Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission updates employee handbook: adds EMS and emergency management as essential, expands shared‑leave and approves sheriff supplemental PTO
Summary
The board amended employee handbook language to designate EMS and emergency management personnel as essential for weather‑closure expectations, removed the annual cap on donated shared leave, and approved a supplemental PTO policy for lateral certified sheriff's office hires; a proposed countywide PTO front‑loading change was tabled for further refinement.
Finney County Human Resources presented several personnel policy changes aimed at clarifying essential personnel designations, expanding shared leave, and supporting sheriff’s office recruitment.
Kelly Munyan (Human Resources) asked the board to amend the employee handbook to add Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to the definition of essential personnel and to update the cancellation‑of‑work due to weather policy so that designation drives reporting obligations. Commissioners broadened the motion to include emergency management personnel as essential as well; the board approved the amendment unanimously.
Staff also proposed removing the annual cap on donated hours in the shared leave policy and allowing employees to donate PTO and extended sick leave in amounts of their choosing provided donors maintain a minimum combined balance. Munyan said participation remains voluntary and administered confidentially; the board approved the amendment unanimously.
Two proposed PTO policy amendments were discussed: eliminating the three‑month probationary waiting period for PTO use and authorizing the county administrator to front‑load PTO at hire for recruitment. Commissioners preferred to table the front‑loading proposal until after the sheriff’s office presentation and to return with more consistent language across departments; the probationary period removal was supported for separate action later.
Separately, the board approved a supplemental PTO policy for lateral certified law enforcement hires in the Finney County Sheriff’s Office to assist recruitment and retention. Supplemental PTO would be held in a separate leave bank, would not be subject to annual accrual rollback, and would be forfeited if the employee separates within one year. Staff said any fiscal impacts would be absorbed within existing budgets and vacancy savings; the board approved the supplemental policy unanimously.
