To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ann Elliott, Human Resources Director
Report Title: Amend the Contra Costa County Salary Regulations to revise Section 16 - Service Award Program
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution No. 2025- amending the Contra Costa County Salary Regulations to revise Section 16 - Service Award Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with these changes.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa County Salary Regulations are being updated to reflect employee tenure in the modern labor market and promote employee retention. Two (2) revisions to Section 16 - Service Award Program have been identified.
Section 16.3 Service Recognition - Service Pins, (b) Form of Awards currently directs for timepieces to be award to employees reaching thirty (30) years of service. This will be revised to allow for a broader selection of awards for this milestone.
Section 16.3 Service Recognition - Service Pins, (c) Frequency of Awards currently specifies that the first service recognition will be award after the employee’s first ten (10) years of service. This will be revised to provide the first service recognition after five (5) years of service.
County Labor Relations provided notice to and confirmed there was no opposition from the various labor groups regarding the changes.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the amendment is not adopted, service recognition will not accurately reflect the changing landscape of the modern work environment, which may reduce employee morale and retention.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
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IN THE MATTER OF amending the Salary Regulations to revise Section 16 - Service Award Program,
WHEREAS, the Contra Costa County Salary Regulations, written in July 2003, specify how County officers, deputies, and employees shall be compensated for services required of them, including a Service Award Program which provides recognition for length of service in the employment of the County, and
WHEREAS, responsibility for the administration of the Service Award Program is in the Human Resources Department, and
WHEREAS, to increase employee morale and retention in the changing landscape of modern work environments, two revisions to the Salary Regulations have been identified that will have an immediate positive impact; and
WHEREAS, Section 16 Service Award Program in its entirety will be revised with modern verbiage and references, and
WHEREAS, Section 16.3 Service Recognition - Service Pins, (b) Form of Awards will be revised to allow for a broader selection of awards for employees reaching thirty (30) years of service, and
WHEREAS, Section 16.3 Service Recognition - Service Pins, (c) Frequency of Awards will be revised provide the first service recognition after five (5) years of service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Salary Regulations are amended as follows:
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REVISE:
SECTION 16
SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM
16.1 Service Recognition - Program Administration: A program of recognition for length of service in the employment of this County is established. Responsibility for the administration of this program is in the Human Resources Department. (Prior code §2460; Ord. 787; prior Ord. Code §36-10.202)
16.2 Service Recognition - Calculating Service: The length of service credits for each employee of the County shall date from the beginning of the most recent period of continuous County employment (including temporary, provisional, and permanent status, and absences on approved leave of absence). When an employee separates from a permanent position in good standing and within two years is reemployed in a permanent County position, service credits shall include all credits accumulated at time of separation, but shall not include the period of separation. The Director of Human Resources shall determine these matters based on the employee status records in his/her department. (Ords. 76-71 §1, 1838; prior code §2461; Ord. 787; prior Ord. Code §36-10.204)
16.3 Service Recognition - Service Pins:
(a) Time of Making Awards: Awards for service shall be made at intervals prescribed by the Board of Supervisors.
(b) Form of Awards: Service awards shall be a certificate, pin, tie clip or other accessory item (herein called pins) and in addition, after thirty years of service, another accessory option. The certificate, pin or other accessory item alternative(s), upon which the County seal or logo shall be attached or shown shall be as prescribed by the Director of Human Resources. The maximum cost to the County of the pins shall be as set by the Director of Human Resources within budgetary constraints; suitable engraving of said pins shall likewise be prescribed by the Director of Human Resources, cost of the engraving to be paid by the County. (Res. 68/172, 78/1200, 83/1, 83/698)
(c) Frequency of Awards: The first service recognition (pin) shall be awarded after an employee’s first five (5) years of service. Thereafter a new and distinguishable pin shall be awarded after each additional five years of service. Elected officials with eight years or more of service who leave the County service shall be presented with a service pin showing the actual number of years served by them. (Ords. 67-74 §1, 1838; prior code §2462; Ords. 826, 787; prior Ord. Code §36-10.206) (Amended 5/10/83)