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committee recommends awarding the metro average increase for the lineworker pay <br />group as requested. <br />2. Compensatory time off policy— The committee reviewed the comp time off policy that <br />the city uses in addition to exploring other comp time policies. The committee discussed <br />benefits and disadvantages of implementing a similar policy. <br />First, it was noted that a comp time policy would not benefit all employees as not every <br />position has equal opportunity to work overtime to cam comp time. <br />Second, implementation of a comp time policy would be complicated in our payroll <br />system. The tracking would not be automated and required some manual processes. <br />Third, a comp time policy works well to help balance peaks in work flow allowing <br />employees to earn comp time when it is busy and then allowing the employees to use <br />comp time when work flow is slower. At ERMU there is not a slow time in work flow, <br />especially for those positions which would have the greatest opportunity to work <br />overtime to earn comp, time. And for the foreseeable future, ERMU will be very busy <br />with electric service territory transfer rebuild and new construction. Because of the <br />workload, the implementation of a comp time policy would likely result in additional <br />overtime to offset loss of productivity due to comp time. <br />Because of these three reasons, the committee does not recommend the adoption of a <br />compensatory time off policy. <br />3. On -Call Stipend — The committee reviewed the on -call policies for lineworkers at utilities <br />that are part of the metro average benchmarking group. It was noted that utilities that <br />receive a higher on -call stipend have a lower base rate of pay. And conversely, it was <br />noted that utilities that receive a lower on -call stipend have a higher base rate of pay. The <br />on -call stipend was analyzed across the metro seven utilities with the frequency that <br />ERMU lineworkers are typically on call. The result of the analysis was that ERMU falls <br />at the average of the metro seven when including the added benefit of the on -call stipend <br />to the base rate of pay. The committee does not recommend any change to the current on - <br />call stipend. <br />4. Additional Vacation Time — The current ERMU vacation accrual benefits have been <br />determined to be at market or better. However, the request for additional time off from <br />the field staff asking for comp time and the office staff asking for additional vacation <br />time has been noted. The committee reviewed a purchased vacation time benefit offered <br />by one of the utilities within the metro seven. The policy allows for employees to elect to <br />purchase additional vacation during benefit open enrolment. The purchase is then <br />deducted over the year through the payroll system. This option works better in our <br />payroll software than does comp time. And, this option would be accessible to all <br />employees as opposed to comp time which would likely only benefit a limited group of <br />employees. Additionally, overtime is not guaranteed. <br />The challenge of work load still exists. The committee discussed and concluded that this <br />benefit likely appeals to employees with fewer years of service with ERMU. The <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />M <br />