Stevens County allows two social-services supervisors to accrue comp time as child-protection staff shortages continue

The Stevens County Board of Commissioners approved a temporary measure allowing two social-services supervisors to accumulate compensatory time while covering duties created by a shortage in the child protection unit.

County staff described a domino effect: case reassignment within child protection will require supervisors and other nonunion staff to take on additional duties. Staff proposed that the two social-services supervisors be permitted to record additional hours as comp time that will be converted into vacation hours until child-protection staffing returns to normal.

Commissioners asked about the mechanics, including whether comp time would be paid at time-and-a-half and how supervisors would record and seek approval for accumulated hours. Staff said the arrangement would not convert comp time to overtime pay; instead the extra hours would be banked as additional vacation time and submitted for approval in a documented process.

The motion to allow the temporary comp-time arrangement was approved by voice vote. Staff said the measure is temporary and will be reversed once the child-protection unit is fully staffed.

Why it matters: County supervisors taking on additional child-protection duties affects workloads, scheduling and payroll accounting. The temporary comp-time approach is an administrative measure to compensate nonunion supervisors for added responsibilities without creating permanent changes to pay structures.

Clarifying details: Staff said the policy is temporary and mirrors prior short-term arrangements used for other supervisors. The board approved the motion and staff will document additional duties and authorizations for comp-time accrual.