Green Bay personnel committee approves Chapter 9 changes to vacation, bereavement and volunteer time

The City of Green Bay Personnel Committee on July 14 approved changes to Chapter 9 of the city personnel policy that increase vacation accruals for most non‑represented employees, modernize bereavement leave and create a one‑day paid volunteer benefit.

Director Olofsson presented the package and said the changes respond to the city’s employee engagement survey, which identified pay and benefits as a low‑scoring area. He said the proposal gives new hires three weeks of vacation at hire, moves to more frequent accrual increases (roughly an additional day every two years), and proposes limited extra steps for employees with 20–25 years of service. Olofsson told the committee that 78 percent of voluntary turnover over the past five years came from employees with less than five years’ service and said the change is intended to improve recruiting and retention. He also described a proposal not to pay out earned vacation for employees who leave without giving a two‑week notice and presented an estimated increase in the city’s accrued‑leave liability (the transcript records a figure as "$124,000 $7,774"; see clarifying details).

The package also included changes to funeral leave to allow employees to use bereavement time for related tasks beyond the day of a funeral (for example to handle affairs before or after the service) and a proposal for one paid volunteer day per year for full‑time employees. The volunteer day would not be eligible for carryover, would be unavailable during an employee’s initial six‑month probation or if the employee is under recent discipline, and would require verification of the activity.

Public comment was limited to one speaker during the open floor. Mark Bergland (806 North Broadway) urged the committee to approve the plan, saying it was well researched, broadly beneficial and had been developed with input from a workplace engagement committee and the human resources department.

Committee discussion included several proposed amendments. Alder Grant proposed changing holiday pay from 9 to 8 hours; staff explained that 9 hours is intended to cover Monday–Thursday schedules while 8 hours is applied when holidays are observed on Fridays, and Grant withdrew the amendment after staff clarified that holiday pay was not being changed in this package. Alder Hinkfuss proposed (and later withdrew) an amendment to allow hiring credit for prior experience for director and deputy director hires; Director Olofsson said the city already credits prior service in hires when job descriptions require it and recommended using pay grade rather than title if the committee wants a broader rule.

Alder Grant moved to approve the vacation changes (Item 1); the motion was made and seconded and the chair called the voice vote, after which the chair announced the motion approved. The committee then approved Item 2 (funeral/bereavement leave) and Item 3 (volunteer time) after an amendment limiting the volunteer‑day pay to charities that benefit Green Bay was offered and approved. During debate on the volunteer item supporters said restricting paid volunteer time to Green Bay organizations helps return value to taxpayers; opponents said employees’ volunteer efforts outside city limits can still benefit the broader community. The committee recorded three ayes on the volunteer amendment and then approved the item as amended.

All items approved by the personnel committee will go to the full Common Council for consideration on July 21. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 11 and adjourned.

Clarifying details and outstanding points

• Accruals and immediate increases: Director Olofsson said new employees would receive three weeks of vacation at hire under the proposed calendar, and the proposal would give more frequent increases (an additional day roughly every two years) so most non‑represented employees would see an immediate increase; 11 employees would not see an increase under the proposal (seven of those are currently at or near the existing cap). The transcript provides the city’s current accrual schedule and notes employees may currently carry over up to 240 hours.

• Liability estimate: Olofsson cited an estimated increase in accrued‑leave liability; the transcript records the figure as "$124,000 $7,774." That sequence in the transcript is unclear; the committee packet (referenced repeatedly) is the source for the precise dollar estimate.

• Bereavement: The change does not add days but allows bereavement time to be used beyond the day of a funeral (travel and related tasks), aligning non‑represented policy with language in recent union contracts.

• Volunteer day administration: The volunteer day would not carry over, would be restricted during initial probation or for disciplined employees, and would require a request form that documents the nonprofit and purpose; the proposal allows volunteer activities beyond Green Bay but the committee adopted an amendment to limit paid volunteer time to charities that benefit Green Bay.

Votes at a glance

• Item 1 — Vacation accrual changes: motion moved by Alder Grant, seconded by Alder Hinkfuss; committee chair declared the motion approved by voice vote. (Recorded motion and second are in the transcript; the committee chair announced approval.)

• Item 2 — Funeral/bereavement leave: motion moved by Alder Shelton, seconded by Alder Hinkfuss; approved by voice vote.

• Item 3 — Volunteer time: motion to approve as amended (limiting paid volunteer day to charities that benefit Green Bay); amendment recorded as passing (committee recorded three ayes on the amendment) and item approved as amended.

What happens next

The policy changes approved by the personnel committee will be forwarded to the full Common Council on July 21 for final consideration. The personnel committee will next meet Aug. 11.

Quotes

• Director Olofsson: "78% of our turnover in the last 5 years... have been from people with less than 5 years' tenure with the city."

• Mark Bergland (public commenter): "I feel that it's a very well thought out and researched plan... I respectfully urge you tonight to approve this plan and recommend it to the full city council."