Aurora staff outline shift to consolidated paid time off; personal leave becomes use-it-or-lose
Loading...
Summary
Human Resources briefed the council on proposed employee policy book revisions that replace separate sick and annual banks with a consolidated paid time off (PTO) bank and a use-it-or-lose personal leave bank, effective March 22; staff said overall leave balances will decline for some employees and the city will monitor results.
Ryan Lance, Human Resources director for Aurora City, presented a summary of proposed updates to the employee policy book at the March 10 study session. Lance said the principal change is a move from three leave banks — annual (vacation), sick and personal — to two banks: a general leave (PTO) accrual and a personal leave bank.
"We currently have 3 banks," Lance said, explaining the city's rationale to modernize the leave program. Under the proposed structure the sick-leave bank would be eliminated; some of that time would be shifted into the general PTO and into personal leave. The general leave would accrue, carry over year to year and have monetary value that can be paid out at separation. Personal leave would be use-it-or-lose and would not carry over.
Lance told council that the change is intended to simplify leave administration, better align with new benefit programs (short-term disability, long-term disability and expanded mental health and rehabilitation resources) and address unusually large unused sick-leave balances. He said the city previously allowed limited sick-leave sellback at a 2:1 ratio, but under the new PTO the separation payout will be 1:1; the city will continue to permit an annual sell-back option for qualifying employees.
Lance and other staff said the city had conducted extensive employee outreach: more than 15 all-employee presentations and more than 10 department- or division-level sessions. Staff acknowledged employees raised concerns initially but reported more positive feedback in recent sessions. The change was described as effective with a March 22 implementation date; staff said they will monitor utilization and report data and suggested tweaks as needed during the first year or two of operation.
Council members asked operational questions. Council Member Berg asked whether a use-it-or-lose personal leave bank would cause staffing shortages at year end; staff said historical usage indicates personal leave is typically exhausted by midyear.
No formal council vote on the policy changes was recorded during the study session; staff said the changes will take effect on the noted date and be monitored for possible adjustments.
