County’s changes to overtime rules will negatively affect public safety, public employees say 

RIVERSIDE – More than 120 county employees, who are members of SEIU Local 721, packed the Board of Supervisors chambers to speak against policy changes that will negatively impact the county’s ability to provide vital emergency services.

“What the county is proposing is bad for our patients, and our community,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, who works at the Don Schroeder Family Care Center for the County’s Community Health Agency. Dr. Leung was one of several employees who addressed the Board.

“I’m worried about the well being of our county. We are seeing more and more patients, but if we are not able to care for them they will end up in the emergency room, which will cost the county even more.”

The county’s plan changes or eliminates the payment of overtime for several job classifications including mental health registered nurses, medical social workers, sheriff and fire department staff, information technology specialists and others.

“The county’s changes will affect mental health workers who work with the mentally ill who are a danger to others and themselves and social workers who rescue children from abusive homes. These workers will work at all times of the day to prevent a crisis,” said Stephen Butler, SEIU executive board member and county employee. “To tell county employees they should not be properly compensated for work done after hours is a disservice to those who help protect the most vulnerable, day or night.”

With already high vacancy rates in critical public service areas and lower wages than surrounding counties, the Department of Human Resources’ move to require employees to work after hours without traditional compensation further hinders the county’s ability to attract and retain qualified staff so that residents’ needs are met daily and during emergencies. 

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