ThisWeek CW 11/13/2014

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/11/10/city-eyes-changes-to-comp-time-sick-leave.html

Canal Winchester City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance Nov. 3 that would incorporate a number of changes to the employee handbook, including some affecting sick leave and comp-time policies.

Mayor Michael Ebert appointed a committee of management-level employees to review the city’s personnel handbook in light of Canal Winchester’s growth from a village to a city and because a number of employees are reaching retirement age, which could lead to a number of new hires.

The committee included Human Resources Coordinator Nancy Stir, Technology Coordinator Rick Brown, Finance Director Amanda Jackson, Public Works Director Matt Peoples and Water Manager Gary Schmitt.

The changes involving compensatory time and converting unused sick leave to cash payouts were among about two dozen proposals from the committee that Stir outlined for council.

Committee members acknowledged that the proposed changes could cost more money annually, but also could make the city more competitive.

Comp time

Currently, the city offers overtime-exempt salaried employees comp time on an hour-for-hour basis for hours worked beyond a normal, 40-hour week. Comp time is capped at 24 hours per year, but the committee wants to increase that to 80 hours per year.

Stir confirmed that comp time does not carry over from year to year; if it is not used before the end of the year, it is lost.

“For exempt workers, we’re looking at quality of work so, for example, you have exempt employees sitting here at the meeting and that would be available for comp time … this is instead of getting overtime pay,” Stir said.

Councilwoman Bobbie Mershon argued that for most exempt employees, the 80 hours would be guaranteed because of the number of evening and weekend city meetings they are required to attend.

“So they’re going to get this every year because of meetings alone,” Mershon said.

Stir said the committee’s research showed that 80 hours of available comp time is very common for central Ohio city and state employees. Both Stir and Ebert said they are in favor of the change in order to keep Canal Winchester competitive when hiring new employees.

Peoples said providing the additional comp time doesn’t technically cost the city money and exempt employees would still be expected to complete their job duties.

“That’s time which is also money, then,” Mershon said.