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Public-safety pay, decoded.
The rules that decide your paycheck — FLSA §7(k), Kelly cycles, differentials, pensionable earnings — aren't always written in plain English. These guides are.
FLSA 7(k) overtime
FLSA overtime for firefighters & police: the §7(k) rule explained
The §7(k) exemption is why your overtime starts at 43 hours (not 40) if you're a cop and 53 hours if you're a firefighter. Here's how it works, why it exists, and how to spot when your department gets it wrong.
8 min read
Police 12-hour shifts
Police 12-hour shift schedules and overtime: 2-2-3, 4-on/4-off, and §7(k)
Most 12-hour police rotations are built to land just under the 43-hour overtime line. Here's how the common patterns work, when §7(k) overtime actually kicks in, and what to watch on your paycheck.
9 min read
Firefighter FLSA overtime
Firefighter work cycles and FLSA overtime: 24/48, 48/96, and the §7(k) 28-day rule
Firefighters average 56 hours a week but the overtime line sits at 53 — and the 28-day work period changes everything. Here's how 24/48, 48/96, and Kelly cycles interact with §7(k).
10 min read
Kelly schedule pay
The Kelly schedule pay guide: 24/48, Kelly days, and your paycheck
A Kelly schedule looks predictable until you check your paycheck. Here's why your gross pay swings $400 between pay periods on a 24/48 rotation, and what to do about it.
10 min read
shift differential pension
Shift differentials and your pension: what counts, what doesn't
Most public-safety pensions are built from base pay, but the differentials your job pays — night, FTO, K-9, paramedic — may or may not count toward what you retire on. The difference is bigger than most people realize.
12 min read