Minutes 09-11-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Affordable Care Act. She thinks that overall, temporary employees are being used appropriately. Chair Jacobs said it may be good to revise the language. Brenda Bartholomew said she would be in favor of that recommendation. Chair Jacobs said another issue is the 12 month definition. He said a department might try to help their budget by telling someone not to come in for a month. Brenda Bartholomew said you still look at 12 months past that employment. Chair Jacobs said he just does not want to use the 12 month definition to disadvantage the part time employees. Brenda Bartholomew said that is not the intent. She said the point is to look at the seasonal employees, and to insure them. Chair Jacobs said there may be a philosophical way of looking at whether or not there is some advantage to having permanent part time employees. He said there is a lot of time spent chopping down on personnel costs in a recession, and this would be an option where you don't have to go back and fill those open positions. He said the permanent part time employees may be a good way to provide a more equitable workplace. Annette Moore said there used to be permanent part time employees with benefits, and most of those were converted to full time positions, so that level was taken away. She said the ordinance can be changed to put this back in. Commissioner porosin said the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a huge step forward for their community. He thinks it is necessary to re-think the categories; if there are current part- time people working 20 hours and it is a position that is needed all the time, then that should not be considered a temporary position, and it should be a category. Commissioner porosin said there is another category of temporary full time and 30 hour employees, as well as seasonal employees. He thinks the one month standard should be used, and if an employee works 30 hours a week for a month or two months, they should receive benefits. He said the County should be setting the moral high ground for employers. He likes the idea of a modified benefit for permanent part-time employees. He thinks that is a critical stand that should be taken on this issue. Commissioner Rich said the concept is interesting but it could be a logistical nightmare for the employer and employee. She said it could be a problem for an employee to receive benefits for 3 months and then have to go back on the affordable care plan. She wonders if there is a way to help them with their affordable care plan in a way that does not disrupt service and create logistical issues. Brenda Bartholomew said most of the seasonal employees have health insurance with their parents or another venue, although they could certainly waive out of it if there was another option. Commissioner Pelissier said she is heartened by the discussion. She noted that some counties are doing the opposite by reducing employee's hours in the face of the ACA, while Orange County is embracing it and not trying to save money on the backs of the employees. Brenda Bartholomew apologized if the Commissioners felt the ACA was portrayed in a negative light. Commissioner porosin said he just wants it to go on record that he and his colleagues embrace the ACA because of the good it does for the people in need in the community. Bonnie Hammersley said one of the things she has heard is the need to look at the titling of these positions. She said the positions will be monitored heading into the budget to see if they are all needed.