Oprah Winfrey-Cracking the Whip

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

17 Aug 2007 10:10 AM

Years ago when Dr. Phil was just starting out with his own talk show (a spin off of Oprah Winfrey's mega popular show) I read a very unflattering article about the way he treated his employees. When he was confronted about his behavior he actually admitted he could have been more tactful in dealing with certain workers. "BUT" he continued. It was really "Oprah's fault" because he was so used to working with her top-notch staff it was hard adjusting to employees who didn't share the same work ethic. I don't think he was kidding either.

That said some of Oprah's staffers are no longer keeping mum on just how hard they work. According to news reports, staffers at Harpo Inc. (Oprah's self made production company) are taking aim at one well-connected assistant who has managed to rake in a jaw-dropping $65,000 in overtime in just the first four months of 2007.

I know what you are thinking: Is that possible? According to one Harpo staffer, the female employee is an assistant to Oprah's co-executive producer and some how, some way accumulated an astounding 800 hours of overtime from January to April of this year.

Okay. Let's break this down. Assuming the employee worked a typical five-day week, she would have clocked a mind-boggling 18.5 hours of work per day. Now, if she worked a seven-day workweek (hey, maybe she's single and loves her job) she still would have had to toil for 13.2 hours a day (based on a 16-week period). However, keep in mind, according to Harpo studio staff members, the Queen of talk, traditionally gives staffers the first week of January off.

If you think 800 hours of overtime is nearly impossible to accumulate-think again. According to a Harpo exec, it is very possible to do.

"Many of our employees contribute significant hours of overtime during our production season. This is quite common within the television industry," the exec told news reporters. "From January to April 2007, this employee legitimately accumulated approximately 800 hours of overtime."

I don't know about you, but when I worked overtime it had to be pre-approved by a manager who also had to initial my time card before I submitted it. Even then my boss would approach any employee with overtime and ask, "What's this all about?" Obviously forgetting that he was the one who had assigned the overtime in the first place.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Valorie Delp (49340) 17 Aug 2007 02:12 PM

Yes. . .but your boss probably didn't have untold millions to burn on paying overtime to employees. Good grief. . .I wouldn't work that much even if they pay was really, really good.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 18 Aug 2007 01:19 PM

Oh yes! We were reminded of that EVERY week!! ;) And, I'm with you Valorie, how could anyone with a family work that much?