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STANDBY DUTY

SEA-MC tit. 4, ch. 4.21
in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.21.010 Standby duty—Definitions.

4.21.010 - Standby duty—Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall mean: A. "Eligible employee" means an employee eligible for overtime compensation who is not working pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. B. "Standby duty" means the formal assignment, by the head of an employing unit or his/her designated representative, to an employee of responsibility to respond to emergencies and other problems during the employee's non-working hours. The act of carrying a pager or other such communication device does not, in itself, constitute standby duty. C. "Standby pay" means the monetary compensation paid to an employee who is assigned to standby duty. (Ord. 117321, § 1, 1994; Ord. 112666 § 1(part), 1986.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.21.020 Standby duty responsibilities.

4.21.020 - Standby duty responsibilities. An eligible employee on standby duty must remain contactable through some communications device (such as by carrying a pager) and be in a state of readiness to direct and/or participate in any City response to an emergency or other problem, through telephone response or personal appearance at some predetermined location, within fifteen (15) minutes after communication contact is made by the employing unit. The appointing authority may establish time parameters within which the employee assigned to standby duty must report to such work location when the occasion requires the employee's presence. (Ord. 117321, § 1, 1994: Ord. 112666 § 1(part), 1986.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.21.030 Determination of eligibility for standby duty.

4.21.030 - Determination of eligibility for standby duty. The appointing authority may assign eligible employees to perform standby duty, based upon reasonable criteria which shall include: the likelihood of the occurrence of an off-hours emergency, the nature of the emergency, and the consequences of delaying response to the emergency until normal working hours or of assigning the emergency response to an employee who is already on regular duty or standby status. (Ord. 117321, § 1, 1994; Ord. 112666 § 1(part), 1986.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.21.040 Standby pay—Rates.

4.21.040 - Standby pay—Rates. A. An eligible employee assigned by proper authority to be on standby duty to perform the duties of his or her position title shall be paid ten percent (10%) of his or her regular straight-time hourly rate of pay for each hour served on standby duty. B. An eligible employee assigned to standby duty to perform the duties of another position title shall be paid ten percent (10%) of the regular straight-time hourly rate of pay of the salary step for each hour served on standby duty as follows: 1. If the employee's actual rate of pay is within the salary range of the applicable position title, standby pay shall be computed on his or her actual rate of pay. 2. If the employee's actual rate of pay is higher than that top step of the salary range of the applicable position title, standby pay shall be computed using the top step of the salary range of the applicable position title. 3. If the employee's actual rate of pay is lower than the first step of the salary range of the applicable position title, standby pay shall be computed using the first step of the salary range of the applicable position title. C. An employee may use paid sick leave to be compensated for eligible absences from scheduled standby duties. An employee who uses sick leave shall be compensated at the rate authorized by SMC 4.21.040.A or SMC 4.21.040.B, as applicable. (Ord. 124003, § 2, 2012; Ord. 117321, § 1, 1994; Ord. 112666 § 1(part), 1986.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.21.050 Standby pay not concurrent with regular or overtime pay.

4.21.050 - Standby pay not concurrent with regular or overtime pay. When an eligible employee on standby duty responds to an emergency or other problem, standby pay shall be discontinued when regular or overtime pay commences. (Ord. 117321, § 1, 1994; Ord. 112666 § 1(part), 1986.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.21.060 Standby duty schedules.

4.21.060 - Standby duty schedules. The appointing authority shall maintain standby duty schedules so that the affected employees have adequate advance notice as to when they are scheduled for assignment to standby duty. Eligible employees may volunteer for assignment to standby duty, and the schedules may consist of a mix of voluntary and nonvoluntary standby duty assignments. (Ord. 117321, § 1, 1994; Ord. 112666 § 1(part), 1986.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.21.070 Resolution of conflict with collective bargaining agreements.

4.21.070 - Resolution of conflict with collective bargaining agreements. In the event of any conflict between this chapter and the terms of any collective bargaining agreement entered into by the City, the terms of the collective bargaining agreement shall prevail for those employees covered by the collective bargaining agreement. (Ord. 117321, § 1, 1994; Ord. 112666 § 1(part), 1986.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.21.080 Reporting of standby pay

4.21.080 - Reporting of standby pay The appointing authority shall report as directed to the Seattle Human Resources Director all authorizations for standby pay and how each satisfied the criteria as stipulated in this chapter. The Seattle Human Resources Director shall provide a summary report of this information to the City Council on an annual basis. (Ord. 124567, § 51, 2014; Ord. 117321, § 1(part), 1994.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT4PE_CH4.21STDUFetched: 11/1/2026

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