HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-09-2015 - 4 14
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 9, 2015
Action Agenda
Item No. 4
SUBJECT: Pay and Benefits Presentation
DEPARTMENT: Human Resources PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
A. REVISED Position Classification and Brenda Bartholomew, Human Resources
Pay Plans section (Appendix A, Director, (919) 245-2552
Pages 432-434) Changes highlighted Diane Shepherd, Benefits Manager
(919) 245-2558
PURPOSE: To receive information and provide feedback to staff on employee pay and
benefits for FY 2015-16.
BACKGROUND: Staff has provided information relating to FY 2015-16 employee pay and
benefits in Appendix A of the Manager's Recommended Budget. The information provided
includes background information on employee pay and benefits over recent years and
information on specific pay and benefits plan elements. Key components of the recommended
employee pay and benefits plan include:
Recommendation Appendix A Pages
A wage increase of 2 percent for all permanent employees hired on or 429
before June 30, 2015, effective July 1 , 2015
No wage Increase to the 2014 Salary Schedule 429
Continue the Employee Performance Award in the amount of $500 429
(Proficient Performance) or $1 ,000 (Exceptional Performance)
effective with WPPR review dates from July 1 , 2015 through June 30,
2016
Continue the $27.50 per pay period County contribution to non-law 429
enforcement employees' supplemental retirement accounts and the
County matching employees' contributions up to $63.00 semi-monthly
(for a maximum annual County contribution of $1,512) for all general
(non-sworn law enforcement officer) employees and continue to
mandated Law Enforcement Officer contribution of 5 percent of
salary; and continue the County's contribution to the Local
Governmental Employees' Retirement System (LGERS) for all
permanent employees.
Continue funding the Traditional and High Deductible Health Plans for 429
employees and pre-65 retirees at the FY2014-15 appropriation and
fund an additional $100,000 to mitigate the cost of deductibles paid by
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employees in the Traditional Plan due to the change in the plan year
from calendar to fiscal in FY2014-15.
Continue funding the Dental Program with an increase of $40,000 429
over FY2014-15 appropriations.
Continue the living wage rate at $12.76 per hour 429
Eliminate the six-month hiring delay and replace it with a Request to 429
Fill process allowing Department Directors to fill vacancies within
approved FY2015-16 appropriations.
Continue the voluntary furlough program 429
Attachment A represents REVISED Pages 432-434 of the Manager's Recommended Budget
to include a Reduction In Force section of the Position Classification and Pay Plans.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Appendix A of the Manager's Recommended Budget includes
information about the estimated costs of various pay and benefits options.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss employee pay
and benefits for FY 2015-16 and provide direction to staff.
Attachment A
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The Pay Plan of Orange County comprises the salary schedule and list of classifications
assigned to each salary grade. The Manager is responsible for the administration and
maintenance of the Pay Plan and recommends to the Board of County Commissioners
such increases, reductions, or amendments to the Pay Plan as is necessary to maintain
fairness and adequacy of the Pay Plan.
Wage and In-Range Pay
A wage increase of 2 percent is recommended for all permanent employees hired on or
before June 30, 2015.
An in-range adjustment to the current 2014 Salary Schedule is not recommended. It is
important to retain the current salary schedule for FY2015-16 to provide a differential
between a new hire and an employee at the current minimum salary and to remain
competitive with the recommended living wage. An in-wage adjustment does not affect
the salary ranges of existing classifications.
Performance Award Pay
Currently, employees receive performance pay in recognition of exceptional and
proficient work performance. At the time of an employee's annual performance review,
an employee recognized for exceptional work performance is awarded $1 ,000 and an
employee recognized for proficient work performance is awarded $500.
Annual Classification and Pay Studies
In FY2009-10, the County began a three year study of all County classifications, which
ended in FY2011-12, when the County completed a review of the final group of
classifications. The following chart reflects the results of the study. Because this study
showed Orange County's salaries and salary ranges are competitive with the survey
market, it was determined there was no need for further review in FY2013-14, and a
comprehensive classification study was not completed in FY2013-14. In FY2013-14
classification reviews were conducted only when a department requested a specific
position be evaluated and this process remained the same for FY2014-15.
Position Classification and Pay Plan Recommendation
Employees are Orange County's most valuable resource and their compensation should
be viewed equitably both internally and externally. It is imperative to ensure that
salaries are comparable with public sector employers in relevant labor markets. Pay
levels for public service employees should be determined under well-understood and
objective standards; competitive enough to attract and retain competent personnel and
comparable with salaries received by their counterparts in private industry.
An organized systematic approach to defining positions, duties and responsibilities, and
setting appropriate pay rates for employees, is of critical importance. The goal for
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FY2015-16 is to evaluate compensation policies/programs including pay structures,
performance based pay, internal and external equity and benefit programs and to
develop a compensation system that is sustainable, affordable and equitable and
focuses on identified and prioritized needs for review and adoption for implementation in
FY2016-17. The following are major steps in this process:
• Conduct job analyses to create and/or update job descriptions and identify job
competencies as essential criteria for hiring, retaining and promoting County
employees.
• Ensure that positions are appropriately classified and graded and that employees
are compensated accordingly.
• Develop, implement and evaluate recruitment, hiring, orientation, succession
planning, retention and organizational exit programs necessary to ensure a
workforce's ability to achieve Orange County's organizational goals and
objectives.
• Conduct review of the performance evaluation system and establish the criteria
for a system that is best suited for Orange County managers and employees.
Reduction in Force
There was a need to reorganize an organizational unit resulting in the loss of one
(1) or more permanent positions. The Manager recommends that the Orange
County Board of Commissioners declare that a reduction in force is necessary
that will result in the deletion of one position.
Manager Recommendations
The Manager recommends the Board approve a 2 percent wage increase for
permanent employees hired on or before June 30, 2015, effective July 1, 2015, and no
wage adjustment to the current 2014 Salary Schedule.
The Manager recommends continuing the Employee Performance Awards of $500 for
proficient performance or $1,000 for exceptional performance, effective with WPPR
review dates from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. The FY2015-16 projected budgetary
wage increase is approximately$1.6 million.
The Manager recommends that a thorough classification and compensation pay study is
conducted by the Human Resources Department for review and consideration of the
BOCC for implementation in the FY2016-17 budget.
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The Manager recommends that the Board of County Commissioners declare that
a reduction in force is necessary and will result in the deletion of a position, as
per Section 28-91 of the Orange County Code of Ordinances.