5.010 ERMUSR 11-14-2023Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Mark Hanson - General Manager
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
November 14, 2023
5.10
SUBJECT:
Wage & Benefits Committee Proposed 2024 Adjustments
ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve the proposed 2024 Wage and Benefits Adjustments, effective January 1, 2024.
BACKGROUND:
At the October commission meeting, staff reviewed the proposed 2024 Wage and Benefits
adjustments. The discussions regarding each of the requests were presented as agenda item
5.3, Wage and Benefits Committee Update. A consolidated list of proposed adjustments for
commission approval was provided as agenda item 5.4, Proposed 2024 Benefits Adjustments.
DISCUSSION:
At the October commission meeting, the Commission decided to postpone voting on the
proposed adjustments until additional data was collected on the time off benefits for utilities
used in the metro seven average. Staff has consolidated the requested information below:
Vacation
Sick
PTO
Holidays
Floating
Holidays
Personal
Days
Total
1
10
12
0
12
0
0
34
2
0
0
18
11
2
0
31
3
10
10
0
11
2
0
33
4
1 10
12
0
11
2
0
35
5
0
0
15-20
8
2
0
25-30
6
10
10
0
9
1
0
30
7
0
0
23
9
0
4
36
ERMU
Similarly, commissioners discussed the City of Elk River's current vacation benefits. During the
meeting, it was stated the city currently provides 12 days of vacation for new employees. It has
since been confirmed the city has updated their vacation policy and now provides 15 days of
vacation to new employees.
The list of proposed adjustments from the October agenda item 5.4, Proposed 2024 Benefits
Adjustments is provided on the next page for commission review and approval.
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2024 Proposed Benefit Adjustments
(as provided in the October 10, 2023, report for agenda item 5.4)
1) 2024 Wage Adjustment. The committee proposes a 4.0% wage adjustment for 2024,
regardless of the metro average, effective January 1, 2024.
2) Bereavement Leave Policy. The committee proposes updating the bereavement policy with
the more inclusive language regarding familial relationships and adding a one -day tier for
other family (aunts, uncles, and cousins) as presented below:
Category
Relationship
Days
Immediate and
Spouse, domestic partner, child (including stepchild, foster-
3
Close Family
child, or other child for whom the employee serves as primary
guardian), parent (including stepparent, foster -parent or
other individual who served the role of an employee's
parental figure), grandparent (including step -grandparent),
and grandchild (including step -grandchild), in-laws (parent,
grandparent, and sibling), nieces, and nephews.
Other Family
Aunts, uncles, cousins
1
3) Nightwork and Rest Time Policy. The committee proposes the following adjustments to the
nightwork and rest time policy:
a) Provide a two-hour minimum rest time for nightwork (10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.).
b) Provide eight hours of rest time for employees working four or more hours of
nightwork for work completed between the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
4) Vacation Accrual Schedule. The committee proposes the following adjustments to the
accrual rates for employees with 0-12 years of tenure (shown in light grey below):
2023
Proposed 2024
0-4 yrs.
12 days
0-4 yrs.
15 days
5 yrs.
13 days
5-9 yrs.
16 days
6-9 yrs.
15 days
10-11 yrs.
17 days
10 yrs.
16 days
12-13 yrs.
19 days
11 yrs.
17 days
14-15 yrs.
20 days
12 yrs.
18 days
16-18 yrs.
22 days
13 yrs.
19 days
19 yrs.
25 days
14-15 yrs.
20 days
20-21 yrs.
26 days
16-18 yrs.
22 days
22-23 yrs.
27 days
19 yrs.
25 days
24+ yrs.
28 days
20-21 yrs.
26 days
22-23 yrs.
27 days
24+ yrs.
28 days
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