DEPARTMENT: Employee Relations
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Provide One-Time Retention Incentives To Non-Temporary, Non-Union County Staff
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize two $500 one-time retention incentives to all non-temporary, non-union County employees, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above and elected officials, employed by the County as of January 1, 2023 who remain employed with the County through July 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024.
SUMMARY
Over the past year Dakota County, like other local employers, has faced significant turnover and attraction challenges, particularly among frontline and mid-level management staff. The County’s overall turnover rate for 2022 is anticipated to be between 14 and 15 percent; the highest rate in over a decade. As a result, the County is on pace to fill approximately 400 positions in 2022, an approximate 25 percent increase over the previous year. The County has faced challenges filling positions due to historically low unemployment locally and a shortage of available labor.
To recognize the important contributions of the County’s staff and incentivize those currently with the County to remain with Dakota County, Employee Relations recommends a one-time retention payment of $500 be paid on the first payroll following July 1, 2023 to all non-temporary, non-union employees, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above and elected officials, who are employed with the County as of January 1, 2023 who remain employed with the County through July 1, 2023. This amount will be adjusted on a pro rata basis for employees working less than a 1.0 FTE.
Further, Employee Relations recommends that a one-time retention payment of $500 also be paid on the first payroll following January 1, 2024 to all non-temporary, non-union employees, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above and elected officials, employed with the County as of January 1, 2023 who remain employed with the County through January 1, 2024. This amount will be adjusted on a pro rata basis for employees working less than a 1.0 FTE.
Similar provisions have been bargained and ratified for union employees in each 2023-2024 Dakota County collective bargaining agreements to date.
Employee Relations requests authority to provide any staff, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above, hired after January 1, 2023 and who remain employed by the County for at least 12 months a one-time payment of up to $500 to aid with attraction and retention of newly hired staff.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends approval.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The cost is included in the 2023 recommended budget.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, over the past year Dakota County, like other local employers, has faced significant turnover and attraction challenges; and
WHEREAS, the County’s overall turnover rate for 2022 is anticipated to be between 14 percent and 15 percent; the highest rate in over a decade; and
WHEREAS, the County is on pace to fill approximately 400 positions in 2022, an approximate 25 percent increase over the previous year; and
WHEREAS, the County has faced challenges filling positions due to historically low unemployment locally and a shortage of available labor; and
WHEREAS, to recognize the important contributions of the County’s staff and incentivize those currently with the County to remain with Dakota County, Employee Relations recommends a one-time retention payment of $500 be paid on the first payroll following July 1, 2023 to all non-temporary, non-union employees, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above and elected officials, employed with the County as of January 1, 2023 who remain employed with the County through July 1, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Employee Relations recommends that a one-time retention payment of $500 also be paid on the first payroll following January 1, 2024 to all non-temporary, non-union employees, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above and elected officials, employed with the County as of January 1, 2023 who remain employed with the County through January 1, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the amounts will be adjusted on a pro rata basis for employees working less than a 1.0 FTE; and
WHEREAS, similar provisions have been bargained and ratified for union employees in each 2023-2024 Dakota County collective bargaining agreements to date; and
WHEREAS, Employee Relations requests authority to provide any staff, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above, hired after January 1, 2023 and who remain employed by the County for at least 12 months a one-time payment of up to $500.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes a one-time retention payment of $500.00 be paid on the first payroll following July 1, 2023 to all non-temporary, non-union employees, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above and elected officials, employed with the County as of January 1, 2023 who remain employed with the County through July 1, 2023 and a one-time retention payment of $500 be paid on the first payroll following July 1, 2023 to all non-temporary, non-union employees, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above and elected officials, employed with the County as of January 1, 2023 who remain employed with the County through July 1, 2023; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes Employee Relations to provide any staff, excluding those in management roles in pay grades 112 and above, hired after January 1, 2023 and who remain employed by the County for at least 12 months a one-time payment of up to $500 to add with attraction and retention of newly hired staff; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the appropriate County officials to execute the one-time retention payments in accordance with the terms and conditions submitted to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners dated December 13, 2022.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: None.
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☒ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Andy Benish
Author: Andy Benish