Chapter 6 › III.B.5 Supervisors

Can we claim overtime for department heads, chiefs and managers?

FEMA term

Second-level supervisors (FLSA-exempt)

Short answer

Usually not. Second-level supervisors and above, such as commissioners, mayors, department directors and police and fire chiefs, are normally exempt from federal overtime rules, so FEMA treats their overtime as ineligible unless three conditions are all met.

What FEMA requires

The supervisor was directly involved with a specific project;
You normally charge that person’s time to specific projects, regardless of federal funding; and
The overtime was paid under a labor policy that meets FEMA’s conditions.

Documentation

Daily records of the supervisor’s hands-on project work and evidence that their time is normally charged to projects.

Watch out · Govstar practitioner advice

Overtime for senior staff is a frequent audit finding. If you claim it, document their hands-on project work day by day.

Govstar summarizes FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide in plain language and links to the official text. Govstar is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. This is general guidance, not legal advice.