Orange County Register

In addition to a new pension plan option for county employees, union and county negotiators have also agreed to some changes that effect how much most workers will get paid.

The biggest change is to overtime pay. Today, employees can collect overtime when the hours they’re paid each week exceed 40. That means an employee who calls in sick on Monday — and logged sick pay hours for that time — could collect over time for working extra hours later in the week.

But under the new rules, employees can only collect overtime for the hours they actually worked. So if you call in sick on Monday and work two hours late on Friday, you get no overtime. Instead, you claim fewer sick hours.

The change brings the county in line with state standards, says Nick Berardino, general manager for the Orange County Employee Association, which represents the majority of the county’s 18,000 workers.

County finance officials couldn’t say just how much they think the change will relieve the county’s cash-strapped budget.

“That will save us immediately, and we were looking for savings now,” says Mario Mainero, chief of staff for Supervisor John Moorlach.

The other major development affecting employee pay: No raises this year. Or to look on the brighter side: No pay cuts.

Negotiators have agreed to come back to the table  in two years, and again in three, to discuss raises.

This agreement isn’t a done deal — it still needs union ratification and supervisor approval (it’s expected to be on the  July 14 supes agenda). Plus, pension changes need new legislation.

Stay tuned to find out what happens.

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