A Chat with my Boss...

Today our boss handed out our paychecks. And he had already called a couple of guys into his office to talk about the overtime they've accumulated. I figured that he was going to talk to me about that subject as well. This month we have a 5-week work circle and I've accumulated 50 hours overtime this month alone.
So we had a little chat about the subject. This month was like a perfect storm. Preparing for Taking Inventory, then the overtime required for the actual Taking of the Inventory, a 5-week work circe and having to do overtime since the head of finance had called in sick for 1 week and apparently besides me nobody has the knowledge and the courage to step up and fill in for him. On top of that I had started some pre-prep-work for getting the numbers for the tax guys started and that' just something that doesn't go during regular business hours.
Although my boss understands all that he gave me a limit of the overtime he is OK wiht. That limit is 30 hours in a 5-week work circle and about 25 hours in a 4-week work circle. And it will not be that easy to stick to that limit, since the Junior Accountant just doesn't step up to the plate. Essentially it will mean that I have to leave work every Friday at 2 pm to keep overtime in check. And most likely I will have to take at least 1 day off each and every month. I'm totally fine with that since I really enjoy having more time off. During the cold winter month it didn't really bother me but with Spring and warm temps it's nice to have more time available to do stuff. And I'm sure my new boyfriend will appreciate that as well.
From a financial point of view getting 30 hours overtime paid makes sense, as you really see somthing on your paycheck. But there's very little difference in your paycheck if you get paid 50 hours overtime. The majority of it is eaten up by social security and taxes. Yes you can get it back at the end of the year when doing your taxes but you have to wait 1 entire year.
By the end of that chat my boss did point out once again that he appreciates having me on the accounting team and that he does appreciate me work effort and me stepping up to the plate when it is required without having been ordered to do so by my superiors.