Tennessee Prison Guards Don’t Get Extra Pay Until 12th Hour Of Overtime

Tennessee’s Department of Correction spent a hearing before the state House of Representatives arguing that a change in overtime policy did not start a massive departure of guards. But in making their case, the department also revealed details that might give employees reason to leave.

The
issue in question is whether guards got fed up because of a new monthly pay plan. Instead of qualifying for overtime on a weekly basis, the reset button hits every 160 hours — four weeks. And Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Nashville, was surprised to learn that, even then, there’s no time-and-a-half until the 12
^th additional hour.

“Straight overtime is just regular pay?” he asked, rhetorically. “It’s not overtime. You’re just working for regular pay.”

The man answering questions was Correction Commissioner Derrick Schofield. He explained to reporters that federal guidelines don’t require any compensation — at all — for the first bit of extra time on the clock. So he contends his policy goes above and beyond.

“It’s overtime pay because they work beyond the 160 hours,” he said. “We don’t have to pay overtime until after 171 hours.”

Tennessee’s prison guards have a base pay that starts around $15 an hour, which is on par with surrounding states. Schofield says a boost would help retain guards. But, he explained, “Some people just don’t want to be there.”

The prisons with the largest staffing shortages are in West and Upper East Tennessee. Schofield says that in his opinion, safety has not been compromised.