"Typical" SA work hours

[StartingOut]

(I tried searching for this, but nothing came up).

I know that there'll be days where hours are anything but regular, but for general "slow" office or investigation days, what hours are SAs required to work? Are they expected to show up a 7:00 a.m. and leave at 7:00 p.m., even when there's nothing urgent happening? Or are there days when they can wander in a 9:00 a.m. and leave at 4:30 p.m.

And what about taking work home? For instance, if an agent has a bunch of paperwork to complete, can this be taken home to complete after-hours?

This isn't a question to ask "how slack can I be?" I was talking to an SA recently who said that while not on protective detail, his work hours are very flexible and very reasonable, and were basically nine to five. I wanted to find out whether this was within the realm of possibility.

[Kimble]

I know that there'll be days where hours are anything but regular, but for general "slow" office or investigation days, what hours are SAs required to work?

Read #3 of "The Top Ten truths that seem to be typical of federal criminal investigative positions" in this thread: http://forums.realpolice.net/showthread.php?t=82267

And what about taking work home? For instance, if an agent has a bunch of paperwork to complete, can this be taken home to complete after-hours?

Depends on individual agency policy, but typically an agent can take certain work home with them (barring classified materials or other work-related materials that are prohibited from leaving the office, like evidence). You still have to maintain OPSEC and other safeguards (like preventing privacy-related materials, like someone's SSN, medical records, LE sensitive materials, etc. from being disclosed to non-LE persons). For example, I can't bring a casefile home from work and show it to the wife to "wow" her with my intersting work (not that that would impress my wife to begin with ;)).

This isn't a question to ask "how slack can I be?" I was talking to an SA recently who said that while not on protective detail, his work hours are very flexible and very reasonable, and were basically nine to five. I wanted to find out whether this was within the realm of possibility.

Like I said, a lot probably depends on the individual agency. I've heard FBI requires their agents to put in 10 hours each day (in order to meet LEAP requirements). My agency is more flexible and allow us to make LEAP hours however we see fit, so long as we meet the 10-hr minimum each week (we get duty calls regularly, so it's usually not difficult to have several of those hours taken up in one or two evenings if you have duty).

[StartingOut]

Thanks again!

[Joeyd6]

I typically work Monday to Friday. Sometimes that changes. But 85% it does not. And my hours vary. Sometimes 7am, other 9 am. Always work at least 8 hours. Some days much longer...even up to 24= hours.

Holidays off typically too.

But the schedule and travel changes with caseload and case requirements. If you ask my wife though, she will say I typically leave at 6-630 am, and get home at 5:30 to 9:00 pm. Keep in mind that includes a commute from NYC to the burbs, about 40 miles.

[Nole795]

For the most part I work from 7A to 5P Mon to Friday. Of course it changes with the assignment. I normally will get a callout for after hour or weekend responses at least once every two months. I can't complain on that. I know detectives that are called out at least once a week.

[Group9]

It's going to depend a lot on the agency, and the violations they work.

We try real hard to do as much as we can during normal business hours, but my agency's primary mission, for instance, is drug violations, and it is impossible to conduct those, and not put in some nights and weekends.

That said, peer pressure, not management, is the biggest check and balance to people scheduling things at night and weekends, that could be done during normal business hours with better planning.

The worst part about nights and weekends is that it will be mostly unscheduled (my personal record is driving away from my house one day, thinking I would be home for supper, and not coming back for five days, driving 2500 miles, and sleeping in my car the whole time).

If you want to do work at home, more power to you, but know that losing classified documents (if you deal with them) is a career killer. Since so much of our stuff is classified, I just go in to the office when I need to catch up. Others do take laptops home (and do sometimes lose them, with the resulting bru-ha-ha).

[BP348]

Like I said, a lot probably depends on the individual agency. I've heard FBI requires their agents to put in 10 hours each day (in order to meet LEAP requirements). My agency is more flexible and allow us to make LEAP hours however we see fit, so long as we meet the 10-hr minimum each week (we get duty calls regularly, so it's usually not difficult to have several of those hours taken up in one or two evenings if you have duty).

As far as LEAP goes for 1811's when you're the duty agent and your duty hours are say 6PM Thursday to 8AM on Friday morning do you get to claim all 14 hours as your LEAP or do you only get to claim LEAP hours if you're called out?

[Big Sexy]

As far as LEAP goes for 1811's when you're the duty agent and your duty hours are say 6PM Thursday to 8AM on Friday morning do you get to claim all 14 hours as your LEAP or do you only get to claim LEAP hours if you're called out?

In regards to ICE, duty is 8 AM to 8 AM and we don't break it down as in your example. LEAP is a lot like AUO, but not exactly like AUO. BIG remembers when he was BP, we kept track of our AUO. If we reached our limit for the week, say during the middle of the week, we got to bone out early.

With LEAP, it doesn't matter if BIG is up all night on call outs or doesn't receive a call. We don't track it in that manner and there is no FLSA if we exceed 2 hours. Working 2 hours LEAP is the same as working 20 hours oF LEAP.

[Kimble]

As far as LEAP goes for 1811's when you're the duty agent and your duty hours are say 6PM Thursday to 8AM on Friday morning do you get to claim all 14 hours as your LEAP or do you only get to claim LEAP hours if you're called out?

Can't speak for any agency but my own, but for us you only can count LEAP on duty days that fall on weekends, after hours, holidays, etc. if you're literally working for the USG. If you get called out, or even have to spend a lot of time on the phone following up on things that won't ultimately require to you go anywhere, you can claim that time for LEAP. If you have duty for 24 hours and don't get a call, you claim nothing.

Other agencies may do things differently, but I'd be surprised to see an agency that's a lot more giving of duty LEAP than what we do.

[BP348]

In regards to ICE, duty is 8 AM to 8 AM and we don't break it down as in your example. LEAP is a lot like AUO, but not exactly like AUO. BIG remembers when he was BP, we kept track of our AUO. If we reached our limit for the week, say during the middle of the week, we got to bone out early.

With LEAP, it doesn't matter if BIG is up all night on call outs or doesn't receive a call. We don't track it in that manner and there is no FLSA if we exceed 2 hours. Working 2 hours LEAP is the same as working 20 hours oF LEAP.

So is ICE like NCIS where you actually have to be "working" during you duty time to claim it as LEAP?

As you know the FLSA & AUO is an advantage over LEAP. I've spoke with some of the ICE guys around here and by August they have done so much LEAP that they're working for free.

It's still a rumor but rumor control has it that USBP is going to increase to a journeyman GS-12 to try and stem the tide of everyone leaving the agency. Of course that would make the SBPA's GS-13's & GS-13's don't get FLSA but the rumor says that to compensate for the loss of FLSA that we would go to 33% LEAP.

This is all rumors and I've been hearing about the GS-12 upgrades since before we got the GS-11 upgrade, so I'll believe it when I see it on my LES.

[Big Sexy]

So is ICE like NCIS where you actually have to be "working" during you duty time to claim it as LEAP?

Example. This Friday, the 26th, the Executive branch is off, due to the President making it a holiday, correct? Well BIG has duty that day, so technically BIG is working, but BIG won't be getting paid any holiday pay or any other premium. It's ALL LEAP brother. Whether his phone rings 100 times or doesn't ring at all. Whether he physically responds to the ports are sits at home all day, it will still be LEAP.

Now, since BIG is the duty for the 26th, he's the backup to the guy on the 25th. Thus if he needs assistance, he'll be calling BIG and for both of us it will still be LEAP.

On regular work days, when you have the duty, you claim your hours but anything beyond those first eight are going to be LEAP. On regular work hours, when you don't have the duty, anything beyond those first eight are going to be LEAP.

If BIG puts in his eight and goes home, no one gives a damn. If BIG does surveillance early, conducts a search warrant, processes evidence and such and does twenty hours, no one gives a damn, because that is why we're paid the LEAP.

Does that answer your question or not really?

To add, as far as tracking it, we track it in TECS II when we do our monthly hours. They can see how many hours you're dedicating to each case. There's a baseline number you should hit with regular hours and a ball park you should be in with your LEAP.

[Joeyd6]

Can't speak for any agency but my own, but for us you only can count LEAP on duty days that fall on weekends, after hours, holidays, etc. if you're literally working for the USG. If you get called out, or even have to spend a lot of time on the phone following up on things that won't ultimately require to you go anywhere, you can claim that time for LEAP. If you have duty for 24 hours and don't get a call, you claim nothing.

Same with my place.

Also, my placekeeps track of your LEAP and our automated time system lets you know your avergae LEAP for the current pay period and the year to date average. While they don't look at the weekly amount, the SES pays attention to the "average year to date." If you are not around 2, or better, you can get rode about things that normally would not matter and you could start getting headaches you coudl avoid. I like to work late when it is cold out. So my average LEAP in Jan-March is a lot! And again in October-December. I easily average around 3-4 hours a day these months. But from April to Septemebr, I do my 8 hours days and leave unless something pops up.

[Nole795]

It is a 10 hour workday in my agency. Any other work hours above that is LEAP. If your are called to respond on the weekend, it is LEAP. In fact, every scenario you throw out there falls under LEAP for my agency.

It is what it is.

[BP348]

Does that answer your question or not really?

Not Really

I get the whole any call out after hours is LEAP. Like you execute a warrant and spend time processing the evidence, ect.. say thats a 16 hour day. You started at 8am regular duty for 8 hours then the next 8 hours is LEAP. Pretty simple. ROS said that for NCIS unless they're called on their duty time it's not LEAP but what about ICE? If you're the duty agent and it's 2 AM and your home in bed do you still count that as LEAP? Or do you only get to claim LEAP if you get a call? :confused: By the way I'll be enjoying my leiu (sp?) holiday on the 24th because my assigned days off are the 26th & 27th & I'm on A/L all next week

NOTE: The leiu holiday means I get paid 8 hours holiday worked, with night differential and 8 hours holiday off with night differential for both the 24th & 25th plus 8 hours holiday off with night differential for the 1st. Can anyone say Cha Ching

I guess I'm confused because I hear the ICE guys here say that they worked "X" number of hours of LEAP this year followed by "X" number of hours they worked for free because LEAP only covers so many hours. How many hours does LEAP cover in a year?

Stupid LEAP, that's why I like AUO plus we get FLSA and when I leave for the day I don't have to worry about getting a phone call later. ;)