2022.02.08 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 25, 2022 Page 5 of 6 Motion by Councilmember Axberg, seconded by Councilmember Dunsworth to Authorize the Mayor and City Manager to Sign a Resolution of Support for a Metropolitan Council Grant Application. A roll call vote was taken. 5 Ayes, 0 Nays-Motion Carried 3. Consider Approval of Updates to Employee Handbook. City Manager Massopust discussed the proposed updates to the Employee Handbook. He reported an internal benefits committee meets quarterly to review the handbook and benefits for all employees. The most notable change had to do with the 80 hours of paid parental leave for City employees. Councilmember Axberg indicated she was a working mother with four children. She discussed how important it was to have family friendly work benefits. She appreciated how the City was looking at health matters as family issues and not strictly women’s issues. She commented on how the proposed benefits assist with motivating and retaining employees. She stated one of her concerns was with how the benefits were proposed in a piecemeal manner and questioned if the City would be better served by considering legacy benefits. She requested further information on how sick leave was accumulated. City Manager Massopust described the sick leave accumulation tiers as noted within the employee handbook. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas questioned how many employees make it to 20 years with the City of New Brighton. City Manager Massopust estimated this was probably one in four employees that reach the 20 year mark. Councilmember Allen stated he supported the proposed changes because it brought the City more in line with other companies and municipalities. Councilmember Abdulle thanked staff for all of their efforts on the updated employee handbook. He discussed the paid parental leave that he was offered from his employer when his children were born and stated this benefit would be valuable to the City’s employees. He stated he was very excited about the proposed change. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas commented she fully supported the Council bringing in an outside consultant in order to complete benchmarking for the team, while also looking at an overall benefits and compensation model for the City. She discussed how difficult it was for employers to retain employees at this time. Councilmember Axberg recommended the employee handbook be amended to eliminate the part that addresses expanding the percent payout in the new tier for sick time. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas stated it was her understanding this language was put in place to make non-union employees more closely align with union employees. City Manager Massopust reported this was the case. He asked that if this language was removed that action on the item be tabled to a future meeting to allow staff to discuss this matter further. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas asked how the Council wanted to proceed. Councilmember Abdulle recommended the employee handbook move forward as recommended by staff. Councilmember Allen supported the document as proposed by staff. Councilmember Dunsworth agreed. Motion by Councilmember Abdulle, seconded by Councilmember Allen to Approve the Updates to the Employee Handbook as proposed by staff. A roll call vote was taken. 3. Consider Approval of Updates to Employee Handbook.