The morale of some Lyon County Road and Bridge employees is low because staff having to work snowy days received the same amount of pay as courthouse employees who had the time off.
Chip Woods, county engineer, brought that concern up to the Lyon County Commission Thursday during their action session. He said when the county decides to close the courthouse, it has a negative impact on the morale of those that still have to work.
“We have to be here and the end results is our employees get paid the same as people not working,” he said. “...You asked during my evaluation what could we do to improve morale, obviously closing the courthouse is not on that list.”
The Lyon County Courthouse was closed all day Feb. 2 and closed at 10 a.m. Feb. 1 because of snow. Some employees also got to leave work early this Tuesday to get home before snow accumulations grew.
Because of a policy change that went into effect Jan. 1, road and bridge employees no longer get paid time-and-a-half when the courthouse closed. The policy was changed to save taxpayers money.
Dan Slater, county controller, said they had received questions last summer and fall about whether it was proper to spend tax money for time-and-a-half when the same employees are getting overtime.
“There are good things and bad things about the road and bridge jobs and this is one of the bad parts,” Slater said. “They are out there busting their butts and they have a legitimate complaint. But we have a commitment to spend tax dollars wisely.”
Woods said some employees view it as a fairness question.
“They look at it as if we can get to work, then they can get to the courthouse,” he said.
Commissioner Teresa Walters said the decision to close the courthouse isn’t made just for employees.
“It’s also safety for the public, who because the building is open would feel they have to get out,” Walters said. “I think there was a general call in the community to try to keep people off the streets.”
During and after snow storms, road and bridge employees plow county roads. Office workers in the department also work and typically field several calls from the public.
Slater said unfortunately some county employees must work no matter the conditions, adding that sheriff deputies and jail employees also are required to work.
“It’s a difficult administrative function but we have to go on when the weather is bad,” he said.
Woods asked the commission to reconsider the policy change and go back to time-and-a-half during these occasions.
“It rubs people the wrong way how we have it now,” he said.
Woods said they make arrangements to stay nearby when bad weather hits. One employee that lives in the country stayed with someone in Emporia and another stayed in a hotel. When one employee had to leave to address frozen pipes at home, he had to use his own leave time, Woods said.
Walters said there are opportunities for road and bridge employees to work overtime that other county employees don’t have. She added that it wouldn’t be right to dock the pay of non-essential employees for not being able to work during snowstorms.
Commissioners chairman Scott Briggs asked if comp time was available. Slater said it’s not an option.
Marc Goodman, county attorney, said perhaps there could be some kind of administrative leave for essential employees to allow them to take time off later.
Commissioners said they will mull over this issue for a week and discuss it against at next week’s meeting.
In other action Wednesday the commission:
Approved the annual Ivy Township report.
Agreed to re-submit an L-CAT application to the Kansas Department of Transportation. Doug Stueve, director on aging, said the state had some trouble with the wording. Rather than go a different direction and possibly lose federal funding, Stueve said it was worth changing the wording and trying it again.
Heard a budget report from Bobbie Agler with A&M Consulting. Agler went through the final 2010 report and January 2011 numbers. He said most everything was positive but he pointed out a few potential problem areas for the coming year. Storms, high fuel costs and a prisoner’s medical expenses have led to more spending than was expected in some accounts.
thrashed (anonymous) says...
I would be pissed also.
February 11, 2011 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
Get a different damn job, you hired on to the road and bridge, someone may have told you that you may have to work some hours that would not be the 7am to 3;30pm SO PUT YOU BIG GIRLIE PANTIES ON AND GET OVER IT,
slater's comment, slater you need to get out more often, “They are out there busting their butts". yeah ok
February 11, 2011 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TexasGirl (anonymous) says...
Flush -- I don't think the road & bridge folks are griping about working outside normal hours. Their complaint is that there are folks sitting at home getting basically an extra paid vacation day at the same pay rate the road guys/gals are working their butts off.
I won't say where I work, but let's just say it provides a critical service to the community and cannot close due to weather. (You smart cookies out there might figure it out.) However, many "non-essential" personnel who live in rural areas chose to stay home rather than risk their safety. They had to use their PTO (vacation) time if they wanted to get paid for it.
If the county is interested in watching the budget, perhaps the folks that are forced to stay home because the courthouse closes should get a reduced rate of pay. It certainly wouldn't be popular, but it would help the problem.
February 11, 2011 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
I thought we had all this government money for the innerwebs so people could work at home,and avoid this kind off thing.On the other thread,they said Obama had this all figured out.Just a little sarcasm- they knew this kind off thing would happen.Like justaflushaway's comment - get over it!
February 11, 2011 at 12:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lcountyvictim (anonymous) says...
I think there are 2 options here to make it fair:
1. Make the county "non-essential" employees use vacation/personal leave.
2. Give a comp day to the essential employees, to be used at a later date.
Option 1 saves money for the county, so I think that's the best option. I know of another large company in town that pre-determines when employees will use 2 weeks of their earned vacation time.
February 11, 2011 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
muffett43 (anonymous) says...
Why should the non-essential employees have to use vacation/personal leave? It was not their call to close the courthouse!
February 11, 2011 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sun (anonymous) says...
I'm all for saving tax money, but why do courthouse workers get paid if they aren't there working? If I go home early at my job due to weather, I either use vacation time or don't get paid. If the courthouse is shut down, I don't think the employees should get paid for not working.
February 11, 2011 at 12:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
johncanyon (anonymous) says...
Give the courthouse employees the option of going home without pay or give them a shovel and let them help with the snow removal.
February 11, 2011 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lcountyvictim (anonymous) says...
Muffett43 - Maybe to make it "fair" to the other county employees who did have to work. Like I said in my earlier post, there are other companies that tell their employees when they will use vacation time...it's not a new concept. That, IMO, is not too different that making the employee have reduced wages for the week.
As to why the non-essential employees can't have a reduced wage, I don't know. Possibly they treat many of the positions there as salary, instead of hourly.
February 11, 2011 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Yet another perk of getting an education. If you want to sit behind a desk and not have to bust your tail on snowy days, go to college and get a degree! An education allows you to work with your intellect; not physical labor. So, if riding around in a truck all day is too hard for you, go back to school so you can get a comfy desk job!
That's not what I did, but you don't see me complaining about having to work on snowy days either.
'enry
February 11, 2011 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eaglefan (anonymous) says...
I for one do not think the courthouse workers that got sent home should be paid for not working. If I get sent home for bad weather, I either have to burn vacation time or take it as time without pay. This is a no brainer....those workers should not be paid for not working. I pay my taxes, but I don't see me getting paid to not work. This is not a good financial decision on the county administration's part.
February 11, 2011 at 2:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
eaglefan,
They are salaried jobs, not hourly. Trust me, they have to make up for it in the long run. They don't get paid overtime, so when they have to stay late an hour or two for the next 8 days after a snow day to make up all the work, it more than evens out.
If you don't think they should get paid for snow days, then I'm sure you'd agree they should get paid extra for working through lunches and staying beyond their 8 hour shifts, right?
When you have a desk job and are forced to stay home due to the weather, the work piles up on your desk worse than the snow outside. The poor desk workers can't even enjoy their day off because they're stressed about how far behind they're getting.
Think of it this way, if a garbage man gets to stay home a day and not pick up trash, that just means he'll have twice as much trash to pick up the next day, right? Is it really worth staying home? Wouldn't you want him to get paid for 16 hours work for doing double duty the day he gets back? Or do you think he should only get 8 hours pay even though it took him almost twice as long to pick up all the trash the following day?
My logic is sound and my mission is righteous. Desk workers have families to feed; it's not their fault the road workers didn't clear the streets soon enough for them to get to work. If the street workers would do a better job, then the desk workers wouldn't have to stay home. The blame is now on the other sneaker! Snap!
'enry
February 11, 2011 at 3:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Maybe a change is needed in the county employee handbook?
Most private concerns who close due to weather, their employees have the day off without pay, unless they want to use a vacation or sick day. Why should government workers be any different?
Or maybe the office workers could be trained on snow plows and blades and help out the next blizzard?
February 11, 2011 at 3:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
There are very few constants in our world today.
But God willing, we'll always have Henry !
February 11, 2011 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Let's all go to work for the courthouse and forget road and bridge stuff so we can all be happy.
Good post, Henry.
February 11, 2011 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
create,
My point is that they CHOSE those jobs that they're now complaining about being unfair. If they don't like it, get another job! If they aren't qualified for another job, get educated. I know plenty of dudes that would love to have the road and bridge jobs. If they move up in the world, as you suggest, there will be plenty of folks grateful to take their place.
Steve_Corbin,
Yes, I'll always be here. It is my calling and I do what I must. Take comfort and joy in my presence. I am a gift to the world.
'enry
February 11, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Buffalo_Breath (anonymous) says...
What a bunch of whining shovel-leaners.
February 11, 2011 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wouldntuliketoknow (anonymous) says...
"justaflushaway' you are a moron and have proved it by your post.
You idiots down at the courthouse need to wake up and realize that snow removal is based on a volunteer basis. These guys don't have to answer their phones and work all stinking night long.
You County workers ought to tell the County Commission and Lori Hollembeak where to shove the snow next year and noboby volunteer to get called out. Thats a bunch of crap that the courthouse employess are getting paid to watch soap operas while the maintenance crews are cleaning the roads.
February 11, 2011 at 4:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I knew where you were coming from, Henry. I was being sarcastic by saying let's all go work at the courthouse.
Oh yeah, we must also remember that courthouse employees are salaried, and that some of those are paid by the state.
February 11, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
wouldwhatever, gee, and I work for the county, you are so special that I will post my moranish comment again, and its my pleasure to do so;
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
Get a different damn job, you hired on to the road and bridge, someone may have told you that you may have to work some hours that would not be the 7am to 3;30pm SO PUT YOU BIG GIRLIE PANTIES ON AND GET OVER IT,
slater's comment, slater you need to get out more often, “They are out there busting their butts". yeah ok
February 11, 2011 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
I have one better therewouldyou like to knowsomethingbutiworkforroadandbridge. if its volunteer work, then why the hell are they,you complaining. I agree with henry, get some learnin, get away from there. BUT NO, you love it, that's your ,their choice to work for the county r&b, damn some of the road&bridge have worked there forever, and still haven't learned how to use a damn shovel yet, but they are watchin others!! maybe someday, they will take that next step... if that's you ,deal with it. I mowed for the county while going to college in the summertime,,pud job didn't take many brain cells, made a little money, but realized I wanted to at least do something in my life besides work for the county the rest of my life, 105 counties in Kansas and everyone of them has the same type of whiners, there you go wouldyouliketoknowsomething! just for you and yours,, it was all my pleasure to respond to you, you have a beautiful weekend and rest up, monday is in 2 days
February 11, 2011 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JustWondering (anonymous) says...
Just a Flush: If you will read the article you will find that this policy was changed the first of the year, before that these workers were paid time and a half. This policy was not in place when most of the workers "hired on". Therefore it is a reduction in pay from when they "hired on".
As far as the "opportunity" to work overtime; I had a job that required me to work overtime and I would have gladly traded the extra pay and having to be available for call-in for the time off that others had. Being called back to work all night to clear snow, fight fires, repair broken water mains, investigate crimes, etc. is NOT a benefit of a job even at time and a half. It is a benefit to the public that the workers provide.
February 11, 2011 at 5:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Simple fix for this, develop the ability for workers to work from home and remote in to the phone que and their workstations.
Problem solved.
February 11, 2011 at 6:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LeroyD (anonymous) says...
From all of the posts I have read, there is a little bit of white collar elitism going on. Time and a half for for the snow shovellers was removed recently for budgetary reasons. Courthouse employees should enjoy their day off, without pay. Salaried? Divide the salary into pay per day, and remove it from the soap opera watching, white collar employee's paychecks. After all, they chose to be an unpaid office employee (for snow days). I am sure after the rule is in place, all the pencil pushers could apply for Lyon County Road and Bridge openings...:o)
February 11, 2011 at 8:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefooting (anonymous) says...
Cut the worker's pay to save taxpayer money the same year they want to blow over 100,000 on tombstones by the highway? Priorities are mixed up badly, the workers are way more beneficial to Emporia, use the tombstone money to pay the workers for their hard work and dedication.
February 11, 2011 at 10:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
"The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself.
"If you keep on biting and devouring each other,
watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."
Galatians 5:14-15 (NIV)
February 11, 2011 at 10:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefooting (anonymous) says...
Maybe the tombstones are symbolic of the town dying soon.
February 11, 2011 at 11:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trainrech (anonymous) says...
So how are rain days handled when the county crews are unable to work? Are they sent home? Is the time made up? My first guesses would be yes, no.
There are a lot of people who don't get paid when operations shut down due to weather, so anyone whose paycheck wasn't affected should be thankful.
I can help boost morale. Put them back as hourly employees. Or better yet, I'll put them to work on one of my crews. They'd be working 3-5 hour from home, will be living in a hotel during the week, and will have worked about 4 days in the last 2 weeks. I'm guessing their current job wouldn't look so bad then.
February 12, 2011 at 6:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hometownkid (anonymous) says...
Yeah train !
How about hourly employees at the courthouse! Maybe they will all get there on time. I say If your out working in the crummy weather then give those folks some kind of thank you. Extra day off when it's nice outside or time and a half.
And by the way Henry, just because someone works for road and bridge doesn't mean they aren't smart people. And it sure doesn't mean because you work behind a desk you are educated or smart !! That's for sure
February 12, 2011 at 7:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
meanmom (anonymous) says...
Not all county workers can take work home. I was in Emporia during the storm on the day the workers were sent home, doing business face to face with a very nice person at the courthouse. It would have been very hard for me to go to her home to do that business. Having worked over a decade at a job 45 miles from my home I was expected to be there no matter the weather. I would also like to say an education doesn't seem to give people any common sense, sometimes just a swelled head. I also worked a job when I was in my 20's and asked if I could take LWOP or vacation to go home when the weather got bad. Having a very sensible boss who said "no one is going anywhere until this weather settles down" is an excellent idea for whoever is really concerned about their employees. The workers are in a safe place, their families should be in a safe place(if they were left that way in the first place). I would rather everyone stay safe than get out and be a hazard to anyone else or themselves.
February 12, 2011 at 7:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I remember a story in the Bible about a situation like this and the guy who worked only one hour got what the people that worked all day, so I would say it's biblical and ok.
February 12, 2011 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
krazykansan (anonymous) says...
Moron the 8th e is e is!
February 12, 2011 at 4:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
meanmom,
The only problem with staying put until the weather settles down is that snow starts to get deeper and deeper as the day wears on. It's better to get out while the getting is good. More than likely your kids will be released from school anyway. Then with everyone home and not in the way, the road and bridge guys can do a better job.
Thanks to police and jailers who have to go to work no matter how deep the snow gets. Thanks folks.
February 12, 2011 at 5:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I am really quite surprised that after the H1N1 fiasco the contingency plan to work from home was not formulated. Many private companies developed these alternatives, they can be instituted on days like this. If nothing else snow days would be great opportunities to test and tweak the option.
February 12, 2011 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lyon (anonymous) says...
This is for HenryVIII. Why do you assume that these employees don't have an education? I personally know some of them and they have a degree and not all of the employees work out in the field. They have people in the office too!! So think before running your mouth.
February 14, 2011 at 1:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lyon (anonymous) says...
TRAINRECH- Do you really think county employees don't work when we have floods? Wow, open your eyes. how do you think the barricades get there to let people know that it's not safe to take that road. Geez, give these hard working people a break. Could you work 12 hours off 6, then work 12 hours? These people have families and a life too!
February 14, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trainrech (anonymous) says...
Just because it rains doesn't mean it floods, Lyon. In fact, most times it rains it doesn't flood. So, again, what do the R&B guys do when it is raining, or for that matter, is too cold to work?
I work construction, have all my life, and sometimes you put the hours in to get the job done. Goes with the territory, so if they aren't willing to do that, they need to find a new career.
February 14, 2011 at 5:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
trainrech,
Well if I were in charge of R&B crews for the county, i would tell people on rainy days the crews do preventive maintenance and repair work on equipment. don't know for sure, but that's what I would say.
February 14, 2011 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trainrech (anonymous) says...
Steve, I'd expect that that is the case. Or at least I hope so.
Not sure if all reading this are aware or not, but R&B is (I believe) the only department with an overtime budget who were not impacted by the budget cuts over the last few years. Last year alone they spent over $130,000 on OT wages! They budgeted $10,000 for 2011. Think that'll hold? In the last 3 years the personnel services line item has only gone up- not true for other departments.
I'm not implying our R&B crews don't work hard as they do their job to make sure our residents are safe. I just have little patience for whining.
February 15, 2011 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )