Back to Handbook Table of Contents
Working at Cornell
Cornell Employment: Keeping Track of Time
Recording time is an important task for all nonexempt staff members. You need to record the exact number of hours you work each day, because under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) employers are required to maintain accurate time records. Most nonexempt staff members enter their time electronically—either using COLTS II or Kronos. (COLTS II allows time worked to be entered on-line; Kronos is an electronic time clock.) Any overtime or compensatory hours, as noted below, must be accounted for when you submit your time. See HR Policy 6.7.11: Time Collection for more information.
Overtime
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, all nonexempt staff members who work in excess of forty hours in a standard workweek are eligible for overtime pay. Overtime pay is calculated at the rate of one-and-one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay. At Cornell, overtime pay is based on hours paid during the standard workweek. Employees are expected to receive prior super-visory approval for all overtime work. See HR Policy 6.7.12: Overtime for details.
Compensatory Time Off
Most people understand compensatory time or “ comp time” to refer to taking unpaid time off to make up for extra time worked earlier in the standard workweek. Compensatory time off for nonexempt staff may be authorized in lieu of overtime pay only if it can be taken within the same workweek. Compensatory time off such as this may not be carried forward into the next workweek. The supervisor and the staff member must agree on the date that the compensatory time will be used. See HR Policy 6.7.12: Overtime for details.
DISCLAIMER: The policies contained in this handbook are not conditions of employment, and are not intended to create a contract between the university and its employees. The university reserves the right to amend or revoke the policies in this handbook at any time without notice. The university reserves the right to change the content of this handbook at any time. Nothing contained in this handbook constitutes a promise or guarantee of continuing employment or benefits.