FBI Encouraged Workers To Bill For Overtime Not Worked, Violating Federal Law

[babylonsister]

FBI Managers Encouraged Workers in Iraq to Bill for Time Off

By Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 19, 2008; Page A11



For nearly five years, FBI leaders encouraged employees on temporary assignment in Iraq to bill an average of $45,000 in overtime and extra pay by routinely claiming to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week, even when some of that time was spent eating, exercising, watching movies or attending cocktail parties, the Justice Department inspector general reported yesterday.

FBI counterterrorism division managers condoned a time-billing practice under which 1,150 employees between 2003 and 2007 earned about $71,000 during a typical 90-day tour -- nearly triple the typical worker's salary, Inspector General Glenn Fine reported.

The practice violated federal law and regulations and accounted for at least $7.8 million to the $99 million taxpayer cost of the FBI efforts.

The FBI changed the overtime policy in 2008 while the investigation was underway. Using lower claims submitted by workers this year as a guide, the inspector general conservatively estimated that between 2003 and 2007, the typical employee earned about $5,594 per tour in unwarranted payments.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/18/AR2008121803540.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[FreakinDJ]

1. It's the RATpublican Way

Screw the Tax Payer
Screw the Working Class
Take from the Poor and Give to the Rich

That and this is exactly what all the rest of the Contractors are doing as well.

I thought everyone knew they were being billed for 7 - 16hr shifts for each and every contractor over there. You might want to ask the DOJ to investigate all the DOD workers as well, because I know they are doing it too.