The Postal Service has established procedures to monitor and control unauthorized overtime but managers and supervisors did not always follow the prescribed procedures, the USPS inspector general has said.
The IG carried out an audit to assess management controls and oversight to prevent unauthorized overtime and flagged issues relating to Postal Service (PS) Form 1017-B, Unauthorized Overtime Record; PS Form 3996, Carrier – Auxiliary Control; Time and Attendance Collection System updates; and controls over time cards.
As a result, the IG identified 7.5 million unauthorized overtime work-hours in fiscal 2010 and 10.6 million in fiscal 2011, at a combined cost of $717.5 million to the Postal Service.
USPS management agreed with recommendations to have the vice presidents of area operations issue supplemental guidance reinforcing the importance of completing PS Forms 1017-B, reviewing PS Forms 3996, and taking action to either approve or disapprove carrier overtime requests before carriers leave for their routes, and adhering to badge control and clock ring procedures to ensure employees are unable to perform unauthorized work.
Management also agreed to have supervisors review required TACS reports, provide periodic refresher training to managers and supervisors on monitoring unauthorized overtime, hold managers and supervisors accountable for not addressing unauthorized overtime, and establish and implement proactive monitoring processes including periodic reminders and a system of accountability to minimize unauthorized overtime.
