AGENDA DATE: 9/7/2022
TITLE:
Title
Sick Leave Supplement
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Approve a pilot program to provide 10 days of sick leave to employees as a workforce stabilization measure for Fiscal Year 2023
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Birch, Coltrane
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Albemarle County Government’s Leave Program, § P-86 provides all benefits-eligible employees with Sick Leave for personal health-related matters, health-related matters in their immediate families, and/or health-related appointments. Sick leave is earned on an accrual rate of 1 day per month worked. Sick Leave is not eligible for payout upon termination of employment.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations - Ensure County government’s capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities
DISCUSSION: During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Albemarle County Government provided to employees a bank of sick leave to use for COVID-19-related illness for personal use and for use to care for members of their immediate household who may need treatment or care. This program enabled employees that might have utilized substantial sick leave balances to take the time needed to satisfy isolation and quarantine requirements without needing to take Leave Without Pay. This program expired in April 2022. As COVID-19 case counts continue to sustain at elevated levels, and in recognition that during the academic year, households will have close contacts with more individuals indoors, staff recommends a pilot program to provide a Sick Leave Supplement for all benefits-eligible employees of 10 days of sick leave.
The pilot program will run upon approval through the end of Fiscal Year 2023, on June 30, 2023. The balance will not expire at the end of the pilot period. Existing employees and those hired during the pilot will receive the Sick Leave Supplement. The pilot program is expected to benefit new employees that begin their tenure with no accrued leave and others who have low leave balances for illness due to Family Medical Leave Act and other needs. The pilot is expected to provide additional benefit, as a workforce stabilization measure that provides additional flexibility to new employees. As such, the pilot will be evaluated for implementation impacts and challenges beginning in Spring 2023 and that analysis will be shared with the Board for future consideration.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no budget impact associated with this pilot program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board approve the Sick Leave Supplement program.
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