Postal Service™ managers must effectively manage rural carriers who work under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) section 7(b)(2). Those carriers are paid overtime for all hours actually worked in excess of 2,080, up to 2,240, within the 52-consecutive-week guarantee period.
If a carrier works more than 2,240 hours within the guarantee period, the agreement under FLSA, section 7(b)(2), is considered void, and the carrier must be compensated for all hours worked during the guarantee period in accordance with FLSA, section 7(a).
Local management must track and validate regular carrier work hours throughout the guarantee year to avoid and/or minimize the number of carriers exceeding 2,080 or 2240 actual work hours.
The current 2009–2010 guarantee period in effect for the past year began Saturday, October 24, 2009, and goes through Friday, October 22, 2010. The new 2010–2011 guarantee period will begin on Saturday, October 23, 2010 and continue through Friday, October 21, 2011.
— Rural Delivery,
Delivery and Post Office Operations, 10-21-10
