4.3 EMRUSR 07-09-2024Ji
Elk River �.
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Megan Zachman — HR Generalist
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
July 9, 2024
4.3
SUBJECT:
Employee Handbook Annual Updates
ACTION REQUESTED:
Adopt the revised ERMU Employee Handbook
BACKGROUND:
Annually, staff and legal counsel review the existing personnel policies incorporated into the
ERMU Employee Handbook for compliance with changing labor laws. The Wage & Benefits
Committee may recommend the Commission adopt employee benefit changes. Staff may
recommend operational changes that affect the personnel policy be adopted by the
Commission for incorporation into the handbook.
DISCUSSION:
Minimal changes were made to the Employee Handbook for 2024. The items listed below have
been added and/or updated in the handbook since its last revision in June 2023.
• Revise Date in footer and on cover page.
• Revise Table of Contents and page numbers.
• Eliminate gendered language.
• Update "marijuana" to "cannabis" to match current legal terminology.
• Update "Employer" with "the Utilities" for consistency throughout handbook.
• Revise Section 3. Equal Employment Opportunity, to include language from the Crown
Act.
• Revise Section 5. Harassment Prohibited, to include language from the Crown Act,
language on types of harassment, scope of policy, and the employee's reporting
responsibility.
• Revise Section 6. Business Conduct, to include added employee expectation.
• Revise Section 13. Commitment to a Drug and Alcohol -Free Workplace, to reflect the
new cannabis legalization.
• Revise Section 14. Exposure to Hazardous Substances, to update the Minn Stat.
referenced.
• Revise Section 17. Supplemental Employment, to include added employee expectations.
• Revise Section 19. Attendance, to update language that aligns with ERMU's revised Paid
Sick Leave Policy.
• Revise Section 20. Discipline, Dismissal & Layoff, to add language about Policy's intent.
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• Revise Section 22. Performance Reviews, to update language on Performance Metrics
Incentive eligibility.
• Revise Section 23. Work Hours, Overtime, and Compensatory Time, to add language on
eligibility.
• Revise Section 37. Night Work and Rest Time, to include updated paid rest time
amounts earned for night work.
• Revise Section 40. Vacation, to include updated vacation accruals.
• Revise Section 43. Paid Sick Leave, to include all new provisions of Minnesota's new
Employee Sick and Safe Time law.
• Revise Section 44. Employee Clothing, to update the annual clothing allowance for office
staff.
• Revise Section 45. Health Care Savings Plan, to add the percentage of paid sick leave
conversion to post -employment HCSP at time of retirement.
• Revise Section 46. 457 Deferred Compensation, to remove language on the Governor's
salary cap (repealed 2023).
• Revise Section 47. Health Insurance Coverage, to reflect cost increase.
• Add Section 55. The Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Remove Section 56. Minnesota Sick Family Member or Safety Leave (section has been
replaced with Paid Sick and Safe Time (section 43). The underlying statue has been
repealed).
• Revise Section 63. Bereavement Leave, to include more inclusive language for relations
that qualify for three days of leave and a one -day tier for aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces
and nephews.
• Revise Section 66. Paid Leave Donation, to remove Finance Manager as approver.
Attached is a revised ERMU Employee Handbook, reflecting the proposed changes.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Revised — ERMU Policy — G.01 - Employee Handbook
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