Massachusetts has agreed to pay $21.5 million to nearly 2,000 current and retired state troopers to settle a legal claim by some who said they were shortchanged when they worked overtime from 2001 through 2013.
During those years, troopers who worked extra hours received, in some cases, one hour off for every hour of overtime worked.
The Boston Globe reports that the troopers' union filed a grievance in 2005 saying they should receive 1.5 hours in compensatory time for every hour of overtime worked, based on federal labor law that mandates a higher rate of pay after employees work 40 hours in a one-week period.
The average payout to approximately 1,800 recipients is $11,600, but some payouts are more than $100,000. Some troopers will get extra time off.
