HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 14-067 - Amending personnel rules RESOLUTION NO. 14-067
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
AMENDING THE CITY OF SARATOGA
PERSONNEL RULES AND POLICIES
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga is authorized and directed under the provisions of
Section 2-40.050 (Adoption of Personnel Rules) of the Saratoga Municipal Code to adopt
Personnel Rules and Policies (hereinafter referred to as the Personnel Rules) for the
administration of the personnel system created in Chapter 2-40 of the Saratoga Municipal Code;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga is authorized to amend previously established
Personnel Rules pursuant to Section 2-40.050 of the Saratoga Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the objectives of these amendments to the Personnel Rules are to comply
with a recent significant update to state law requiring paid sick leave and to increase flexibility
on petitions for employee organizations; and
WHEREAS, the Human Resources Manager, on behalf of the City, has met and
consulted with the City's bargaining units wishing to meet and confer regarding these
amendments; and
WHEREAS, many policies in the Personnel Rules do not modify the terms and
conditions of employees whose classifications are included in a bargaining unit's MOU or an
Employment Agreement. However, if a provision of these amendments to the Personnel Rules
actually conflicts with any provision of an applicable MOU, Employment Agreement or state or
federal law, the MOU, Employment Agreement or state or federal law will prevail over the
amendments to the Personnel Rules; and
WHEREAS, at the same time, within the limits of administrative feasibility,
considerable latitude shall be given the City Manager in the interpretation of these Rules and
Policies pursuant to Saratoga Municipal Code Section 2-20.050 (Powers and Duties of the city
Manager).
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,that the City Council of the City of Saratoga
hereby approves and adopts the amendments to the City of Saratoga Personnel Rules and
Policies attached as Attachment B replacing (1) Article 5, Section 9 regarding Temporary,
Provisional, or Seasonal Employees; (2) Article 6, Section 3 regarding Paid Time Off(PTO); and
(3) Article 22, Section 3, Subdivision 6 regarding the Procedure for Decertification of
Exclusively Recognized Employee Organization; these amendments to the Personnel Rules
supersede/replace previous Personnel Rules and resolutions.
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The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the Saratoga City Council at a
regular meeting held on November 19, 2014 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Emily Lo, Vice Mayor Howard Miller, Council Member Manny
Cappello, Chuck Page, Jill Hunter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Emily Lo, Mayor
ATTEST:
O DATE: ►`f
ryst 1 Bothelio, City Clerk
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Attachment B
ARTICLE 5. EMPLOYEE STATUS
Section 9. Temporary, Provisional or Seasonal Employee An employee who is assigned to
work on a particular project or for a job of limited or indefinite duration is a temporary
employee. A temporary employee: (1) does not hold regular status, (2) does not serve a
probationary period, (3) can be dismissed at-will from City employment at any time without right
of procedural due process, appeal, grievance or hearing, and (4) is not entitled to earn, accrue, or
participate in any City health and welfare benefits, accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) or other paid
leaves, or receive any other benefits afforded to regular position appointments with the exception
of Subdivision 1. Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014.
Subdivision 1. Healthy Workplaces, Health Families Act of 2014 Effective July 1,
2015, temporary, provisional, or seasonal employees will accrue paid sick days in accordance
with the requirements of applicable state law.
Accrual requirements: Paid sick days will be accrued at a rate of one hour per every 30 hours
worked up to a permissible accrual cap of 48 hours, or 6 eight-hour days, unless the law is
interpreted to allow a lower accrual cap, in which case that lower cap will apply. Accrual of paid
sick leave requires the employee to have worked for the City for 30 days. After 30 days of work,
paid sick leave accrues beginning at the commencement of employment or July 1, 2015,
whichever is later.
Carry-over and cap on accruals: Unused, accrued sick days carry over from the first year of
employment to the next year, up to a permissible cap of 48 hours, or 6 eight-hour days. An
employee is not allowed to accrue more than 48 hours of paid sick leave. Once an employee has
accrued a total of 48 hours paid sick leave, no additional paid sick leave will accrue until the
employee uses accrued paid sick leave and reduces the balance to less than 48 hours. Thereafter,
paid sick leave benefits will continue to accrue on a prospective basis only until the employee
reaches the 48-hour maximum. No retroactive credit will be given for the time when accrued
paid sick leave was at the accrual cap (unless the law is interpreted to require this).
Use of sick leave: Employees are entitled to use accrued paid sick days beginning on the 901h day
of employment. The City will not advance paid sick leave. An employee may only use the paid
sick leave that is accrued. An employee may not use more than 24 hours of paid sick leave each
year, even if the employee has accrued more than this.
Sick leave must be taken by exempt employees only in increments of one (1) hour or more in a
workday. For example, when the employee leaves work for 1 or more hours early due to illness.
Sick leave must be taken by non-exempt employees only in increments of 15 minutes (.25 hour)
or more in a workday. For example, when the employee leaves work for 15 minutes or more
minutes early due to illness.
No pay-out of accrued sick leave upon termination: The City is not required to and will not
provide compensation to an employee for accrued, unused paid sick days upon separation of
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employment. However, if an employee separates from the City and is rehired within one year,
previously unused paid sick days will be reinstated.
Reasons for which sick leave can be used: Sick leave may be used for the diagnosis, care, or
treatment of an existing health condition of, or preventative care for, an employee or an
employee's family member. The definition of "family member" is broad and includes, for
instance, children, parents, parents-in-law, spouses, registered domestic partners, grandparents,
grandchildren, and siblings, among other persons. Sick leave may also be used for victims of
domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
No discrimination or retaliation: The City will not deny an employee the right to use accrued
sick days, discharge, threaten to discharge, demote, suspend, or in any manner discriminate
against an employee for using or attempting to use accrued sick days or other protected activity
under Labor Code 246.5(c).
The City will comply fully with the California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of
2014 by allowing an employee with accrued paid sick leave the right to use the accrued paid sick
leave for the purposes for which leave is allowed to be used under this law. Please contact the
Human Resources Division if you have any questions or concerns.
ARTICLE 6. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Section 3. Paid Time Off(PTO) The City provides Paid Time Off(PTO), also referred to
as annual leave, benefits to regular full-time employees for the purpose of rest, relaxation, and
interruptions from the workplace including vacation, illness, caring for children, school
activities, medical/dental appointments, personal business, or emergencies. PTO for the purpose
of illness may be used for the same purposes as described in the California Healthy Workplaces,
Healthy Families Act of 2014 including but not limited to the diagnosis, care, or treatment of an
existing health condition of, or preventative care for, an employee or an employee's family
member. The definition of "family member" is broad and includes, for instance, children,
parents, parents-in-law, spouses, registered domestic partners, grandparents, grandchildren, and
siblings, among other persons. PTO may also be used for victims of domestic violence, sexual
assault, or stalking.
The City will comply fully with the California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of
2014 by allowing regular full-time employees with PTO the right to use PTO for the purposes for
which leave is allowed to be used under this law. Please contact the Human Resources Division
if you have any questions or concerns.
The City encourages employees to take time off in order to receive the personal replenishment
value intended. All use of PTO is to be scheduled in advance and approved by a supervisor
except in the case of illness or an emergency.
PTO must be taken by exempt employees only in increments of one (1) hour or more in a
workday. For example, when the employee leaves work for 1 or more hours early to take care of
personal business.
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PTO must be taken by non-exempt employees only in increments of 15 minutes (.25) or more in
a workday. For example, when the employee leaves work for 15 minutes or more minutes early
to take care of personal business.
Subdivision 1. Eligibility All regular full-time employees are eligible to take
and/or accrue paid time off based on their continuous length of service, measured from the date
of hire. Continuous length of service is defined as service that is uninterrupted by termination of
employment and subsequent rehire by the City. A leave of absence for legally protected reasons
may not constitute a break in service when the law specifies that result.
Subdivision 2. Paid Time Off (PTO) Accrual The amount of PTO earned each
calendar year is based on the employee's continuous length of service. PTO hours are calculated
as, earned on a bi-weekly accrual schedule. All PTO hours are based on compensated work
hours. Therefore, PTO accruals for regular part-time employees scheduled to work less than 40
hours per week, as well as employees on a voluntary reduced work schedule shall be prorated
accordingly. Employees will not accrue PTO hours while on unpaid status, (e.g., Short Term
Disability (STD), Long Term Disability (LTD)), unless otherwise required by applicable law.
Subdivision 3. Paid Time Off(PTO) Accrual Schedule for Full-
Time Employees The accrual rates and maximum accrual of hours
is the amount stated in the employee groups MOU or the below amount for employees whose
amount is not specified in an MOU or for employees who are not governed by an MOU
(unrepresented employees).
Years of Service Days Accrued Hours Accrued Maximum
Accrual Hours
Years 0 thru 5 22 176 600
After 5 years 27 216 600
After 10 years 132 1256 600
Subdivision 4. PTO Upon Termination Upon separation from City service, the City will pay
100% of the employee's accrued paid time off (up to the 600 hours accrual maximum or the
applicable MOD's specified maximum for accrual of PTO hours) at the employee's regular rate
of pay. When an employee voluntarily resigns from employment, no paid time off may be used
between the time the notice of resignation is given and the employee's last day of work, unless
authorized in a written document signed by the City Manager.
Subdivision 5. Payout at Retirement Upon retirement from City service, an
employee may choose to use their accrued paid time off for the purpose of obtaining additional
service credit under PERS. An employee may choose to use all of his/her accrued paid time off
as sick leave for service credit. If an employee chooses to apply less than 100% of his/her
accrued paid time off toward PERS service credit, the City will pay 100% of the employee's
remaining accrued paid time off at the employee's regular rate of pay.
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ARTICLE 22. EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS POLICY
Section 3. Representation Proceedings
Subdivision 6. Procedure for Decertification of Exclusively
Recognized Employee Organization
1. A Decertification Petition, alleging that the incumbent Exclusively Recognized
Employee Organization no longer represents a majority of the employees in an
established appropriate unit, may be filed with the City Manager in a decertification
"open period," which is at any time following the first full year of recognition.
2. A Decertification Petition may be filed by two or more employees or their
representative, or an employee organization, and shall contain the following
information and documentation declared by the duly authorized signatory under
penalty of perjury to be true, correct and complete:
a. The name, address and telephone number of the petitioner and a
designated representative authorized to receive notices or requests for further
information.
b. The name of the established appropriate unit and of the incumbent
Exclusively Recognized Employee Organization sought to be decertified as a
representative of that unit.
C. An allegation that the incumbent Exclusively Recognized Employee
Organization no longer represents a majority of the employees in the appropriate
unit, and any other relevant and material facts relating thereto.
d. Proof of employee support that at least thirty (30%) percent of the
employees in the established appropriate unit no longer desire to be represented
by the incumbent Exclusively Recognized Employee Organization.
(1). Such proof shall be submitted for confirmation to the City Manager or to a
mutually agreed upon disinterested third parry within 10 days of the filing of
the decertification petition.
3. An employee organization may, in satisfaction of the Decertification Petition
requirements hereunder, file a Petition under this Section in the form of a Recognition
Petition that evidences proof of employee support of at least thirty percent (30%), that
includes the allegation and information required under paragraph 2 (d) of this
Subdivision, and otherwise conforms to the requirements of Section 3, Subdivision 1.
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a. The City Manager shall initially determine whether the Petition has been
filed in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Section.
(1) If his/her determination is in the negative, he/she shall offer to
consult thereon with the representative(s) of such petitioning employees or
employee organization and, if such determination thereafter remains
unchanged, shall return such Petition to the employees or employee
organization with a statement of the reasons therefore in writing. The
petitioning employees or employee organization may appeal such
determination in accordance with Section 3 Subdivision 10. The petitioning
employees or employee organization may also submit a modified petition
that addresses the concerns within 10 days. If the original petition is timely
filed in an open period, the modified petition does not have to be filed in the
open period. (PERB Dec.No. 2163) (2011).
(2) If the determination of the City Manager is in the affirmative, or if
his/her negative determination is reversed on appeal, he/she shall give
written notice of such Decertification or Recognition Petition to the
incumbent Exclusively Recognized Employee Organization and to unit
employees.
b. The City Manager shall thereupon arrange for a secret ballot election to be
held on or about fifteen(15) days after such notice to determine the wishes of unit
employees as to the question of decertification and, if a Recognition Petition was
duly filed hereunder, the question of representation. Such election shall be
conducted in conformance with Section 3 Subdivision 5. If a numerical majority
of all valid votes cast in a decertification election are in favor of decertifying the
Exclusively Recognized Employee Organization, that Exclusively Recognized
Employee Organization will no longer represent employees.
C. During the "open period" specified in the first paragraph of this
Subdivision, the City Manager may on his/her own motion, when he/she has
reason to believe that a majority of unit employees no longer wish to be
represented by the incumbent Exclusively Recognized Employee Organization,
give notice to that organization and all unit employees that he/she will arrange for
an election to determine that issue.
(1) In such event any other employee organization may within fifteen
(15) days of such notice file a Recognition Petition in accordance with this
Section, the City Manager shall act on it in accordance with the requirements
of Section 3 of this Article.
4. If, pursuant to this Subdivision, a different employee organization is formally
acknowledged as the Exclusively Recognized Employee Organization, such
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organization shall be bound by all the terms and conditions of any Memorandum of
Understanding then in effect for its remaining term.
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