HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8295 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8295
ex To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 12, 2000
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� SUBJECT: REVISIONS TO THE CITY'S PERSONNEL RULES AND
REGULATIONS CONCERNING GENERAL EMPLOYEES' LEAVE POLICIES
On October 25, 2000, Judge Bonnie Sudderth issued a letter opinion concerning the Livingston v. City of Fort
Worth lawsuit. As staff understands it, that letter opinion, on which the judgment will be based, requires that
the annual vacation leave accrual rate for civil service employees be equal to the annual personal leave
accrual rate for similarly situated non-civil service employees, and specifically to the executive level
employees who accrue more leave.
On or about November 15, 2000, another lawsuit, styled Bradley W. Hickey, et. al. v. City of Fort Worth,
Texas was filed by all other Fort Worth police officers, dealing with the same issue.
The City is planning on appealing the judgment in the Livingston suit and subsequently in the Hickey suit if
an adverse ruling is received.
In order to minimize the City's liability for any back-pay requirement should the City not prevail in either
lawsuit, it is proposed to revise the leave policies of general employees. This "stop loss" action will comply
with the anticipated judge's order, while minimizing the changes to the current leave policies. The proposed
revisions of the leave policies were selected after reviewing and evaluating multiple alternatives and after
receiving input from the Employee Benefits Committee and department directors.
Highlights of the proposed changes are as follows:
• There are no changes to the civil service leave plan;
• "Personal leave" has been re-titled to "vacation" and the accrual rate is reduced to equal the civil
service vacation leave accrual rate as required by the judge's anticipated order;
• "Short term sick leave/family leave" has been created for general employees, with accrual rates
equaling the reduced personal leave so general employee's total leave accrual remains the same;
• "Short term sick leave/family leave" may be used for an employee's own short term illness/injury,
may be used to meet the seven-day requirement for accessing major medical leave, may be used for
the first seven days of lost time on an occupations injury; it may also be used for a family member's
illness/injury. It may not be used for vacation leave or personal business.
The leave accrual rates under this proposed plan and the revisions to the major leave sections of the
Personnel Rules and Regulations are attached.
Unless directed otherwise, staff will implement these changes on the first pay period of the 2001 calendar
year which begins December 16, 2000.
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS