As the Library has acquired and implemented its new time system, the Union’s response has been to recognize that the Library has a right to automate legitimate business practices, unless they fundamentally violate Union member interests with their implementation. We also asked, on more than one instance, to be involved with the process to be sure the end product would be meet our criteria, would enhance productivity, and would make our jobs easier. The Library never responded to our offer to participate in the process. Instead, they undertook an autonomous implementation.
We have continued to monitor the situation. We have become aware that the system includes certain “rounding” practices, which appear to result in getting free work out of Union members. On November 17th, we sent a letter to the Library asking them to change the rounding of the system so that employees who worked an 8 hour day would get 8 hours credit each and every time. The Library has not responded to this letter.
On November 29th, we learned of additional information showing the Library intends to continue with implementation of rounding practices to the detriment of employees. In one instance, an employee (who is a union member) worked 8 hours and 22 minutes. The system credited that employee with 8 hours of work instead of the 8.4 they actually worked. Once again, we sent the Library a letter.
What we have learned from these episodes is that the time system cannot be trusted to accurately record your time. And when it makes mistakes, they always seem to be in the Library’s favor. And that’s apparently by design, not by accident.
We’re working to try to resolve these issues. DMLSA is contacting the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division to find out how to effect a positive change in the Library’s timekeeping system. We’re not opposed to a properly implemented timekeeping system - one that properly credits an employee with the actual time worked. NOVAtime, under the Library’s skewed implementation, is not such a system.
In the meantime, here are a couple steps that you should take to protect yourself to preserve time records to show the true hours you are working at the Library:
Keep a paper timesheet in parallel to the NOVAtime system. If the Library is no longer distributing timesheets to your department, you can download one from our website. It’s not exactly the Library’s form, but it’s close enough to let you accurately record your time.
When a problem occurs, take a screen shot of it and send it to Rich Robinson. Here’s how to accomplish this:
Display the faulty entry on screen.
Hit the “Print Scrn” button on your keyboard.
Open Microsoft PowerPoint
Hold down the Ctrl button and press the V key to paste the image
In Powerpoint, click on “File” then “Save” to save the file to your computer
Attach the newly-created Powerpoint file to an e-mail and send it
If you have any questions or concerns, or if you become aware of additional information or examples that would assist the Union in this matter, please contact your steward or send the information directly to Rich Robinson.
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