Exchange time goes to a statewide summit with management

-  By Scott Mallery

A month or so back, I attended the first meeting between state-wide management and several Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) members from a few other state agencies.  This meeting was to discuss overtime-exempt employees’ use of exchange time, part of our current contract that was effective July 1, 2011.  It was also to discuss Memorandum of Understanding #8 (Overtime Exempt use of Exchange time).

During this meeting, we (WFSE members) expressed concerns about how exchange time is being implemented by agencies and how we would like to see it managed.   It appears right now that major agencies are having employees adjust their schedules like we do at Ecology, and very little or no exchange time “for the books” is allowed.  Our suggestion for managing exchange use was:


• Let exempt employees have the choice of adjusting their schedules or bank exchange time for later use
• One for one hour exchange time after 40 hours
• Consistent between agencies similar to exchange time policy prior to July 2005

• Management gave some feedback on our suggestions during the meeting.  A more formal response will be given at our next meeting, not yet scheduled. 

Here’s a quick summary of management’s response:


• We want to ensure that the employee has the best quality of life and adjusting their schedule helps that.
• With one for one, this might give the appearance that the employee is overtime-eligible and the employee could lose their overtime-exempt status. There was a lot more discussion than what I summarized here—but that is the nut shell of what we discussed.  I am looking forward to the next meeting.

We also requested data from agencies documenting the use of exchange time from July 2007 to now.  From the material I reviewed (which I thought was from July 2007  to current), I found that about 200 employees had exchange time on the books.  I sent an email in accordance with Article 39.3.C to individuals listed letting them know they might have exchange time.  I asked them to check a spreadsheet and double check with their time keeper to verify the time.

From that email, it was pointed out that some of the information I sent out was not correct.  I found out that the information was only from July 2007 to June 2009 and that there was another report covering July 2009 to June 2011 sent to WFSE a couple days prior to my email.

From all this it is important to know that Ecology has notified individuals of their correct exchange time and beginning on the September 26 payday, your Earning Statement will now show your exchange time balance. Further, you can also use your accrued exchange time before TSR leave. 

Finally, I would appreciate from you any suggestions about the accrual of exchange time, and/or any other ideas on exchange time.  It will help me represent you at the next statewide meeting on overtime-exempt use of exchange time.  You can contact me at scott1221@live.com.  ■