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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 §7(k) overtime explained: the public-safety overtime rule
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
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