Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a Jan. 05, 2023 Executive Order, Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga established the government’s Overtime and Compensatory Time Policy — which states “is not to incur overtime or compensatory time if avoidable.”

However, when unavoidable, the use of overtime and compensatory time shall be in compliance with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, according to the executive order.

“The management of overtime and compensatory time is essential to the stability, management, and financial stewardship of the American Samoa Government,” the governor said in a news release Friday.

The executive order noted that ASG agencies developed a practice of only submitting 80 hours per pay period and then maintaining internal logs to keep hours in excess of the standard 80-hour pay period.

However, this practice shall not be resumed and is forbidden under the new executive order, which notes that time cards are to reflect all of the hours worked during the indicated pay period.

The Director and management staff are responsible for preparing weekly work schedules to ensure that forty (40) hours will not be exceeded and to anticipate overtime.

In the news release last Friday, the governor commended the work of the men and women who have gone above and beyond to ensure the continued success in the last two years of the Lemanu-Talauega Administration,” remarked Governor Lemanu.

“And I encourage all directors to accommodate and compensate accordingly to your respective agencies' budget and the law,” he said.

(See Monday’s edition for details)