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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03101992 - 1.39 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on March 10, 1992, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, Torlakson, McPeak NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisor Schroder . ABSTAIN: None ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: Grand Jury Report on County Sick Leave The Board received report Number 9203 dated February 19, 1992 from the Grand Jury Foreman with respect to the County Sick Leave Program. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the aforementioned report is ACKNOWLEDGED and REFERRED to the Internal Operations Committee and the County Administrator. I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Superyryaas�orrs on the d�ate shown. ATTESTED: �`L•�/h�-- ion /9g a PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board cc• County Administrator of Supervisors and County Administrator • Internal Operations Committee �� ,� �l�i�/1�Q , Grand Jury By Deputy RECEIVED � FEB 2 71992 A REPORT BY CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA CO. The 1991-92 Contra Costa County Grand Jury 1020 Ward Street Martinez, California, 94553 1 0 39 (510) 646-2345 Report Number 9203 Report on the County Sick Leave Program Approved By The Grand Jury: t DATE. Clde Parkhurst Grand Jury Foreman Accepted For Filing: DATE: James R. Trembath Judge of The Superior Court SECTION .933 (c) OF THE CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE Sec. 933. Findings and .recommendations; com- ment of governing bodies, elective officers, or agency heads (c) No later than 90 days after the =and jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the gove.^ung body of the public agency shall comrnent to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body, and every elective county office,-or agency head for which the grand jury has responsibility pursuant to Section 914.1 shall cogent within 60 days to the presiding judge of the superior court, with an information copy sent to the board of supervisors, on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of that county officer or agency head and any agency or agencies which that officer or agency head supervises or controls. In any city and county, the mayor shall also comment on the findings and recommendations. All such comments and reports shall forthwith be submitted to the presiding,judge of the superior court who impan- eled the grand jury. A copy of all responses to grand jury reports shall be placed on file with the clerk of the public agency and the office of the county clerk, or the mayor when applicable, and shall remain on file in those offices. One copy shall be placed on file with the applicable grand jury final report by, and in the control of the currently impaneled grand jury, where it shall be maintained for a minimum of five years. (Added by Stats 1961, c 1284, § L Amended by Stam 1963, c 674, § 1: Sras 1974, c 393, § 6; Stats 1974, c. 1396, § 3, Srats 1977, c 107, § 6; Stats 1977, c 187, § 1; Stam 1980, c. 543, § 1; Stam 1981, c. 203, § 1; Stam 198? r- 1408, 1408, § 5; Scars 1985, c 221, § 1; Stam 1987, c 690, § 1; Sram 1988, c 1297, § 5.) Former § 933, added by Stats.1982, c. 1408. § 6, amended by Stats.1985,c.2Z1,§ Z.operative Jan. 1, 1989,was repealed by Stats.1987, c. 690, § Z Former § 933, added by Stats.1959, 501. § 2, was repealed by Stats-1959. c. 181?. 1 3. r INTRODUCTION For approximately two years, the County Administrator and the Personnel Department have been preparing a draft of new guidelines for County departments to use in administering a sick leave program. A main thesis of the draft policy is that close attention from managers who apply an even-handed administration of sick leave will result in a lowered absence of the work force and an increase in productivity. The economy of the country is suffering, and County government is no.exception. Demands of the population, mandates of the State, and loss of revenues from many sources have required all levels of government to do more with less. Local entities have had to devise ingenious methods to use their resources more efficiently. A sick leave policy that lowers the rate of employee absenteeism would provide more workers to do the County business without the expenditure of additional funds. FINDINGS 1. The current Administrative Bulletin on sick leave states abuse of the sick leave privilege on the part of the employee can be cause for disciplinary action, but offers little guidance on how discipline should be sought and applied, nor is it clear in defining what constitutes abuse. 2. The present policy asserts that the proper administration of sick leave is a responsibility of the employee and the department head. The new policy draft calls on all levels of management and employees to meet the needs of the County, while treating all employees fairly and equally under the sick leave program.. 3. The draft states as a goal "organizational effectiveness and efficiency of County government which can be attained by the regular attendance of its employees with a minimum of disruptions of, or absences, from work." 4. This draft has been under consideration, review, and negotiation for approximately two years. 5. Attention to sick leave usage by managers at all levels tends to lower the number of sick leave hours. The employees in a department whose managers monitor sick leave used an average of 6.2 days a year. In a department that made little effort to track sick leave, an average of 10.1 days were used. 6. The Grand Jury's concern about a lack of an evenly and consistently applied sick leave policy was reinforced by the managers of a number of departments. CONCLUSIONS 1. Because of diminished tax revenues and a sluggish economy, the County must continue operating in an environment that will most efficiently utilize its work force. 2. The continuing delay of an evenly applied County-wide sick leave policy contributes to a higher usage of sick leave. 3. Departments whose managers practice a careful and regular review of sick leave usage experience fewer absences than those that don't. RECOMMENDATIONS The 1991-92 Grand Jury recommends that the County Administrator: 1. Establish a new written sick leave policy within this fiscal year. 2. Provide managers, on a regular basis, documentation of the sick leave usage of each person under their supervision. 3. Require managers to emphasize their interest and concern about sick leave during regularly scheduled meetings with their staff. 4. Compel that an evaluation of sick leave usage be a factor in the employees' performance review. COMMENT Workers who are prudent in the use of sick leave should be acknowledged by their managers, and those who appear to have patterns of sick leave abuse should be held accountable in a firm, but fair way.