NATIONAL AND GLOBAL EPICENTER OF COVID CRISIS DOES NOT PAY OVERTIME, POLONCARZ ADMINISTRATION DOES

New York City government responds to the Office of Erie County Comptroller inquiry regarding OT and holiday pay, while Erie County Political appointees continue to collect

(ERIE COUNTY, NY) – New York City government responded to the Office of Erie County Comptroller’s request to determine how much money they are paying employees overtime and holiday pay to work additional hours responding to the COVID-19 crisis.  Their answer: none.

New York City, considered the epicenter of the COVID crisis for the nation and the world, responded to the Comptroller’s Office FOIL request, stating their managerial employees are not eligible for overtime or holiday pay.  A letter providing this latest information was sent to the Erie County Legislature to assist them in committee discussions to address costs related to COVID-19.  That meeting has been postponed.

Based on the most recent information that even New York City government is not paying political employees overtime and holiday pay, Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw, Jr. continued to hold the Poloncarz Administration accountable for continuing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime to handpicked commissioners and other political employees knowing that New York City doesn’t pay extra to workers managing this crisis.

“Political employees in Erie County are padding their pensions and eating a lot of food on the taxpayers' dime.  Yet small business owners are forced to shut their doors.  Families are hurting financially.  Now we find out even New York City, the largest city in the country, does not pay any overtime for COVID issues.  New York City is doing the right thing. Their salaried workers are not abusing overtime and padding pensions.  It’s what political employees signed up for.  You’re paid a set salary no matter how many hours you do or do not work.  But if you work for the Poloncarz Administration, it’s a chance to boost paychecks and your taxpayer funded retirement,” said Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw.

Earlier this year the Comptroller sent a letter to the Erie County Legislature, advising them that of 52 counties in New York State that responded to a request made by this office on overtime, a total of $45, 515 had been spent in overtime to MC employees.  As of November 27, 2020, Erie County has paid its MC employees a total of $1,055,844 in combined overtime and holiday worked overtime.  The Erie County Health Commissioner’s total overtime is $158,484.

For pdf of release, click HERE

For pdf of letter, click HERE