The government is taking back many police officers’ overtime compensation before Christmas

Dozens of police officers have received a notice that they should pay back the overtime compensation they have just received. According to one of their employees many officers accidentally received extra money, but one of the trade unions said that they are wrong: during the refugee crisis at the Southern border the officers did actually work overtime.

“The time spent at the rest area counts as stand-by duty” – argues the employer who demands that the police officers should pay back the overtime compensation they have just received, Magyar Nemzet was informed. The matter is crucial because the overtime pay for the time spent at the rest area is gross 90 HUF/hour, while the employer is obligated to pay gross 2.000-3.000 HUF for the overtime hours.

Those officers who were sent to the Southern border during the refugee crisis at the end of summer or early autumn received overtime payment; however, the Police now argues that those hours count as time spent at the rest area, so the organization doesn’t have to pay for the overtime.

Those who already got their compensation should pay it back, says the employer. According to the Police, they interpreted the law incorrectly, and by the time they realized that the officers did not work overtime but were at the rest area the compensation was already being sent.

Judit Szima, secretary general of the police trade union Tettrekész, told Magyar Nemzet that approximately 40 officers were notified about the mistake, and they should each pay back 200.000-260.000 HUF in December. According to Szima, taking back the overtime compensation is against the law and it is also unfair. The union will act on every officers’ behalf, who have asked for their help, and they intend to bring the case to court.

based on an article of mno.hu

Copy editor: bm

Source: mno.hu