County's personnel policy under review

FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners indicated Tuesday that they would be in favor of paying time and a half to nonunion hourly employees required to work on a holiday, but they didn't take a vote.

Deputy Clerk/Deputy Treasurer Charisse Keach brought some issues to the commissioners regarding possible changes that may be proposed by the Personnel Policy Review Committee. The policy governs nonunion workers and is in the process of being updated.

Commission Chairman Fred Hardy of New Sharon said for example, if a holiday falls on a Monday and there is court on Tuesday, the District Attorney's Office may require one of the legal assistants to work to prepare for the following day's court session.

Labor laws do not require time and a half be paid for working a holiday, Keach said. And nonunion hourly employees called in on holiday are currently only paid holiday pay.

County Clerk Julie Magoon said they have already set precedent by paying union employees holiday pay plus overtime.

Keach also brought up a definition of a salaried employee. She said there was discussion about putting in the number of hours.

Commissioner Gary McGrane of Jay objected to mentioning hours.

A salaried employee works until the job is done, he said. If they work more hours one week, then they work less the next week to even it out, he said.

Treasurer Karen Roberts asked what should an employee of a department required to help out in another department be paid. Do they get their regular pay or is it adjusted to the wage the department pays for the position? she asked.

Both Hardy and McGrane unofficially agreed that the person should get their own pay rate.

"I just don't want to make the personnel policy so convoluted that they cannot understand it when they read it," McGrane said. "I appreciate you coming forward with these things, it reduces the stumbling blocks."

dperry@sunjournal.com