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Section II, Page 1 of 10 SECTION II – EMPLOYMENT POLICIES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING POLICY: To review and provide total base wages in accordance with State law which authorizes collective bargaining for total base wages only; to allow for consideration of other forms of compensation outside of collective bargaining. Procedure Douglas County is prohibited from engaging in collective bargaining with general municipal employees on any form of compensation except for total base wages. Premium pay, merit pay, automatic pay progressions and any other form of supplemental compensation may be considered, but not collectively bargained, by Douglas County. Douglas County may bargain with units comprised exclusively of public safety employees on most terms and conditions of employment, including any form of compensation. Public safety employees may not bargain on the design and selection of health care coverage plans or the Wisconsin Retirement System required contributions for new hires. Passed by County Board, Resolution#4-12; January 19, 2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- Section II, Page 2 of 10 EMPLOYEE STATUS CATEGORIES POLICY: To define employee status categories based on the number of hours worked and type of position held. A. Regular Full-Time Employees who work 37.5 – 40.00 hours per week on a continuous basis. B. Regular Part-Time Employees who regularly work 20.00 but less than 37.5 – 40.00 hours per week on a continuous basis. C. Temporary Employees holding jobs of limited or specified duration arising out of special projects, position vacancy pending appointment, the absence of a position incumbent, abnormal workloads, emergencies, or other reasons established by the Employer. Temporary employees may work either full- or part-time work schedules and may be eligible to receive benefits. D. Seasonal Employees employed during the season in which services are required. Passed by County Board, Resolution#4-12; January 19, 2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- Section II, Page 3 of 10 HOURS OF WORK POLICY: To provide employees with regular work hours and work schedules while ensuring staffing coverage necessary for effective operations. Hours of work may vary as deemed necessary for the effective and efficient operation of each department. A. Workday/Workweek 1. Full-Time Employees: The normal workday will consist of 7.5 or 8.0 consecutive hours of work. The normal workweek is Sunday through Saturday, beginning and ending at midnight on Sunday, consisting of 37.5 or 40 hours. 2. Part-Time Employees: The normal workday/workweek for any part-time employee shall be designated by the respective department manager. 3. Departments providing 24-hour services may have different work schedules, and other work schedules, shifts, days, hours and periods can be established and modified by department managers based on operating conditions and requirements of the department, subject to the approval of the Human Resources Department. B. Hours of Operation General hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the exception of those departments providing 24 hour services, and departments which have established different hours of operation. C. Compensable Hours Douglas County will compensate employees for hours worked as defined under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Paid time may include waiting time, on-call time, rest periods, training attendance, and travel time, subject to the requirements of the FLSA. Any questions as to whether hours are to be compensated should be directed to the Human Resources Department. D. Non-Compensable Hours The following is excluded from actual hours worked: 1. Paid benefit time (non-job related training, paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, personal leave, etc.). 2. Compensatory time off with pay. 3. Meal periods when completely relieved of all duties, whether or not the employee is free to leave premises. ---PAGE BREAK--- Section II, Page 4 of 10 4. Normal travel to and from residence to the assigned job location. Passed by County Board, Resolution#4-12; January 19, 2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- Section II, Page 5 of 10 LAYOFF AND RECALL POLICY: Length of service and the qualifications to perform the available work will be the determining factors in the event of a layoff. Passed by County Board, Resolution#4-12; January 19, 2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- Section II, Page 6 of 10 LENGTH OF SERVICE POLICY: To define length of service as it relates to employment with Douglas County and to be used for benefit determination. Procedure 1. Length of service will be computed from the first day of hire into regular status. 2. If a temporary employee changes to regular status, the employee’s length of service will be computed from the first day of hire into regular status and will not include any prior temporary service. Passed by County Board, Resolution#4-12; January 19, 2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- Section II, Page 7 of 10 OVERTIME/COMPENSATORY TIME POLICY: To define overtime pay and compensatory time in relation to non-exempt and exempt employees as designated under the Fair Labor Standards Act. A. Non-Exempt Employees Employees in non-exempt positions are paid on an hourly basis. Non-exempt employees who work in excess of 40 hours per week (paid benefit time does not count toward the accumulation of 40 hours; hours between 37.5 and 40 are paid at straight time) may receive either: 1. Overtime pay of one and one-half times the hours worked; or 2. Compensatory time off, if agreed to by the employee, at the rate of one and one-half times the hours worked, provided that the overtime is authorized by the department manager and taken during the same payroll period or the payroll period immediately following the overtime hours, or at a mutually agreeable time between the employee and department manager. Only compensatory time earned in December may be carried over into the new year with the approval of the Human Resources Department; provided it is used before January 31 of the following year. The payment for this compensatory time (if not used and, therefore, must be paid) shall be at the wage rate at which it was earned in December. B. Exempt Employees Employees in exempt positions are generally paid on a salary basis and are excluded from specific provisions of federal and state wage and hour laws and are not eligible for overtime pay. Exempt employees are expected to work the hours necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities of their positions. However, Douglas County recognizes that exempt employees work beyond their normal workday/workweek and will be given flexibility in regard to absences during normal work hours. C. Documentation of Administrative Hours 1. Exempt employees who work in excess of their normal weekly work hours should record those hours on a straight hour for hour basis. These hours may be used for absences from work, not to exceed 96 hours per year, and hours used cannot exceed hours recorded. 2. Administrative hours can only be accumulated within a calendar year and are zeroed out on December 31 of each year. Exempt employees will not be paid for any unused hours. Passed by County Board, Resolution#4-12; January 19, 2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- Section II, Page 8 of 10 PAYROLL PRACTICES POLICY: To standardize payroll and payroll procedures in accordance with applicable State and Federal guidelines. A. Pay Periods Paychecks are deposited, by direct deposit, bi-weekly. If payroll falls on a holiday, payroll checks are deposited the business day prior to the holiday. B. Status Changes Employee shall notify the Human Resources Department or the Finance Department Payroll Coordinator of any status changes (such as name, home address, telephone number(s), marital status, name or number of dependents, number of tax exemptions, health/dental insurance classification, or beneficiary changes). This information is necessary as it may affect compensation, dependents’ eligibility for insurance, and other important matters. Douglas County is only required to accept changes to a Form W4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, if there has been a life change for an employee (i.e. marriage, birth, death, spouse begins working, child turns 18, etc.) C. Deductions Douglas County will comply with applicable wage and hour laws and regulations. If employees have any questions or concerns about their salaried status or believe that any deduction has been made from their pay that is inconsistent with an employee’s salaried status, the employee should immediately raise the matter with the Human Resources Department or the Finance Department Payroll Coordinator for assistance in understanding the information that is required in order to investigate the matter. Douglas County is committed to investigating and resolving all complaints as but also as accurately, as possible. Consistent with the U.S. Department of Labor’s policy, any complaint will be resolved within a reasonable time given all the facts and circumstances. If an investigation reveals that an employee was subjected to an improper deduction from pay, the employee will be reimbursed and Douglas County will take whatever action it deems necessary to ensure compliance with the salary basis test in the future. Passed by County Board, Resolution#4-12; January 19, 2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- Section II, Page 9 of 10 RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION POLICY: To abide by all laws pertaining to fair employment practices. The recruitment and selection policy is designed to promote, recruit and select individuals on the basis of their relative knowledge, skill and ability. A. Procedure The Human Resources Department is responsible for, and must be involved in, all steps of the recruitment and hiring process. 1. New Positions – Approval to Hire New or additional county positions must be authorized by county board resolution and, under most circumstances, will only be considered at budget time. 2. Vacant Positions – Approval to Hire All job openings are to be reported to the Human Resources Department. The County Administrator must approve the replacement hiring for all positions. That process will include justification for the position and discussion of any potential for structural reorganization and/or reassignment of duties and responsibilities. 3. Temporary Workers – Approval to Hire If a department manager determines a need to utilize temporary workers during the process to fill vacant positions or to meet workload needs, a request should be submitted to the Human Resources Department for County Administrator approval. The Human Resources Department will make arrangements and contract for temporary workers. B. Recruitment/Posting Process If County Administrator approval is given to fill a position, the following occurs: 1. Job descriptions will be reviewed and updated, if needed. 2. In most instances, the position will be posted internally for five days in the Government Center, courthouse and off-site facilities. 3. Recruitment may simultaneously be conducted internally and externally, or may only be conducted externally, depending on the circumstances. ---PAGE BREAK--- Section II, Page 10 of 10 C. Selection Process 1. The Human Resources Department will conduct all phases of the selection/hiring process, including: a. Receiving and reviewing of applications for qualifications. b. Conducting or coordinating all reference checks and qualification verifications involving the final candidates. c. Extending of job offer. d. Arranging for all post-job offer testing, including physical examinations and examinations as applicable. 2. If the minimum qualifications require meeting standards that can be only measured through written tests, performance tests or structured interviews, Human Resources staff will administer the tests prior to referral of candidates to the hiring manager. The county reserves the right to determine what testing requirements will be administered to determine if an applicant is qualified to fill any vacant position. 3. If the position being filled is a department manager position, the County Administrator will recommend appointment to the county board. Passed by County Board, Resolution#4-12; January 19, 2012