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Whitefish Bay updates employee handbook to expand sick-leave use, add situational telecommuting and clarify payout rules
Summary
The board approved multiple handbook revisions including expanded sick-leave use to care for others, a situational telecommuting policy, clarification of vacation payout upon termination, CDL testing alignment, and revised DPW safety-shoe reimbursement procedures; trustees discussed PTO vs. separate sick/vacation banks and union implications.
Whitefish Bay — The Village Board approved several revisions to the employee handbook on Jan. 6, updating workplace flexibility and administrative policies across departments.
Staffer Anna presented the package of changes, which the board approved by voice vote. Key provisions include allowing sick leave to be used to care for an ill or injured person (expanding scope beyond the employee), clarifying vacation payout upon termination (with a requirement for written resignation after the first year), introducing a situational telecommuting policy requiring supervisor approval for short-term needs such as medical appointments, aligning CDL-related controlled-substance and alcohol testing with state recommendations, and replacing a fixed $150 DPW safety-shoe reimbursement with a supervisor- and manager-approved reimbursement up to a set maximum.
Trustees discussed whether the village should move to a combined paid-time-off (PTO) model or keep separate sick and vacation banks, and staff said any major change would be handled after deeper employee engagement. Trustees also asked about union contract alignment; staff said the handbook language would apply where contract language does not specify otherwise and that the changes were not expected to conflict materially with existing police union provisions.
Staff said the village will compare peer-community practices when setting final reimbursement maximums for safety shoes and will engage employee groups this year if broader PTO changes are considered. The board approved the handbook revisions as presented.
