New York Extends Overtime Rate Amid Staffing Crisis in Corrections

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has announced an extension of its overtime pay rate of 2.5 times regular salary, now effective until May 9. This decision comes as the agency grapples with staffing shortages and efforts to recruit new personnel, following significant layoffs in March.

Governor Kathy Hochul and DOCCS Commissioner Michael Martuscello confirmed the extension in a statement released Monday, expressing gratitude to the staff. “We are thankful to all DOCCS staff who continue to work under these challenging circumstances as they protect New Yorkers and help make their neighboring communities safer,” the statement read.

The enhanced overtime rate will apply to both scheduled and unscheduled overtime for correction officers and other DOCCS employees. The department is in discussions with labor unions, including the Civil Service Employees Association and the Public Employees Federation, to finalize arrangements for the extended period.

The higher overtime rate was initially implemented on March 9, amid a staffing crisis, and was originally set to expire on April 9. This move follows the firing of more than 2,000 correction officers, a situation that has placed additional strain on the state’s correctional facilities.

Insights from an April 4 press release by the Empire Center for Public Policy, an Albany-based think tank, revealed that 23 state employees received over $200,000 each in overtime pay during a specified period before the layoffs. Notably, 19 of these high earners were employed by DOCCS.

The Empire Center’s analysis showed that 610 state employees earned six-figure overtime pay in 2024, a significant increase from 439 in 2023. Among these, 332 were DOCCS employees, nearly doubling last year’s figure of 173. The highest overtime earner was Jeffrey Rorick, a corrections lieutenant at Five Points Correctional Facility, who received $277,549 in overtime, bringing his total earnings to $405,424.

The report also indicated that overall overtime pay surged by 11%, climbing from $1.21 billion in 2023 to $1.35 billion in 2024. Additionally, state payroll expenditures increased from $19.4 billion to $21.0 billion, reflecting an 8% rise. The average salary of New York state employees reached $71,288 across 294,131 workers, though the Empire Center’s data did not account for benefits or employer payroll taxes.

Since the second Bush Administration, the Empire Center has been compiling searchable payroll and pension data related to state and local governments, as well as school districts. Their latest updates, unveiled in March, provide insight into local government payrolls for New York excluding New York City.