Minutes - Council Work Session - 03/12/2024

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Administrative Services Director Lasher explained that this employee would not get any back pay in the form of vacation days. She said that all employees would fall into this new scale wherever they land. Councilmember Riley asked to clarify that this is not giving out more vacation days, it is just changing how those days are being given out. Administrative Services Director Lasher said yes and explained that they would be giving the employees half of their vacation days up front then the other half will be accrued over time. Councilmember Specht asked if there is a probation period for new employees for when they would start accruing vacation time. Administrative Services Director Lasher said no and that it starts accruing at the first paycheck. Councilmember Specht asked if it is in the employee handbook that a new employee cannot use their vacation days right away upon being hired. Administrative Services Director Lasher said yes and noted that vacation days have to be submitted in advance and approved by the supervisor or department head. City Administrator Hagen said they are looking at this front loading vacation model as they often have new employees coming to them with vacations planned before they have accrued enough vacation days to use. He stated that it is still the same amount of total days per year. Administrative Services Director Lasher added that it is important to the Finance Department that employees do not take unpaid leave, as this involves finance and HR paperwork. Councilmember Musgrove said she has concerns with this as most people should expect that they may not be able to take paid time off in their first few weeks and months in a new position. She added that it does not appear to be that common with other cities. She stated it is pretty standard that new employees have a probationary period before they begin to accrue vacation days. Councilmember Howell asked what would prevent a prospective hire from negotiating this when they come into a new job as an alternative to changing the policy to frontload the days. Administrative Service Director Lasher stated this is what is currently happening. She shared that what she has heard from employees is that they did not even know that it was an option. She noted that this employee is still accruing vacation hours at a higher rate. Councilmember Howell said she would prefer to have this plan stay the way it is rather than front loading half of the days as there are risks that could go along with this. Councilmember Specht asked about the drawbacks to frontloading the days. City Council Work Session/March 12, 2024 Page 5 of 9