HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-16-1999 - 8gOrange County
Board of Commissioners
Action Agenda Item Abstract
Meeting Date: November 16, 1999
Action Agenda
Item No. 8- Q
Subject: Classification Plan Amendment -Dental Hygienist J
Department: Personnel Public Hearing: Yes No X
Budget Amendment
Needed: Yes No X
Attachment(s): Information Contact:
Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director
Extension 2550
Telephone Number:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 227-2031
Purpose: To consider amending the Orange County Classification and Pay Plan to change
the salary grade for the existing classification of Dental Hygienist from Salary Grade 64 to
Salary Grade 65.
Background: The Health Department continues to experience difficulty in recruiting and
retaining a Dental Hygienist. Currently, the Dental Hygienist position is vacant. On
average, it is taking about seven months to fill the position once it becomes vacant. Once
the position is filled, the average length of employment is less than a year.
Due to the continued difficulty in recruiting and retaining a Dental Hygienist, the Health
Director requested that Personnel conduct a classification and pay study of the position.
Personnel reviewed the position and determined that there are no significant changes in
duties and responsibilities since the last review. The position continues to spend about 80
percent of time on dental clinical functions and 20 percent of time on educational functions.
As part of the review, Personnel also conducted a pay survey. In this, Personnel found that
Orange County's salary range is lower than the average labor market salary range for other
public and private employers surveyed.
In 1996, the Board had approved changing the salary grade for Dental Hygienist from
Salary Grade 62 to Salary Grade 64. At that time, the Board also approved a special hiring
2
range in recognition of the hiring ranges being used by other employers. The present
special hiring range is $29,176 (Step 4D) to $35,464 (Step 8D). With the change to salary
grade 65, the special. hiring range will become $30,635 (Step 4D) - $37,237 (Step 8D). The
new salary grade 65 would also allow Orange County's salary range to be more
comparable to the salary range for the average labor market. The chart below summarizes
the survey data.
Employers Surveyed Average Salary Range Hiring Range/Special
Entry Rate***
State/Local Government* $27,528 - $43,051 $35,504 (special entry
. rate)
Private Companies** $29,046 - $41,942 mid 30's to 40's
(starting salary)
Orange County $26,464 - $42,077 $30,635 - $37,237
(Proposed Grade 65)
State and local government employers surveyed were: Alamance, Chatham,
Cumberland, Durham, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Johnston, Mecklenberg, New Hanover,
and Wake Counties along with the State of North Carolina and UNC-Chapel Hill.
** Private employers surveyed were: Duke University Hospital, Lincoln Community Health
Center, Piedmont Health Services and UNC Hospitals.
***State of North Carolina and UNC-Chapel Hill both use a special entry rate in the amount
of $35,504. Lincoln Community Health Center is using the mid 30's as a starting salary
and Duke University Hospital is using the 40's as a starting salary.
Financial Impact: Funds to implement this change are available within the approved
budget for fiscal year 1999-00.
Recommendation: The Manager recommends the Board amend the classification and
pay plan by changing the assigned salary grade of the existing Dental Hygienist class from
Salary Grade 64 to Salary Grade 65.
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