§550.151. Authorization of premium pay on an annual basis. — Inbound Citations

(2) The sections in this subpart incorporating special provisions for certain types of work (§§ 550.141 through 550.164, inclusive) apply also to each employee of the judicial branch or the legislative branch who is subject to subchapter V of chapter 55 of title 5, United States Code.

A department (and for the purpose of §§ 550.141 through 550.164, inclusive, a legislative or judicial branch agency) must determine an employee's entitlement to premium pay consistent with subchapter V of chapter 55 of title 5, United States Code.

(a) The requirement in § 550.151 that a position be one in which the hours of duty cannot be controlled administratively is inherent in the nature of such a position. A typical example of a position which meets this requirement is that of an investigator of criminal activities whose hours of duty are governed by what criminals do and when they do it. He is often required to perform such duties as shadowing suspects, working incognito among those under suspicion, searching for evidence, meeting informers, making arrests, and interviewing persons having knowledge of criminal or alleged criminal activities. His hours on duty and place of work depend on the behavior of the criminals or suspected criminals and cannot be controlled administratively. In such a situation, the hours of duty cannot be controlled by such administrative devices as hiring additional personnel; rescheduling the hours of duty (which can be done when, for example, a type of work occurs primarily at certain times of the day); or granting compensatory time off duty to offset overtime hours required.

(a) An agency may pay the premium pay on an annual basis referred to in § 550.151 to an employee who meets the requirements of that section, at one of the following percentages of the employee's rate of basic pay (as defined in § 550.103):

(1) A position which requires an average of at least 3 but not more than 5 hours a week of irregular or occasional overtime work—10 percent;

(2) A position which requires an average of over five but not more than 7 hours a week of irregular or occasional overtime work—15 percent;

(3) A position which requires an average of over seven but not more than 9 hours a week or irregular or occasional overtime work—20 percent;

(4) 25 percent.

(b) Determining, in accordance with section 5545(c) of title 5, United States Code, and this subpart, which employees shall receive premium pay on an annual basis under § 550.141 or § 550.151. These determinations may not be retroactive.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an employee's premium pay on an annual basis under § 550.141 or § 550.151 begins on the date that he enters on duty in the position concerned for purposes of basic pay, and ceases on the date that he ceases to be paid basic pay in the position.

(b) An employee receiving premium pay on an annual basis under § 550.151 may not receive premium pay for irregular or occasional overtime work under any other section of this subpart. An agency shall pay the employee in accordance with other sections of this subpart for regular overtime work, and work at night, on Sundays, and on holidays.

(1) He remains in a position to which § 550.141, § 550.151, or § 550.162(c) is applicable;

(a) Standby duty pay under § 550.141 and administratively uncontrollable overtime pay under § 550.151 may not be paid to a criminal investigator receiving availability pay. Receipt of availability pay does not affect an investigator's entitlement to other types of premium pay (including overtime pay under § 550.111) based on hours other than unscheduled duty hours. However, a criminal investigator receiving availability pay may not be paid any other premium pay based on unscheduled duty hours.

(b) Employees may not be paid a hazardous duty differential for hours for which they receive annual premium pay for regularly scheduled standby duty under § 550.141, annual premium pay for administratively uncontrollable overtime work under § 550.151, or availability pay for criminal investigators under § 550.181.

(b) An employee's “straight time rate of pay” is equal to the employee's rate of pay for his or her position (exclusive of any premiums, differentials, or cash awards or bonuses) except for an employee who is authorized annual premium pay under § 550.141 or § 550.151 of this chapter. For an employee who is authorized annual premium pay, straight time rate of pay is equal to basic pay plus annual premium pay divided by the hours for which the basic pay plus annual premium pay are intended.