FSIS Directive 4550.7 - Pay for the Continuous Workday

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Food Safety

and Inspection

Service

FSIS Directive

4550.7

Pay for the

Continuous

Workday

PAY FOR THE CONTINUOUS WORKDAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page No.

I. PURPOSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II. RESERVED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

III. RESERVED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

IV. REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

V. ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

VI. POLICY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

VII. DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

VIII. COVERAGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

IX. BACKGROUND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

X. SCHEDULING THE CONTINUOUS WORKDAY . . . . . . . 4

XI. PRE-OPERATIONAL SANITATION (PRE-OP) AND ANTE

MORTEM INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

XII. NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

XIII. HOLIDAYS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

XIV. MEAL PERIOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

XV. D&D WITH LEAVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

XVI. WORK UNIT MEETINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

XVII. ROUNDING OVERTIME WORKED. . . . . . . . . . . . 9

XVIII. VARIABLE OVERTIME CHARGES. . . . . . . . . . . . 10

XIX. D&D/WALK TIME IN HIMP ESTABLISHMENTS. . . . . . . . 10

XX. COMPLETING THE T&A REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

XXI. KNIFE SHARPENING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

XXII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

ATTACHMENT 1, Illustrating the Continuous Workday. . . . . . 13

ATTACHMENT 2, Supplemental Instructions for Work Performed Under

the Amended Regulations at 9 CFR Parts 307.4, 381.37,and 590.124,

Schedule of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

ATTACHMENT 3, Transaction Codes . . . . . . . . . . . 25

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE

WASHINGTON, DC

FSIS DIRECTIVE

4550.7

12/28/12

DISTRIBUTION:

Electronic; All Field Employees

OPI:

HRP

– Compensation Policy Branch

PAY FOR THE CONTINUOUS WORKDAY

I. PURPOSE

It is FSIS’s responsibility to fairly and properly compensate inspection program personnel for all

inspection work performed as part of their continuous workday. This directive provides

guidance on the compensation for this work by:

A. Providing instructions on how to correctly calculate the hours of work and

annotate the time and attendance (T&A) report in order to accurately record both basic and

overtime (OT) work.

B. Illustrating scenarios to aid employees and supervisors in determining the proper

form and amount of compensation (see Attachment 1).

C. Providing supplemental instructions that focus on compensating work performed

under 9 CFR 307.4, 381.37 and 590.124, Schedule of Operations (see Attachment 2).

II. (RESERVED)

III. (RESERVED)

IV. REFERENCES

5 CFR 550, Pay Administration (General)

5 CFR 551, Pay Administration Under the Fair Labor Standards Act

5 CFR 610, Hours of Duty

9 CFR 307.4(c), Facilities for Inspection

9 CFR 381.37(c), Poultry Products Inspection Regulations

9 CFR 590.124, Egg Products Inspection Act

Federal Register, Vol. 76, No. 112, Friday, June 10, 2011

FSIS Directive 4550.4, Premium Pay Under Title 5, U.S. Code

FSIS Directive 4551.1, Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act

FSIS Directive 5090.1, Donning and Doffing Measurement

V. ABBREVIATIONS

The following are used in their shortened form in this directive:

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CSI Consumer Safety Inspector

D&D Donning and Doffing

HIMP HAACP-Based Inspection Models Project

IPP Inspection Program Personnel

NROT Non-Reimbursable Overtime

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OT Overtime

Pre-OP Pre-Operational Sanitation

ROT Reimbursable Overtime

T&A Time and Attendance

TC Transaction Code

TOD Tour of Duty

WUM Work Unit Meetings

VI. POLICY

This directive is to be used in conjunction with FSIS Directive 5090.1 and the revised

regulations in 9 CFR 307.4(c), 381.37(c), and 590.124. In addition, this directive supplements

the premium pay regulations in 5 CFR Parts 550, 551, and 610, and FSIS Directives 4550.4,

and 4551.1.

VII. DEFINITIONS

A. Basic Time. The employee’s non-overtime daily TOD in which the employee is

paid at the basic rate plus any applicable differential. Employees working a compressed work

schedule may work 9 or 10 hours as their daily TOD before OT is earned.

B. Continuous Workday. The employee’s workday beginning when the first

principal or related duty is performed and lasting through the completion of the last principal or

related duty.

C. Donning and Doffing (D&D). The putting on (donning) and taking off (doffing)

of required clothing and gear that cannot be performed at home. As an inspection activity, D&D

is regularly scheduled and may be performed as part of the 8-hour workday or performed during

an OT period.

D. 8-Hour Workday. Also referred to as basic time (see definition above). The

length of the employee’s non-overtime TOD in which the employee is paid at the basic rate plus

any applicable differential. Employees working a compressed work schedule can work 9 or 10

hours as their daily TOD before OT is earned.

E. Inspection Work. Includes principal duties and other related and administrative

duties deemed integral and indispensible to those principal duties. These duties include but are

not limited to D&D, completing the time and attendance report (T&A), knife sharpening, and

workstation preparation.

F. Irregular Overtime. Work in excess of 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week

that is not scheduled in advance of the administrative workweek. (NOTE: Less than 8 minutes

of irregular OT that is not part of the continuous workday is rounded down to the nearest quarter

hour. In turn, irregular OT of 8 minutes or more is rounded up to the nearest quarter hour.)

G. Postshift Period. An OT period occurring after the approved schedule of

operations has ended. When compensable duties are performed during this period, employees

are paid at their OT rate.

H. Preshift Period. The overtime period prior to the start of the approved schedule

of operations. When compensable duties are performed during this period, employees are paid

at their OT rate.

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

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I. Principal Duties. The primary duties and responsibilities for which the position

has been established.

J. Regular Overtime. OT work that is scheduled in advance of the start of the

administrative workweek. Specific days and clock hours are assigned; therefore making the OT

part of an employee’s regularly scheduled administrative workweek. It must be fully paid and

cannot be rounded down.

K. Rounding Rule. Per 5 CFR 550.112(a)(2) and 5 CFR 551.521(b), a quarter of

an hour shall be the largest fraction of an hour used for crediting irregular or occasional OT

work. Odd minutes of irregular overtime will be rounded up or rounded down to the nearest

quarter hour. This rule, in the context D&D and related activities, only applies to irregular

overtime performed outside of the continuous workday. However, regularly scheduled OT must

be fully compensated; therefore odd minutes will only be rounded up.

L. Schedule of Operations. The approved clock hours of a day and the days of

the week an establishment operates that require Federal inspection.

M. Tour of Duty (TOD). The hours of a day and the days of the week an employee

is regularly scheduled to work. This includes basic and regularly scheduled OT.

N. Transaction Code. The numerical code used on the T&A form to indicate the

type of hours worked. See attachment 3 for the list of transaction codes used in this directive.

O. Walk Time. The measured roundtrip time required for the employee to walk from

the location where inspection activities begin (example: locker room) to the furthest workstation

and back. Walk time also includes the time necessary to walk from the workstation to the

lunchroom and back to the workstation. This time may also include any intervening stops such

as to wash equipment. (NOTE: See FSIS Directive 5090.1 for specific time measurement

guidance.)

VIII. COVERAGE

A. All fulltime, permanent part-time, and intermittent inspection program employees

who perform inspection work that requires donning and doffing of specific protective clothing

and gear either during basic time or during OT and who must be at an inspection station on the

line at the start of a shift are covered by this directive. These employees include, but are not

limited to, inspection plant personnel (IPP) at all grade levels in processing and slaughter

establishments and egg processing establishments, import and export inspectors, CSI’s, and

temporary fulltime IPP who must assume duties that require D&D. (NOTE: Permanent part-

time and intermittent inspection program employees who D&D during preshift or postshift

periods or outside the schedule of operations around the lunch period but do not work over 8

hours per day or 40 hours per week are entitled to receive basic pay as opposed to OT for

D&D.)

B. In-establishment supervisors who, because of a staffing shortage, assume the

inspection duties of an in-plant line inspector in processing and slaughter establishments, where

applicable, are also covered. However, this coverage does not include supervisors who provide

relief to inspectors for breaks.

Page 4

IX. BACKGROUND

A. As a result of various court cases, FSIS amended the meat, poultry, and egg

products regulations in 9 CFR pertaining to the schedule of operations in federally-inspected

establishments. As a result, FSIS has defined the 8-hour workday to include the time that

inspection program personnel need at the workplace to perform certain D&D inspection and

related activities, and walk time to and from the workstations. See FSIS Directive 5090.1 for

some examples of inspection activities.

B. D&D inspection activities performed before and after the lunch period may also

be included in the 8-hour workday.

C. Each IPP employee performs D&D and walking activities on a daily basis as part

of their official duties. Many inspectors such as those working in egg products, poultry

processing, and some slaughter establishments, have sufficient time during basic time to

perform these activities. These employees are paid for D&D and related activities and walking

as part of their basic tour of duty (TOD) and receive regular base pay for this work because:

1. They work in establishments where a full 8 hours of production are not

performed.

2. They are not required to be at a fixed point on the inspection line in order

for production to begin or continue.

D. There are other inspectors such as certain on-line livestock and poultry slaughter

inspectors who, because of establishment production schedules, must begin or end their

continuous workday outside of the establishment’s approved schedule of operations. In these

instances, the establishment would receive the full 8 hours of inspection time. The inspectors

would receive regular base pay for 8 hours of inspection work performed during the approved

schedule of operations and reimbursable overtime (ROT) pay when the extended continuous

workday includes the preshift period, the postshift period, or the period surrounding the lunch

period.

X. SCHEDULING THE CONTINUOUS WORKDAY

Individual establishments may schedule their production workday in one of two ways:

A. Alternative 1. Include all inspection activities as part of the 8-hour workday.

1. When inspection-related activities are scheduled as part of the 8-hour

workday, the employees’ TOD begins when the IPP performs the first inspection activity

(examples: gathering gear or donning required clothing). The last concluding activity (normally

doffing) is performed as the final work requirement within the TOD. D&D before and after lunch

as well as the walk time from the workstation to the lunch room and back to the workstation are

part of the 8-hour workday. This scheduling will result in the establishment receiving less than 8

full hours of on-line examination of product. However, because all of the inspection-related

activities are included in the 8-hour basic time, no OT charges will be billed to the

establishment, and FSIS employees will be compensated at the basic rate of pay.

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

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2. Completion times for donning, doffing, related activities, and walking are

measured in each establishment in accordance with FSIS Directive 5090.1. Once established,

the time for these activities is included in the 8-hour workday. The FSIS supervisor will inform

the establishment to adjust its schedule of operations accordingly, so that all inspection

activities are performed within the IPP’s 8-hour TOD. If the establishment decides it needs a full

8 hours of on-line examination of product, the FSIS supervisor is to advise the establishment

that it will incur overtime costs because the IPP will need to perform the D&D, related activities,

and walking outside of the 8- hour workday. The supervisor is to approve OT only in 15-minute

increments.

3. Any OT that accrues because of the performance of any off-line or

production activities is to be recorded on the T&A with the proper management code to bill the

establishment. Establishments that choose to keep the line going past the IPP’s TOD will incur

a minimum quarter hour OT charge to cover the remaining shift time as well as the walk time

and doffing of gear and protective clothing at the end of the shift.

4. The following are examples of the many ways that an establishment’s

schedule of operations could vary and the corresponding time accounting on the T&A:

a. In a slaughter establishment, the time measurement for D&D and

walk time for on-line inspection personnel at the beginning of the shift, surrounding the lunch

period, and at the end of the workday, comes out to a total of 10 minutes broken down as

follows: donning and walking to the workstation takes 3 minutes; walking and doffing for lunch

takes 2 minutes; donning and walking back to the workstation takes 2 minutes; and walking and

doffing at the end of the day takes 3 minutes. Assuming a 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. tour of duty,

donning and the subsequent walking time to the workstations would begin at 7:00 a.m. The

production line would start at 7:03 a.m. and would need to stop at 10:58 a.m. to allow the IPP 2

minutes to walk to the lunchroom and doff their gear and protective clothing. The second half of

the shift begins at 11:30 a.m. when the IPP don their gear and protective clothing and walk back

to their workstations by the 11:32 a.m. start of production. This scheduling allows for the 30

minute unpaid lunch period. The production line would need to stop at 3:27 p.m. to allow the

IPP 3 minutes to walk back to the changing room to doff their gear and protective clothing.

There would be no OT charged in this example.

b. In subparagraph 4.a., instead of shutting the line at 10:58 a.m., it

stopped 4 minutes later. Basic time would continue for those 4 minutes plus another 2 minutes

for the walk time to the lunch room and doffing of gear. The inspector’s 30 minute, duty-free

lunch period begins at 11:04 a.m. The second half of the shift begins at 11:34 a.m. when the

IPP dons gear and protective clothing and walks back to their workstation by 11:36 a.m. Since

the IPP worked 4 hours and 4 minutes before lunch, only 3 hours 56 minutes remain in the shift.

The production line would still need to stop at 3:27 p.m. to allow the IPP time during the TOD to

walk back to the changing room to doff their gear and protective clothing. There would be no OT

charged in this example.

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c. Continuing with the examples in subparagraphs 4.a and b., if the

establishment did not shut down the line at the correct time for lunch (example: 5 minutes later

or more), basic time would continue through the walk time to the lunch room and doffing of gear.

The 30 minute duty-free lunch period would begin and end later as would reporting back to the

workstation by 5 minutes or more. If the establishment wants all the concluding D&D and

related activities performed within the 8- hour workday, then the line would have to shut down

production after 3 hours and 55 minutes (at 3:27 p.m. ) to allow the IPP to walk back to the

changing room to doff their gear and protective clothing. However, if the establishment decides

it wants to keep production for the full 4 hours after lunch, the extra 5 minutes is added to the 3

minutes the IPP needs to walk back to the changing room to doff their gear and protective

clothing. The extra 8 minutes is rounded up to a 15-minute OT charge. (NOTE: Use TC codes

19, 21, 25, or 26 to record the employee’s overtime plus the appropriate accounting code to

charge the establishment.)

d. Assuming the IPP’s shift is being worked as scheduled (see

subparagraph 4.a.) except at the end of the tour, the establishment has requested that OT be

worked. This OT period must include both the production time and the time allotted for walking

back to the changing room to doff the required gear and protective clothing. The supervisor will

only approve OT in amounts totaling 15 minutes or amounts that can be rounded up to 15

minutes. The time is coded on the T&A using TC codes 19, 25, or 26 with the appropriate

accounting code to charge the establishment. (NOTE: These examples are illustrated in the

scenarios in Attachment 1.)

B. Alternative 2. Extend the employee’s continuous work day by scheduling off-

line inspection work as OT during the preshift or postshift periods or before and after the lunch

period.

1. Meat and poultry slaughter establishments may require the full 8 hours of

production time and, therefore, can choose to establish preshift and postshift periods in which

all the D&D and related activities are performed as OT. Under this type of scheduling, the full 8

hours of on-line inspection are provided to the establishment and are compensated as basic

time. During the preshift period, in addition to donning any required protective clothing and

gear, preliminary activities also include (but are not limited to) the walk time from the changing

area to the workstation. During the postshift period, final activities include (but are not limited

to) the walk time from the workstation back to the changing area plus the doffing of the required

protective clothing and gear. In some cases, the time to doff and to subsequently don the

protective clothing and gear plus the walk time to and from the lunch room is also measured and

added to the preshift or postshift OT charge to the establishment.

2. FSIS established measured completion times for commonly performed

inspection related activities in each livestock and poultry slaughter establishment. Walking

times are also measured on an establishment by establishment basis in accordance with FSIS

Directive 5090.1. The OT incurred is charged to the establishment in quarter hour increments.

3. If the entire time allotted for performing D&D and related activities is not

used for those purposes, the excess time may be applied towards performing additional on-line

inspection or completing administrative duties. (EXAMPLE: It has been determined that the

D&D during the preshift and postshift periods, including the time surrounding the lunch period,

have been measured to take a total of 7 minutes. Regular OT of any amount is rounded to the

next quarter hour. Therefore, the D&D OT is 15 minutes. The inspector may perform additional

inspection activities for the remaining 8 minutes without the establishment incurring any further

OT charges.)

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

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4. See Attachment 1 for illustrations of scenarios that are typical of various

ways overtime may be scheduled under this alternative.

C. Change in the Schedule of Operations. When the establishment notifies the

Agency that the start of operations will be delayed giving the IPP sufficient time to don and walk

on basic time, no OT is earned for these activities. If operations end in time for the IPP to walk

and doff during basic time, then no OT is earned for these activities.

XI. PRE-OPERATIONAL SANITATION (PRE-OP) AND ANTE MORTEM

INSPECTION

In all meat and poultry product establishments, pre-op and ante mortem inspection are part of

the IPP’s 8-hour workday, and FSIS employees are compensated at their basic rate of pay.

When the establishment requests that pre-op or ante mortem inspection be conducted during

the preshift period, the time is recorded on the T&A as OT and is billed to the establishment in

15-minute increments at the OT rate. As set out in FSIS Directive 5090.1, Section VII, any

donning of protective clothing and gear necessary to perform the work is also included in this

OT period. The IPP’s basic TOD remains the same regardless of when pre-op or ante mortem

inspection is being performed.

XII. NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL

A. Work performed as part of the continuous workday between the hours of 6 p.m.

and 6 a.m. is compensated with an additional night differential. This differential is applied to OT

hours as well as non-OT hours within the continuous workday.

B. Whenever the total OT worked (D&D plus production) is 15 minutes or less, and

any portion of it is worked during the night period (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.), the entire 15-minute OT

period is subject to the night differential. (EXAMPLE: An employee’s donning time is 3 minutes

(night hours), and the doffing time is 3 minutes (day hours). The 6 cumulative minutes is

rounded to 15 minutes and the entire period is coded as TC-25 because we cannot split up an

increment of 15 minutes.)

C. There may be instances in which the OT period is split between daytime hours

and night time hours. (EXAMPLE: The inspector’s daytime donning and walking time totals 4

minutes (TC- 21), and the night time walking and doffing time is 4 minutes (TC-25). The

establishment runs into production OT of 25 minutes (TC-25). The total ROT is 33 minutes. The

D&D OT is considered regularly scheduled time under the Federal compensation regulations

and cannot be rounded down. The time must be fully compensated therefore, the 33 minutes is

rounded up to 45 minutes of ROT in this manner: 4 minutes for daytime donning and walking is

rounded up to 15 minutes (TC-21); 29 minutes of night time production OT plus walking and

doffing is rounded up to 30 minutes (TC-25).)

XIII. HOLIDAYS

Holiday hours are comprised of the employee’s regularly scheduled TOD hours. Any D&D and

related administrative duties performed during an employee’s TOD hours on a holiday are

compensated and recorded in the same manner as any inspection work by using TC-66,

Holiday (or TC-66-2, Holiday with Night Differential) plus TC-31, Holiday Worked.

Any D&D or production work performed outside of the TOD hours on a holiday (examples:

during the preshift or postshift periods) is considered OT work and compensated as either TC-

19, OT over 8 hours in a day; TC-21, OT over 40 hours in a week; TC-25, OT over 40 hours in a

week with night differential; or TC-26, OT over 8 hours in a day with night differential. See

Attachment 1 for illustrations.

Page 8

XIV. MEAL PERIOD

A. For on-line IPP, walking and doffing before lunch and the subsequent donning

and walking after lunch are performed during basic time. If the establishment needs additional

inspection time, they may request OT to extend the workday.

B. Inspection work, specifically the walking and doffing prior to the meal and the

donning and walking following the meal, may be scheduled as part of the establishment’s

schedule of operations. When the establishment chooses this option, it accepts less than 8 full

hours of on-line inspection of product. IPP are compensated with basic pay since the D&D

would occur during the TOD.

C. If the establishment requires a full 8 hours of on-line inspection of product, the

time measurement for the walking and doffing prior to the meal and the donning and walking

following the meal may be added to the end of the workday as ROT. When the establishment

chooses this option, it receives the 8 full hours of on-line inspection of product. The IPP is

compensated with ROT pay since the final D&D would occur outside the TOD.

XV. D&D WITH LEAVE

A period of paid leave does not reduce or eliminate the employee’s entitlement to OT pay for

work performed outside the TOD. The following are examples of this requirement:

A. An employee dons and walks to the workstation during the preshift period. After

4 hours, while on basic time, the inspector leaves the line, walks to the changing area to doff his

gear and protective clothing, and takes annual leave for the remainder of the workday. Since

the employee donned the gear and clothing before the start of his TOD, and the annual leave is

applied toward the 8-hour workday, the employee is entitled to OT for the preshift donning and

walking.

B. An employee is on annual leave for the first 4 hours of his TOD. Upon arrival at

his worksite, the employee dons and walks to his workstation on basic time. Upon completing

the remaining 4 hours of his TOD, the employee walks and doffs his gear and protective

clothing during the postshift period. Since the annual leave is applied toward the 8-hour day,

and the walking and doffing occurred outside of the TOD, the employee is entitled to OT for the

postshift walking and doffing.

C. An employee dons and walks during basic time. After 1 hour, the employee

walks and doffs before taking 2 hours of leave. Upon returning to the establishment, the

employee dons and walks to his workstation on basic time. The establishment ceases

operations in time for this employee to walk and doff while still on basic time. There is no OT

entitlement under this scenario.

D. A period of leave without pay (LWOP) is not applied towards the 8-hour workday

or the 40 hour workweek. Therefore, before any daily OT entitlement is applied, the employee

must complete the 8 hours of basic time. In turn, before any weekly OT entitlement is applied,

the employee must complete the 40 hours of basic time.

XVI. WORK UNIT MEETINGS (WUM)

A. WUMs should be scheduled during periods of basic time. However, when it is not

possible to do so, they should be scheduled after the completion of the continuous workday

(usually after the doffing period but could be after knife sharpening or T&A reporting depending

on the scheduling in individual establishments.)

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

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B. Since these meetings are not part of the continuous workday as defined in the

revised regulations in 9 CFR, this period of irregular OT is subject to the normal rounding rules

and coded as NROT (see 5 CFR 551.521(b) and Paragraph XVII). WMUs lasting in increments

of less than 8 minutes will be rounded down to the next quarter hour. In turn, meetings lasting

in increments of 8 minutes or more will be rounded up to the next quarter hour.

C. The irregular OT period is coded as NROT using TC codes 19, 21, 25, or 26 with

the appropriate management code.

D. WUMs may be held during any ROT remaining after the end of the continuous

workday. However, the establishment cannot be charged for more time than what they are

already being charged for that OT period. (EXAMPLE: D&D time for Establishment A is 6

minutes. This amount is rounded up to 15 minutes. A supervisor decides to have a WUM after

the last activity of the continuous workday has been completed (usually doffing). The remaining

9 minutes of ROT maybe used for the WUM because the establishment chose not to utilize this

time for production. If the WUM exceeds 9 minutes, the IPP cannot charge the establishment

for the extra time beyond 9 minutes. The time beyond 9 minutes is NROT and is subject to the

normal round rule mentioned above.)

XVII. ROUNDING OVERTIME WORKED

A. In accordance with the revised regulations in 9 CFR Parts 307, 381, & 590 and

FSIS Directive 5090.1, time measurements for performing D&D and related activities (as

specified in the references above) are made for the purpose of establishing standard continuous

workdays for FSIS employees in the individual establishments. Once established, these times

become regularly scheduled as part of the employees’ basic TOD or as regularly scheduled OT.

B. Per 5 CFR 551.521(a), each minute of regularly scheduled overtime must be

compensated. Therefore, any odd minutes of regularly scheduled overtime must be rounded up

to the nearest quarter hour and compensated as ROT. (EXAMPLE: When the cumulative daily

sum of donning/doffing/walking time (and associated production time, when applicable) totals an

odd amount of ROT (less than a 15 minute increment), and the establishment wants to keep its

full 8 hours of production, the establishment must request overtime with the understanding that

its request will be approved as an “8 minutes of overtime” request. The establishment will be

billed in 15-minute increments for the overtime regardless of whether the actual time needed

was less than 8 minutes. How the establishment uses the remainder of the quarter hour is its

decision so long as the doffing/walking time falls within it.)

C. When donning and walking occurs during the preshift period, but production ends

early allowing the inspector to walk and doff during basic time, the inspector is still entitled to OT

compensation for the preshift period. The smallest charge to the establishment is a quarter

hour.

D. The same is true on the backend of the workday. If donning and walking were

part of the schedule of operations (example: within the employee’s tour of duty) but because of

production OT, the inspector’s workday went beyond their TOD, the walking and doffing time is

added to the production time and rounded up to the nearest quarter hour and charged to the

establishment. (NOTE: When regular OT (time measured D&D) and irregular OT (inspection)

occur on the same shift, the two types of OT are added together and always rounded up to the

next quarter hour. This approach will ensure that all regular overtime is being compensated per

5 CFR 551.521(a).)

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E. Irregular OT periods of less than 8 minutes that are not part of the continuous

workday are rounded down to the nearest quarter hour. In turn, irregular OT of 8 minutes or

more is rounded up to the nearest quarter hour (see Paragraph XVI).

XVIII. VARIABLE OVERTIME CHARGES

A. There are instances in which IPP at the end of the production line finish their

inspection duties later than those at the beginning of the line. When this difference causes their

workday to extend into the next quarter hour, these IPP may charge the establishment an

additional 15 minutes of ROT.

B. It is expected that inspection station assignments are regularly rotated so that the

extra OT is evenly distributed among the inspectors assigned to the establishment.

XIX. D&D/WALK TIME IN HIMP ESTABLISHMENTS

A. Only HIMP carcass inspectors who are required to be at an assigned inspection

station on the slaughter or evisceration line at the start or at the end of the shift would be

entitled to D&D or walking OT, when applicable, at that establishment. In addition, D&D would

need to be accounted for around the lunch period for these inspectors.

B. The establishment’s HIMP verification inspectors receive compensation for D&D

and walking as part of their basic TOD.

XX. COMPLETING THE T&A REPORT

A. As amended within the revised 9 CFR regulations, administrative time scheduled

by FSIS is now part of the 8-hour work day. FSIS has scheduled 1 minute per day within the

schedule of operations for inspection program personnel to complete their T&A.

B. When establishments with production schedules that require inspectors to be on

the line for the entire 8-hour schedule of operations, IPP will charge ROT for completing the

T&A report. This activity may be performed before doffing or afterward, thus making it the last

compensable duty in the employee’s continuous workday. (NOTE: The 1 minute of ROT may

be part of any unused ROT the establishment has paid for or other available down time.) The

following are examples of how to complete the T&A report:

1. D&D is measured to take 6 minutes and is rounded up to 15 minutes. The

1 minute for entering the work hours on the T&A may be accounted for in the remaining 9

minutes of ROT. (6 minutes + 1 minute = 7 minutes & rounded up to 15 minutes total OT

charge.) No additional overtime charge is warranted.

2. D&D plus production overtime totals 9 minutes and is rounded up to 15

minutes. The 1 minute for entering the work hours on the T&A may be accounted for in the

remaining 6 minutes of ROT. (9 minutes + 1 minute = 10 minutes & rounded up to 15 minutes

total OT charge.) No additional overtime charge is warranted.

3. 5 minutes for D&D plus 10 minutes for production overtime totals 15

minutes. The 1 minute scheduled for the T&A entry is added to the 15 minutes of D&D and

production overtime and rounded up to 30 minutes of ROT. (5 minutes +10 min + 1 minute = 16

minutes & rounded up to 30 minutes total OT charge.) Use TC codes 19, 21, 25, or 26 as

applicable.

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

Page 11 12/28/12

(and 12)

C. The correct transaction code to record the time for completing the time and

attendance report will depend on whether the establishment elects to schedule the time during

its approved hours of operation or during an OT period. Use one of the following basic pay

codes as applicable: TC-01, 04, 05, or 11 or overtime codes as applicable: TC-19, 21, 25, or 26.

XXI. KNIFE SHARPENING

A. Knife sharpening is now part of the 8-hour work day. Establishments that do not

provide knife sharpening services and have production schedules that require inspectors to be

on the line for the entire 8-hour schedule of operations must request ROT for knife sharpening

in accordance with FSIS Directive 5090.1.

B. The time allotted for knife sharpening is added to the D&D and production OT.

The total is rounded up to the next quarter hour in the same manner as T&A entry (See

Paragraph XX).

C. Knife sharpening may be done during any unused ROT the establishment has

paid for or other available down time. (NOTE: These provisions do not apply if the

establishment provides knife sharpening service. The correct transaction code to record the

time for knife sharpening will depend on whether the establishment elects to schedule the time

during its approved hours of operation or during an OT period. Use one of the following basic

pay codes as applicable: TC-01, 04, 05, or 11 or OT codes as applicable: TC-19, 21, 25, or 26.)

XXII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Compensation questions may be directed to the district office or emailed to

Don&[email protected]. For further information on D&D time measurement, please see

FSIS Directive 5090.1.

Administrator

Food Safety and Inspection Service

Attachments

1 Illustrating the Continuous Workday

2 Supplemental Instructions for Compensating Work Performed Under the

Amended Regulations in 9 CFR 307.4, 381.37, and 590.124, Schedule of

Operations

3 Transaction Codes

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

ATTACHMENT 1

Page 13 12/28/12

ILLUSTRATING THE CONTINUOUS WORKDAY

ILLUSTRATING THE CONTINUOUS INSPECTION WORKDAY OCCURRING

TOTALLY WITHIN THE 8-HOUR WORKDAY

All time is not the same when it comes to entitlement to overtime or for the purposes of billing

industry for OT. The following scenarios illustrate the examples above to show that the

scheduling of the continuous workday activities makes a difference with regard to:

A. When time qualifies as compensable overtime for an employee under 5 CFR

rules.

B. When time is billable as ROT to the establishments under 9 CFR rules. When

completing the T&A, refer to one of the scenarios below for guidance.

Scenario 1: Traditional 8-hour workday with all D&D activities performed during the

employee’s basic time. In this scenario, the establishment accepts less than 8 hours of

actual production time.

{----------------------------------------------Tour of Duty ---6am to 2:30pm----------------------------------}

Donning

Walk

Time

3 min

Production Time

2 min

30 min

Duty

Free

Meal

Period

Unpaid

2 min

Production Time

Walk

Time

Doffing

3 min

[6:00am ---------------------------------------10:00 10:30--------------------------------------2:30pm]

In this scenario, all of the required D&D activities at the start of the workday, at the end of the

workday, and around the meal period are performed during

the basic 8-hour workday.

• Since there is no overtime, the employee is not entitled to any overtime compensation for

the time spent on donning and doffing activity nor is any overtime billed to the

establishment. All the time spent on inspection related activities is coded as basic time

(Transaction Code 01) for T&A purposes.

Page 14

NOTE: Scheduling the D&D activities in this manner reduces the 8 hours of production time the

establishment normally receives by the amount of time it takes to complete these activities. If,

on any given day, the establishment decides it needs the full 8 hours for production, the

establishment will request overtime for D&D. Inspectors must bill the establishment for the

overtime resulting from the extra time on the inspection line (no less than 8 minutes) plus the

overtime to perform the concluding activities at the end of the shift. Use TC-19, TC-21, TC-25,

or TC-26 to code the T&A.

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

ATTACHMENT 1

Page 15 12/28/12

ILLUSTRATING THE CONTINUOUS WORKDAY BEGINNING AND ENDING

OUTSIDE OF THE 8- HOUR WORKDAY (PRE-/POSTSHIFT PERIODS)

Scenario 2: Traditional 8-hour workday with established (a) pre-shift and post-shift

periods with D&D activities performed outside

basic time; and (b) pre-lunch/post-lunch

D&D activities performed during

the employee’s basic time. In this scenario, the

establishment accepts less than 8 hours of actual production time.

{-----------------------Tour of Duty—6am to 2:30pm--------------------------}

Pre-shift

Donning

(OT)

Basic Work

Time

Walking

30 min

Duty

Free

Meal

Period

Walking

Basic Work

Time

Post-shift

Doffing

(OT)

[4 min] [6:00am ------------------------10:00- 10:30 10:30---------------------2:30pm] [3 min]

In this scenario, activities “A” and “B” are overtime pre-shift and post-shift periods in which the

D&D activities are performed outside

basic time. These times would be added together for a

daily OT total. For the purposes of this scenario, activity “A” is 4 minutes and “B” is 3 minutes

for a total of 7 minutes. Since in this example there is no other OT, the 7 minutes of D&D would

be rounded up to 15 minutes. The 15 minutes would be compensable to the employee as ROT

and coded as TC-19 or TC-21, (TC-25 or TC-26 if night hours are involved) on the T&A and

billed to the establishment using the appropriate accounting code.

• Activities “C” and “D” are scheduled and performed during basic time so they are counted

as basic work time (TC-01). Therefore, no additional compensation is due to the employee,

nor is this time reimbursable by the establishment.

NOTE: Scheduling the D&D activities in this manner reduces the 8 hours of production time the

establishment normally works by the amount of time it takes to complete the D&D and walk time

activities surrounding the lunch period. If, on any given day, the establishment decides it needs

the full 8 hours for production, the establishment must request OT. Inspectors must bill the

establishment for the remaining time on the inspection line plus the already scheduled postshift

concluding activities as overtime. The time is coded on the T&A as TC-19, TC-21, TC-25, or

TC-26 on the T&A. The supervisor will only approve OT in amounts totaling 8 minutes or

amounts that can be rounded up to 15 minutes.

Page 16

Scenario 3: Traditional 8-hour workday with D&D activities performed during pre-shift

and post-shift overtime periods. Pre-lunch and post-lunch D&D activities are performed

within basic time but the establishment requests overtime at the end of the day to recoup

the time. Establishment receives full 8 hours of production.

{----------------------------------Tour of Duty 6am to 2:30pm--------------}

Pre-shift

Donning

(OT)

Basic Work

Time

Walking

[2min

30 min

Duty Free

Meal

Period

Walking

[3 min]

Basic Work

Time

Post-shift

Doffing

(OT)

[5 min] [6:00am -----------10:00am] [10:30am to 2:30pm] [5min] [3 min]

In this scenario, required pre-shift and post-shift D&D activities are performed outside of the

employee’s basic 8-hour workday. Although the D&D surrounding the lunch period are

performed within the schedule of operations, the establishment requested OT at the end of the

day to recoup the 5 minutes of D&D (B+C). Therefore, A+D+E are all added together as

overtime work and coded on the T&A as TC-19, TC-21, TC-25, or TC-26. The total overtime of

13 minutes rounded up to 15 minutes is billed to the establishment using the appropriate

accounting code.

Under other circumstances, the Unscheduled Leave may also include production OT in addition

to recouping the D&D time surrounding the lunch period.

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

ATTACHMENT 1

Page 17 12/28/12

ILLUSTRATING THE CONTINUOUS WORKDAY OCCURRING ON A HOLIDAY

Scenario 4: On this holiday, the establishment is working a traditional 8-hour workday

with all D&D activities performed during

the employee’s basic time. In this scenario, the

employee works the entire 8 hours of his TOD but is on the production line less than 8

hours examining product.

{--------------------------------------- Tour of Duty 6am to 2:30pm----------------------------------------}

Donning

Walk

Time

3 min

Production Time

2 min

30 min

Duty

Free

Meal

Period

Unpaid

2 min

Production Time

Walk

Time

Doffing

3 min

[6:00am -----------------------------10:00am] [10:30----------------------------------2:30pm]

Holiday hours coincide with the employee’s TOD hours. In this scenario, the continuous

workday encompasses the holiday period. Therefore, the entire 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. period is

subject to holiday pay.

The T&A would be codes as follows:

TC-66, Federal Holiday, for 8 hours

TC-31, Holiday Worked, for 8 hours

Page 18

Scenario 5: On this holiday, the establishment is working a four hour schedule with all

D&D activities performed during

the employee’s basic time. In this scenario, the

employee works 4 hours of his tour of duty.

{-------------------------------------- Tour of Duty 6am to 2:30pm-------------------------------------------}

Donning

Walk

Time

3 min

Production Time

2 min

Meal

Period

Not

Required

Unpaid

Establishment is

dark

[6:00am ----------------------------------10:00] [10:30-------------------------------2:30pm]

Holiday hours coincide with the employee’s tour of duty hours. In this scenario, the continuous

workday encompasses the holiday period but on this holiday, the employee is only working 4

hours of his 8-hour tour of duty.

The T&A would be coded as follows:

TC-66, Federal Holiday, for 8 hours

TC-31, Holiday Worked, for 4 hours

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

ATTACHMENT 1

Page 19 12/28/12

(and 20)

Scenario 6: On this holiday, the establishment is working a traditional 8-hour workday

with D&D activities performed during pre-shift and post-shift overtime periods. Pre-lunch

and post-lunch D&D activities are performed within basic time but the establishment

requests overtime at the end of the day to recoup the time and to allow for extra

production. Establishment receives full 8 hours of production.

{-------------------Tour of Duty 6am to 2:30pm--------------------}

Pre-shift

Donning

(OT)

Basic

Work Time

Holiday

Worked

Walking

(OT)

[2 min]

30 min

Duty

Free

Meal

Period

Walking

(OT)

[3min]

Basic

Work

Time

Holiday

Worked

Post

Shift

(OT)

[5 min] [6:00am to 10:00am] [10:30am to 2:30pm] [8 min] [5 min]

Holiday hours coincide with the employee’s tour of duty hours. Therefore, the pre/postshift

periods plus the unscheduled overtime (A,F*, &G) are overtime hours and paid at the

employee’s overtime rate. Only the actual inspection work is eligible for TC-31 (B,C,D,&E).

The T&A would be coded as follows:

TC-66, Federal Holiday, for 8 hours

TC-31, Holiday Worked, for 8 hours

TC-19 or 21, Overtime, for ½ hour (A+F+G = 18 minutes rounded up to 30minutes of OT)

*F= 5 min for the OT surrounding the lunch period +3 min of production OT

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

ATTACHMENT 2

Page 21 12/28/12

SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPENSATING WORK PERFORMED

UNDER THE AMENDED REGULATIONS AT 9 CFR 307.4, 381.37, AND

590.124, SCHEDULE OF OPERATIONS

There are activities that Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) perform that are not specifically

covered or fully addressed in the amended 9 CFR Parts 307, 381, and 590, Schedule of

Operations regulations. Nonetheless, these activities may potentially be compensable. The

instructions below are intended to serve as an aid to supervisors on how to compensate and

record OT and to bill the establishment for some common tasks that are not fully addressed in

the rule:

A. Completion of the 5110, Services Rendered Form. This form is normally

completed in conjunction with the employee’s time and attendance report (T&A). It may be

completed during any period of basic time that is not committed to inspection work or during a

ROT period.

B. Travel Vouchers/GovTrip. On those occasions in which inspection program

personnel need to travel for temporary duty (TDY) purposes, completing this administrative

function for reimbursement of expenses would have to be completed during compensable time.

Whenever possible, this function should occur during basic time. This may be accomplished by

supervisors ensuring that there is relief coverage for the line inspector to perform this duty.

When it is not possible to do so, the supervisor should discuss with FLS or DM to determine if

NROT is appropriate. The decision on when to complete the vouchers and whether ROT or

NROT is appropriate depends on the situation. Each instance would have to be examined

individually.

C. Locker Cleanout. FSIS employees are always required to implement practices

to ensure a sanitary environment is maintained. If the practices require the FSIS employee to

conduct duties outside their tour of duty the establishment is liable for the OT charges.

D. Coding the T&A when assigned to a different establishment. On those

occasions when an inspector’s headquarters establishment is dark, and the employee is

assigned to another establishment but keeps his/her normal tour of duty, the following guidance

will help in coding the T&A. The reference point to determine the employee’s entitlement to

overtime (including donning and doffing) is the normal TOD hours. Performing any

compensable work outside the normal TOD hours creates an OT entitlement. However,

depending on the specific circumstances, the OT may or may not be reimbursable.

1. Establishment A has approved hours of 2230 to 0700 (10:30 p.m. to 7:00

a.m.) for the first shift and 0700 to 1530 (7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) for the 2

shift. It has elected

to pay 15 minutes of reimbursable overtime (ROT) for donning and doffing for each shift on a

daily basis.

2. Inspectors at establishment B with approved hours from 0330 to 1200

(3:30 a.m. to 12 noon) go to Establishment A about once weekly when their establishment has a

“down day” and is not operating. They still start at their normal time 0330 (3:30 a.m.) and work

no later than 1200 hours (12 noon), so they are actually working a portion of shift 1 and a

portion of shift 2 at Establishment A.

Page 22

Q1. If the inspectors arrive at 0330 and go directly to the line and work a full 8 hours ending

at 1200 hours, are they still entitled to D&D overtime even though they are working

during both shifts? If so, should their D&D overtime be charged as ROT to

Establishment A or as non-reimbursable (NROT)?

A1. Since the 1

shift at Establishment A is already in process when the inspectors

arrive, they have the opportunity to don their gear and walk to the workstation

during their TOD. This would be coded as basic time with night differential (TC-

11). The same could be true towards the end of their tour of duty. Since the 2

shift at Establishment A is in full production allowing these inspectors to stop

working at 1200, they should leave the line before their shift is over to allow time

for walking and doffing on basic time (TC-01). Note that this will result in

Establishment A receiving less than 8 hours of inspection from the employees

from Establishment B.

However, if there is a need for the inspectors from Establishment B to be on the

line for the full 8 hours (beginning at 0330 and ending at 1200), then donning and

walking would have to occur prior to the start of their tour of duty. This time

would be rounded up to 15 minutes, coded as Overtime over 40 with night

differential (TC-25) and would include the walking and doffing at the end of their

shift (even though doffing is performed after 6am.) Since only the inspectors

were in an overtime status but not the establishment, the D&D would be

considered NROT.

NOTE #1: If these inspectors were to work until the second shift ended at 1530,

the overtime between 1200 and 1530 is NROT. The doffing, as mentioned

above, is still part of the quarter hour of overtime earned for donning and walking.

NOTE #2: If production overtime causes the total overtime earned to exceed 15

minutes (example: it totals 18 minutes) and thus rounded up to a 30-minute

charge, a separate T&A entry for 15 minutes of ROT to account for the

production OT and the walking/doffing is made but without the night differential.

Use TC-21 plus the management code to bill the establishment.

Q2. If the inspectors arrive at 0330 and do not start or finish on the line, but are used to give

breaks, work the line for a few hours at a time, and do office duties, are they entitled to

D&D OT?

A2. No, they would not be entitled to any D&D OT since they should have time

to perform donning and doffing duties during basic time (TC-01).

Charging for D&D when assigned to work at two different establishments on the same

day.

When total combined D&D time for both establishments is 15 minutes or less, an employee may

earn and subsequently charge ROT for D&D purposes, only once during their shift. In other

words, the employee may not earn 15 minutes of OT for the preshift donning at Establishment A

and then earn another 15 minutes of OT for the postshift doffing at Establishment B when the

total D&D time at both establishments is 15 minutes or less. The establishment to charge for

the donning and doffing OT will depend on the specific situation.

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

ATTACHMENT 2

Page 23 12/28/12

(and 24)

1. If the employee donned and walked to the workstation at Establishment A

before the TOD started, but the shift at Establishment B ended in time for the employee to walk

and doff on basic time, then the donning and walking time is rounded up to 15 minutes of ROT

and charged only to Establishment A.

2. If the employee donned and walked to the workstation at Establishment A

during basic time but at Establishment B the shift went beyond the employee’s TOD, then

Establishment B is charged for the ROT. The walking and doffing time is rounded up to 15

minutes and charged to Establishment B.

3. When cumulative D&D occurs at both establishments totals 15 minutes or

less during an OT period, only charge the ROT to the establishment where the workday began.

This is because the payroll provider (NFC) cannot split a 15 minute OT charge.

When the cumulative amount of D&D between the two establishments exceeds 15

minutes, the employee may split the charge for the D&D OT between the two

establishments.

A. At Establishment A, if it takes an inspector 7 minutes to don his gear and walk to

his workstation prior to the start of his TOD but it takes him 9 minutes to walk and doff his gear

at Establishment B after his tour has ended, he may split the 30 minutes of OT (16 minutes

rounded up to 30 minutes) between Establishment A for 15 minutes of D&D and also charge

Establishment B for 15 minutes of D&D.

B. At Establishment A, if it takes an inspector 7 minutes to don his gear and to walk

to his workstation prior to the start of his tour of duty, but because of production OT, the

postshift OT at Establishment B totals 16 minutes, the employee may split the 45 minutes of OT.

The 7 minutes of OT earned at Establishment A is rounded up to 15 minutes and charged to

Establishment A. The 16 minutes of OT earned at Establishment B is rounded up to 30 minutes

and charged to Establishment B.

FSIS DIRECTIVE 4550.7

ATTACHMENT 3

Page 25 12/28/12

TRANSACTION CODES

TC-01 Regular Base Pay

TC-04 Base Pay with Sunday Differential

TC-05 Base Pay with Sunday and Night Differential

TC-11 Base Pay with Night Differential

TC-19 Overtime >8hrs/day

TC-21 Overtime >40hrs/week

TC-25 Overtime>40hrs/week with Night Differential

TC-26 Overtime >8hrs/day with Night Differential

TC-31 Holiday Worked

TC-61 Annual Leave

TC-62 Sick Leave

TC-66 Other Leave (e.g., regular holiday, admin/excused absence, jury duty)

TC-66-2 Other Leave with Night Differential