At Tuesday's Board of Supervisor meeting the discussion concerning the changes to the County Handbook continue. Changes made affect how some will get vacation time through the next fiscal year, and how some won't.
Under "Discuss/Approve Vacation Time/Sick Leave": Joy Wieditz spoke to the board concerning the changes to the handbook. She stated that the way the handbook now stands, she is allowed to give away her sick time but she is not allowed to use it for her family's needs now. She will need time off to take care of her husband as he faces surgery before the January 1, 2025 date when new policies will be implemented. An employee for more than 25 years, she has built up 95 days of sick leave which she has not used. Over her employments she said that she's used 12 weeks of maternity leave, 8 weeks for cancer leave and other surgeries. She is requesting that the Supervisors make changes allowing employees to use their accumulated sick time immediately for their parent, child or spouse rather than waiting for the January 1, 2025 start date.
Wieditz said that she had talked to Sue Wilber, HR Director and Ray Lough, County Attorney but couldn't find a solution so she felt she needed to bring it to the Supervisors.
Sheriff Tippett spoke in support of the move stating that he believes that "sick time" is sick time. If you have a sick spouse and you have sick days built up, he felt that you should be able to use it for such a need. Myron Parizek said he thought that's why the changes were made to make it more consistent across the board and he would also mirror the thoughts of Sheriff Tippett.
Approval was given last week to change the whole section. As of now employees are to use it for themselves and not the care of family members. Discussion was held concerning how to best meet the needs of the employees. Primmer said he'd like to see it handled properly the first time...
Wieditz said that if they would change the sick time now it would help a lot of people. Melinda Schottemer, County Treasurer said that this is what they were going for originally but it was lost somewhere in the discussion.
Seeman made a motion to table it until the committee can get together and adjust this as soon as possible.
Wieditz read another statement to the board expressing her concerns. She said, "Barb Greenlee had asked that you give employees who have 17+ years an extra 5 days for vacation effective July 1, (2024). I feel that was never addressed as Sue stepped in and said that she was working on it so it was tabled.
Last week a claim was made by Sue and Shelby (Williams, Benton County Conservation) that the reason people were getting more vacation time at hire, was because of experience. This comes from two people who got that 5 weeks of vacation without 17 plus years at Benton County. How does that make them be more experienced?
Then the excuse of not wanting to spend the taxpayer's money was mentioned. Of all the wasted money the Board has approved, what a kick in the face to all of us longevity workers.
I used to be proud to say I worked at Benton County, but these past few years have been unbelievably embarrassing and unfair. It's time to fix this hostile environment. You created this, and you can fix this.
Make it right and give the employees with 17 plus years the extra five days effective July 1, 2024, as Barb asked. We deserve it and we have earned it.
Thank you."
Primmer said that this had been kicked down the road and they came up with a time to start it which was January 1, to begin with each anniversary date.
Wieditz made the argument that because her anniversary date won't be until August of next year, and having been employed more than 25 years she still won't get that extra week until then.
Primmer explained that this is how it was passed. Wieditz responded, "That is ridiculous. I don't think anyone had an inkling of how that was going. It wasn't worded properly. I've asked Sue, I've asked Ray, nobody knows how that was done."
Primmer responded that Lexa Spiedel did bring it up and it was discussed. Wieditz said that she had asked her supervisor how it would be worded and she didn't know, she'd asked the Auditor and she had no idea about the wording. Hayley Rippel, County Auditor said that she agreed it was confusing and doesn't treat everyone fairly.
The discussion as to when it would be a proper time to implement the change came down to a discussion of the fiscal budget which runs from July to the end of the following June. Those whose anniversary date falls between July 1 and December 31 will not pick up vacation time for this fiscal year, however, everyone whose anniversary date is from January 1-June 30 will.
Each department had already set up their budgets for the year and had them approved so they are already in effect for this year. In theory, starting the plan in January only left departments dealing with paying for benefits for six months.
It is unclear if the departments were able to carve out money for everyone in their department for the whole year or only those with an anniversary date after January 1, 2024.
Tracy Seeman made a motion to table the discussion until the Handbook Committee could meet, action was taken to do that, but to discuss this ASAP.
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