News Summary
New York state has reported a significant rise in overtime costs for government employees, which jumped over 10% last year to $1.3 billion. The increase is largely due to staffing shortages, particularly within the Department of Corrections, which alone accounted for $445 million in overtime spending. With a growing number of agencies reporting increased overtime hours, state officials, including Comptroller DiNapoli, are concerned about the long-term implications of these rising costs into the future.
New York state has seen a significant surge in overtime costs for government employees, which increased by over 10% last year, totaling $1.3 billion in expenditures. The workforce clocked in approximately 24.5 million hours of overtime, marking a rise of over 7% compared to the previous year. This surge is largely attributed to ongoing staffing shortages critical to the state’s operational integrity.
Leading the charge in overtime costs is the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), which alone accounted for $445 million spent on overtime work, with employees putting in 7.4 million hours of extra time. Notably, while DOCCS comprises only 9% of the state workforce, it contributes to a staggering 33% of the total overtime expenses, highlighting a disproportionate burden on this department. Other agencies with notable overtime spending include the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and the Office of Mental Health, signaling wider issues across several sectors serving institutional clients.
The marked increase in overtime hours primarily stems from agencies operating in institutional settings, which are grappling with persistent staffing shortages. This trend has carried over into 2024, with most state agencies reporting higher overtime hours than in 2023. Specifically, departments such as the Department of Transportation, the State University of New York, and the State Police have also seen notable increases in their overtime figures. According to recent data, 54.6% of state workers accrued overtime, emphasizing the widespread challenge across many different agencies.
The ongoing staffing crisis is accentuated by a decrease of over 1,000 employees within the DOCCS since 2023, leading to an increased reliance on overtime to maintain operational safety and service delivery standards. In addressing these rising expenses, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has raised concerns regarding the justification of overtime use and its implications on future pension costs for the state.
In a positive development for workforce stability, the year 2023 marked the hiring of 17,504 new employees, surpassing the number of workers exiting state service for the first time in a decade. However, between 2020 and 2022, there was a reported loss of approximately 30,000 workers statewide, a situation that was significantly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a lag in recruitment and retention efforts.
The New York Department of Labor has noted a worrying trend in reported overtime hours over the past decade, with a striking 1010% increase compared to figures from 2015. In response to these challenges, Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced various initiatives aimed at attracting new employees, including waiving examination requirements and addressing impacts of federal job layoffs on state staffing.
Adding to the complexity of the staffing issues, a recent illegal strike at DOCCS involved corrections officers protesting against unsafe working conditions, revealing deeper systemic issues that are contributing to high turnover and staffing shortages. As a result of these numerous factors, the state workforce has seen a modest growth of approximately 5,855 employees in 2024, translating to an overall growth rate of 3.7% from the previous year.
As New York state navigates the challenges of recruitment and retention, Comptroller DiNapoli has emphasized the ongoing necessity for diverse public sector workforce initiatives and strategic solutions to meet the demands of state operations while ensuring the safety and well-being of employees and the public alike.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Times Union: NY Overtime Spending
- Wikipedia: Overtime
- CBS 6 Albany: State Workers Overtime Pay
- Google Search: New York Overtime Spending
- Newsday: New York Overtime
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Overtime
- NY Post: NY Prisons Overtime Spending
- Google Scholar: Overtime Spending in New York
- Nixon Peabody: New York Employment Laws 2025
- Google News: New York Government Spending
