Waukesha HR committee approves deferred-comp update and policy changes; delays internal-transfer rule

The Waukesha City Human Resources Committee on June 18 unanimously approved an update to the city’s deferred compensation plan documents for Nationwide and adopted amendments to the city’s corrective-discipline and holiday policies, while deferring a decision on a new internal job-transfer policy for new employees.

Kaylee, a Human Resources staff member, told the committee the deferred compensation item relates to the city’s 457(b) plan vendor. "They have taken on a third party actuarial systems corporation, and that organization is now gonna be processing their plan documents for all of their, members," Kaylee said, adding HR had reviewed the vendor’s summary and related documents and found them consistent with the city’s current plan. Committee members confirmed there was no financial impact from the administrative change. The committee approved the measure (ID 25-02178) by voice vote.

The committee spent substantial time debating a proposed new HR policy, B-15, that would limit transfers by newly hired employees for an initial period. Marquise, a Human Resources staff member, described the draft as "created to limit that movement, at at least on for the first 6 months," so new hires could acclimate and supervisors could assess skills and fit. Members questioned whether six months was long enough and discussed exceptions. Several members recommended waiting to finalize B-15 until the city’s probationary/training-period document is completed; committee direction was to combine the transfer rule with the probationary policy and consider extending the period to one year. No formal vote was taken on B-15 at the meeting.

The committee voted to adopt amendments to HR policy G-3, which codify current practice that corrective or disciplinary steps for supervisors, managers and directors start at a higher level than for nonmanagement employees—typically at a written warning or higher. HR staff told the committee the change simply documents an existing practice and does not create a new disciplinary standard.

The committee also approved changes to HR policy C-1 to add two paid holidays—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Veterans Day—and to add a floating holiday, a move HR said is intended to improve work–life balance and make city employment more competitive. One member compared the change to holidays offered by other large Southeastern Wisconsin employers.

Finally, the committee voted to enter closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(c) to consider the city administrator’s performance review. Members moved into closed session after the vote and returned to open session later.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes from the June 18 meeting — motion made and seconded; approved unanimously. - ID 25-02178, Nationwide deferred compensation plan document updates — approved unanimously. - ID 25-02182, amendments to HR policy G-3 (corrective and disciplinary action) — approved unanimously. - ID 25-02183, amendments to HR policy C-1 (holidays: add MLK Day, Veterans Day, floating holiday) — approved unanimously. - Motion to move into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(c) for the city administrator’s performance review — approved.

The committee directed staff to revise the proposed internal-transfer policy and to combine it with the probation/training-period document; staff said they would return an updated draft reflecting a one-year restriction option and clearer exception language. Absent a formal motion, the transfer rule remains under consideration.