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St. Charles Parish personnel office details hiring, benefits and rollout of Paycom; council hears policy changes
Summary
Personnel staff reported on hiring, retirements, a benefits renewal and implementation of Paycom, and noted new paid parental leave and leave‑accrual policy changes intended to aid recruitment and retention.
Dana Parker, personnel director for St. Charles Parish, presented the parish’s 2024 personnel report to the council on Dec. 16, outlining hiring trends, benefit cost pressures and a major technology rollout.
Parker said the parish’s full‑time civil service headcount increased to 404, citing a balance of internal and external hires in 2024 and improved retention. She reported 19 retirements in 2023 and 12 retirements in 2024 and said 23 employees are currently participating in DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan).
Personnel staff described changes and initiatives intended to improve recruitment and retention. The parish negotiated a benefits renewal after an initial 21.1% increase; parish administration reduced that increase to 19.7%. Parker said employees saw a modest premium increase — about $25 for single coverage and $75 for family coverage — while the parish continues to offer both HMO and PPO options.
The parish is expanding its offerings; Parker said a flexible spending account will be available next year and that the Blue Cross wellness portal has been added so employees can access wellness activities by app. HR also highlighted on‑site screenings, health coaching and other wellness programs.
Parker described two personnel policy changes adopted by the civil service board this year: a paid parental leave policy permitting up to four weeks for childbirth and up to two consecutive weeks for child bonding, and a change to how annual and sick leave are accrued — moving accrual to per pay period rather than quarterly. Parker said the total annual accrual did not change; only the timing of accruals did.
The personnel office also completed a multi‑month deployment of Paycom, a human capital management platform that consolidates payroll, timekeeping, benefits and learning. Parker said Paycom provides employee self‑service for timecards, leave requests, benefits enrollment and access to pay statements, and will streamline manager approvals and training assignment. She acknowledged implementation challenges and thanked payroll staff for their work on the transition.
Council members asked about DROP participation and options to educate employees about retirement choices; Parker said the parish provides one‑on‑one meetings with benefits staff and may offer seminars to explain the program more broadly. Council discussion also focused on leave accrual rules and how the parish handles sick time and Family Medical Leave Act eligibility.
The report was informational; no ordinance or appropriation was associated with the presentation.
