

One other bonus, Mayor Cantrell announced that those employees engaged in “disaster recovery” would continue to get an extra 5% pay even though City Hall is open pursuant to Civil Service Rule IV, Sec. 11.1(d).

I will post any updates.

Donovan Livaccari