Quote :

" Raleigh Housing Authority head uses comp time to support magic hobby During the past four years, Raleigh Housing Authority Director Steve Beam has taken as much as 11 weeks off work annually with pay, some of it to pursue an unusual side business: magic. Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/12/21/3475311/disappearing-act.html#storylink=cpy"

12/21/2013 9:58:13 PM

lolololol

12/21/2013 9:59:53 PM

I mean I don't know how they use comp time, but we can use it for whatever the hell we want where I work.

Assuming this is the same as my comp time this isn't paid time off, he's already worked this time (because lots of government jobs don't pay overtime) and now is getting paid for it.

[Edited on December 21, 2013 at 10:29 PM. Reason : ]

12/21/2013 10:28:14 PM

Don't you know standard workplace regulations shouldn't apply to the government?

12/22/2013 3:00:18 AM

Yeah, I don't see what the problem is. Comp time is essentially extra vacation time for working extra hours (or sometimes given in lieu of a raise), so I don't really see the problem. Would there be a complaint if he used his paid vacation time for magic? I doubt it.

Unless the comp time was ill-gained somehow, this is classic sensationalist journalism.

[Edited on December 22, 2013 at 4:40 PM. Reason : Read the article. Still sensationalist. ]

12/22/2013 4:38:57 PM

yeah this is ridiculous "journalism"... another attempt at a manufactured controversy. The guy earns comp time by working extra hours and then uses the time he earned... who cares if he uses it to be a magician or to sit on his ass and play video games or sleep.

12/22/2013 4:50:39 PM

it's maybe a sign that he isn't being supervised well enough if he is consistently running over hours, but 440 hours doesn't sound like that much overtime spread over a year.

But here is my question, why is a executive position like this getting comp time after 40 hours? That wouldn't happen in private industry for a position with his responsibilities.

12/22/2013 4:57:26 PM

^That's local/state/federal government for you.

12/22/2013 5:03:29 PM

^+1.
I don't see what the big damn deal is. My mom works for the state and has the same kind of deal. She works 80+ hours over the course of 7 business days and gets a 3 day weekend every other week, which works out to 26 days or about 5 weeks worth of comp time. She's still one of the most effective members of her team, but that's mainly because she spent 20+ years in private industry.

Quote :

"Beam has taken more than 20 comp days a year from 2009 through 2012"

This works out to about an extra day off every 2.5 weeks. God forbid he work an extra 8 hours over a 12 day period.

[Edited on December 22, 2013 at 5:15 PM. Reason : ]

12/22/2013 5:14:52 PM

I had no idea state employees in executive positions got comp time after 40 hours. Fuck that shit, they need to cut that from every state employee not eligible for overtime.

12/22/2013 5:27:04 PM

your trolling never ends does is? gg sir.

12/22/2013 5:30:48 PM

What about that statement is outrageous enough to be mistaken for trolling? It absolutely needs to happen.

12/22/2013 5:37:48 PM

I agree with ^. I'm not nearly in a similar career position, but I don't know of many professional careers that offer comp time. I sure as heck don't have it (officially).

[Edited on December 22, 2013 at 5:39 PM. Reason : .]

12/22/2013 5:39:20 PM

who would that benefit? if taking these comp days off isn't affecting his job performance (which it doesn't sound like it is) where is the problem? it doesn't cost the state anything, especially since he is working extra on other days to get his work done.

12/22/2013 5:39:51 PM

I don't have an issue with this guy, if he's not breaking any policies/laws.

I have a slight issue with the fact that salaried professionals in government have comp time. Their compensation should be similar to private industry, as is a goal for many government positions. And unless someone can prove otherwise, I don't think salaried professionals get comp time for the most part.

[Edited on December 22, 2013 at 5:42 PM. Reason : .]

12/22/2013 5:41:34 PM

if offering comp time in lieu of higher pay (which private industry generally offers) give a cost-neutral incentive to attract better employees, sounds like win-win to me.

12/22/2013 5:44:34 PM

but that's not cost neutral

12/22/2013 5:50:58 PM

how so? are they hiring temp employees to cover when the employee takes comp time?

12/22/2013 5:53:11 PM

school teachers are generally pretty dumb aren't they

12/22/2013 5:54:20 PM

Comparing public and private sector jobs is like apples and oranges. Plus there seems to be little information in the article that detail his benefit package and policies. Its not uncommon in either sector to negotiate increased benefits in-lieu of higher pay or bonuses.

The guy's doing his job, and there's no indication that he's doing it at a level that's not acceptable. There's nothing illegal or secret about it. I can imagine the only reason this was even considered in the editor's office was because he was using the time to pursue a hobby most adults when consider silly.

If the headline had read "Raleigh Housing Authority head uses comp time to....GO Hunting/Read Books/Volunteer/Photograph Birds/Chase Storms/Rebuild Classic Cars" it would never be considered.
I can only assume they're trying to turn someone who has an unorthodox work life into this guy:


[Edited on December 22, 2013 at 6:00 PM. Reason : ]

12/22/2013 5:59:57 PM

Quote :

" but that's not cost neutral"

2,080 hrs @ $240,000 + comp time costs the state $240,000
2,080 hrs @ $240,000 + 1.5x/hr overtime costs the state >$240,000

12/22/2013 6:03:51 PM

^I'm in the "not really a big deal" boat but those positions are most definitely not eligible for overtime pay. This is local government, but in state gov't (where I have experience) positions like his are considered EPA (Exempt from the State Personnel Act) which means, among a host of other regulations, they don't get overtime pay. Comp time is something different (and in some cases is the decision of a person's manager. Not sure who'd be his manager--the city manager? The mayor?)

12/22/2013 6:18:34 PM

As previously stated... Its part of his employment. He can use it how he wants.

But I would question whether comp time is something they should offer, or perhaps offer for hours beyond 50/wk. Also, if he's accruing overtime and sitting at his desk (not working) in order to gain an extra day off... I'd have a problem with that.

12/22/2013 6:36:32 PM

you mean like how every other person does it?

12/22/2013 6:44:56 PM

Basically.

12/22/2013 6:54:27 PM

Quote :

"who would that benefit?"

it would save money, duh

[Edited on December 22, 2013 at 7:07 PM. Reason : duh]

12/22/2013 7:06:32 PM

...


he is being paid the exact same amount of money.

12/22/2013 7:16:34 PM

How much does comp time costs employers?

12/22/2013 7:19:20 PM

Productivity is 0% during comp time

12/22/2013 8:34:49 PM

he works for the govt

productivity is pretty damn low all the time

12/22/2013 8:40:24 PM

they already completed that work while working extra to earn the comp time.

12/22/2013 8:40:50 PM

If their tasks come in all at once, the position shouldn't be a full salaried position to start with. In reality, stuff is not getting done or someone else is doing it ao either way it costs money.

12/22/2013 9:04:50 PM

Quote :

"But here is my question, why is a executive position like this getting comp time after 40 hours? That wouldn't happen in private industry for a position with his responsibilities."

This is the question I had as well.

12/22/2013 9:09:19 PM

^ I had a principal in my last company that negotiated a similar benefit in lieu of a pay raise. He was the VP and was already the highest paid employee. He was due for a significant raise, but saw what that would cost the company. Not wanting to get short changed, he negotiated a big increase in his PTO instead, giving him the flexibility to come and go pretty much as he pleased.

Quote :

" Productivity is 0% during comp time"

I'd still like to hear what the financial implications are to an employer that offers comp time.

[Edited on December 22, 2013 at 9:12 PM. Reason : ]

12/22/2013 9:09:20 PM

Quote :

"If their tasks come in all at once, the position shouldn't be a full salaried position to start with. In reality, stuff is not getting done or someone else is doing it ao either way it costs money."

that's not a valid assumption and a poor argument. If the job was time-of-day sensitive and required someone to fill in for the majority of your duties, then obviously comp time would not be realistic. (for example a teacher... when a teacher is out they need someone to come in and cover their classes)

however if it's a job with self-scheduled tasks that aren't time-of-day sensitive, and the work can be completed in advance by working extra, then it's a different story.

12/22/2013 9:17:10 PM

Quote :

"however if it's a job with self-scheduled tasks that aren't time-of-day sensitive, and the work can be completed in advance by working extra..."

Then $240K is way too much to pay for such a job

12/22/2013 9:20:19 PM

why would you assume that? I feel like jobs with more ability to make your own schedule would typically be higher paying ones, as opposed to "flip these burgers from 8-5, take lunch from 12:30 to 1:00, and one 15 minute break at 3pm"

12/22/2013 9:25:06 PM

If the position does not have work all year, then they should not be salaried for a full year

12/22/2013 9:26:52 PM

I think we're all overlooking the truly important detail:

Is he a good magician?

12/22/2013 9:29:59 PM

^

Quote :

"an award-winning magician who specializes in card tricks"

He won AWARDS dude, AWARDSSSSSSS.

12/22/2013 9:31:31 PM

Because as an executive you need to make yourself available to meet with people, lead, manage, etc. You can make your own schedule somewhat but you still have to run shit.

12/22/2013 9:31:31 PM

http://www.wral.com/raleigh-housing-authority-ends-comp-time-for-director/13334023/

1/28/2014 12:34:48 PM

1/28/2014 3:04:24 PM