Minutes 09-11-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The ACA measures full time status month by month. A seasonal employee who works an average of 30 hours per week during any month must be offered health care coverage for the month worked unless the employer takes certain actions. Employers subject to the employer mandate may adopt a "measurement period" longer than a month to measure the full time status of employees. This provides an average of hours worked recognizing seasonal and temporary employees. Additionally, the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System defines an employee" as any person who is regularly employed in a regular position, the duties of which require not less than 1,000 hours or more in a twelve-month period. Such employees are subject to membership in the retirement system and would be required to contribute 6% of all earnings to the Retirement System, and the County would contribute the required employer amount (currently 7.41%). Brenda Bartholomew said she does not think that Orange County is employing their temporary employees over the recommended hours. Commissioner porosin said there was a reference to 22 employees that worked more than part time hours and the fact that this has been fixed. He asked how this was fixed. Brenda Bartholomew said some of the temporary employees did not continue on into this fiscal year and some were made permanent during the last budget process. She said another issue with the departments was just bringing this matter to their attention and looking at the hours to consider whether a full time position was needed. Commissioner porosin asked what conclusion should be drawn. Brenda Bartholomew said she brought the positions that were of concern to the directors, and there was direction to follow the ACA and the County's policy. She said anyone seasonal or part time is called a temporary employee. She said a part timer is some one that works 20 hours or less on a regular basis, while a seasonal worker is employed only for a certain season, and then they are terminated once that season over. She said staff can look at better classifying these employees by title. Commissioner porosin asked about the large variation of the wages listed in attachment B. He asked how the hourly wage is set, and whether the salaries are related to the duties and the equivalent full time position. Brenda Bartholomew said a lot of the lower wages are for the seasonal workers or interns. She said the job responsibilities do measure up to the rates, and some are very specialized and may be done under a grant. She said the salaries are driven by the job Commissioner porosin asked if someone working for the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR) would make an hourly wage that would be equivalent pay to the full time salary. Brenda Bartholomew said yes. She noted that these figures represent wages from 2013-14, and the living wage was implemented in 2014-15. She said part time workers are paid nearly as much per hour as a permanent worker. Commissioner Rich asked how to ensure that employees and seasonal workers know about approved wage increases. She cited a specific instance of poll employees being unaware of an increase that had occurred. Brenda Bartholomew said she did send a memo out to all employees on this issue. Commissioner Price asked if there are ever issues with overtime. Brenda Bartholomew said only employees who work over 40 hours would be eligible for overtime. She said even employees hired for 20 hours, who work more than that are not eligible for overtime. She said these employees should not be consistently working over part time hours, and she would address issues like that to make sure there is no violation of the