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Board postpones employee handbook updates after member requests for clearer disciplinary language
Summary
Staff presented proposed changes to the SCRTD employee handbook covering vehicle-use discipline, PTO abuse and pay scales; board members asked for revised wording and the board voted to postpone final approval to a later meeting.
The South Central Regional Transit District board postponed a resolution to adopt updates to the employee handbook after members asked staff to refine disciplinary language and other details.
Human resources staff presented revisions that rename the document "Employee Handbook," update the organization's address and add clarity about use of district property and vehicle discipline. HR proposed that "upon the first offense the employee will receive a formal written warning" and that progressive discipline, including suspension of driving privileges or termination, could follow for subsequent violations depending on severity.
Executive Director David Armijo and HR staff explained those changes were intended to tighten the district's standards for vehicle use, reduce perceived leniency in prior language and address abuse of paid time off. The proposed text also added a line stating repeated failure to follow advanced notice policies for PTO "may result in disciplinary action, including written warnings." The handbook draft included a new SCRTD position pay scale section to show baseline market starting points for positions.
Board members discussed whether disciplinary language should set explicit limits or remain broad to allow discretion. Trustee Poway recommended adding expiration dates to policies to force periodic review. Councilor Flores asked whether the proposed discipline language should be broader than a written-warning-only approach; HR staff said they could change the wording to allow progressive discipline up to termination depending on circumstances.
Rather than vote on the version presented, the board voted to postpone the resolution and asked staff to return with amended wording that reflects the board's comments. A motion to postpone and bring back the handbook with the noted modifications passed on a roll call vote; the board will consider the amended resolution at the next meeting.
