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Commission changes leave accrual policy for nonstandard schedules, approves one-time payouts for emergency services
Summary
Berkeley County commissioners approved a revised leave accrual policy that applies a proportional modifier for employees who work schedules other than 40 hours per week and authorized one-time payments to reduce leave caps for emergency communications and the fire department.
Berkeley County commissioners voted to change how paid time off accrues for employees who work nonstandard schedules and approved one-time payouts to bring employees under the revised caps.
Deputy county administrator Chad Weinburner presented the proposal, explaining the current policy gave disproportionate leave to staff on 12‑hour and other non‑40‑hour schedules. The new policy applies a prorated modifier to accrual rates and caps so that employees earn leave in proportion to hours worked. Weinburner said the change affects roughly 20% of county employees and excludes civil-service deputy sheriffs governed by state code.
The commission approved a one-time payment to buy down excess leave balances so employees would not abruptly lose hours under the new caps. The board approved $3,300 to address Emergency Communications leave balances and $73,750 to reduce the fire department’s excess leave, Weinburner said. Commissioners and department leaders described the onetime cost as preferable to allowing high leave balances to be used later, which would require costly overtime to cover shifts.
Why it matters: The change aims to create equity across employees and reduce future overtime costs tied to covering leave taken by staff on nonstandard schedules.
What the commission decided: The commission adopted the modifier-based accrual approach, set new caps effective April 1, and approved the two one-time payouts to “buy down” over-cap balances. The vote to adopt the policy and authorize the payouts passed during the meeting.
Votes at a glance: Motion to adopt updated leave accrual policy and set new adjusted caps (mover/second: not specified) — approved. Motion to pay $3,300 to Emergency Communications and $73,750 to the Fire Department to reduce caps (mover/second: not specified) — approved.
