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Committee forwards Laguna Honda psychiatrists'pay package after debate over bonuses and exempt status
Summary
An MOU amendment would raise premium pay from 5% to 15%, increase standby pay from $6 to $15 per hour and provide $20,000 one-time recruitment and retention bonuses to certain psychiatric physician positions at Laguna Honda; committee sent the ordinance to the Board without a recommendation pending follow-up on exempt-status concerns.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee advanced an ordinance implementing Amendment No. 1 to the memorandum of understanding between the City and County of San Francisco and the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) that would change pay and premiums for senior physician specialists in psychiatry at Laguna Honda Hospital.
Kevin Campbell of the Budget Analyst's Office summarized the financial elements: the amendment would increase the premium pay rate for those classifications from 5% to 15%, raise standby pay from $6 an hour to $15 an hour, create a one-time $20,000 recruitment bonus for new hires and a one-time $20,000 retention bonus payable in August 2007 for incumbents on payroll as of July 1, 2007. The budget analyst noted employees who take a retention bonus would be ineligible for the recruitment bonus; the report treats the payments as policy matters for the Board.
Department labor relations manager Robert Thomas and department representatives said the adjustments respond to recruitment and retention problems: five authorized senior physician specialist positions were largely vacant or part time. Committee members raised a legal/policy concern about offering bonuses or retention incentives to employees whose city status is "exempt," noting some pay arrangements risk altering exempt status and that the department had not included an explicit retention requirement in the proposal.
Chair Sean Hillburn asked staff to meet with the union and ERD to see if a side letter or other approach could address the Budget Analyst's concerns before the Board hearing. With that follow-up requested, the committee moved the item to the full Board without a recommendation so supervisors may consider the policy and any side agreements.
The Board will consider the MOU amendment during its upcoming session.
