Title
Vote to adopt a Resolution amending the Chatham County Personnel Policy
Abstract
Introduction & Background: The Chatham County Personnel Policy was first adopted in June 1991. From time to time, it is necessary to review the current policy and recommend changes that further clarify intent or are no longer relevant or accurate. After careful review, three changes are proposed.
Discussion & Analysis: The following amendments need to be made to the current Personnel Policy:
Article I, Section 2: Coverage - New language was added to expand on the specific articles and sections that specific County employees and/or officials are exempt from.
Article I, Section 3: Definitions - The following missing definitions were added to the policy: COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act), discrimination, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), harassment. The definition of General County Employee was expanded.
Article III, Section 8: Payment at a Listed Rate - New language was added to include an explanation of the lump sum payment for employees who have reached the maximum salary for their assigned pay grade.
Article III, Section 10: Pay Rates in Promotion, Demotion, Transfer and Reclassification - Language has been added stating that salary changes approved after the first working day of a pay period shall become effective at the beginning of the next pay period, or at such a specific date as may be provided by procedures approved by the County Manager. In addition, language has been added to increase the salary increase amount for promotions and reclassifications from 2% to a range of 2-5% with approval from Human Resources and the County Manager based on internal equity and other factors.
Article IV, Section 1: Statement of Anti-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity - New language was modified by Human Resources and the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer to update the Statement of Anti-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity.
Article IV, Section 2: Recruitment - Language was updated to include changes to the recruitment process to reflect the new applicant tracking system.
Article V, Section 1: Workweek - New language was added to expand on employee expectations around attendance and establish the working hours for the majority of County administrative offices.
Article V, Section 3: Political Activity Restricted - Language was added to ban the display of political decoration and/or wearing of political apparel for employees while on duty to maintain a politically neutral workplace.
Article V, Section 4: Sexual Harassment - This section was renamed Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Policy Statements. The new Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination statements were added, and the reporting procedures were modified to include the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer. In addition, definitions of commonly used terms were added to the Definitions section of the Personnel Policy.
Article V, Section 5: Secondary/Outside Employment - Updated policy to include a Request for Secondary Employment Approval Form.
Article VI, Section 6: Sick Leave - Removal of the Sick Family Leave provision for employees to use up to forty (40) hours in a calendar year for the illness of the employee’s immediate family. Language was also added giving supervisors the discretion to send an employee home on sick leave if they exhibit signs of a serious contagious illness.
Article IX, Section 1: Grievance Procedure - The statement was added that the procedure does not apply to employees of the Sheriff or Register of Deeds.
Article IX, Section 5: Personnel Advisory Committee - The Chatham County Human Relations Committee was replaced by the Chatham County EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) Working Group for any grievance involving a hate or bias issue.
Other grammatical and punctuation errors were corrected.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan:
Budgetary Impact: None
Recommendation/Motion: Motion to adopt a Resolution amending the Chatham County Personnel Policy.