St. Croix County adopts pay for performance policy

• St. Croix County

St. Croix County

Talk about it

St. Croix County’s non-union employees will be evaluated under a pay for performance policy following action by the board of supervisors Tuesday morning.

The board passed a resolution adopting the new policy for compensation for about a third of its work force.

The resolution calls for an employee compensation system that recognizes varying levels of performance and awards those who exceed set goals.

Each county department will establish, “operation goals for each of its units and employees that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely,” the resolution said.

The policy is in accordance with the county’s five-year strategic plan. “It’s tied to the strategic plan. We are all in this together, said Administrator Pat Thompson.

“We have to tie compensation (salary and wages) to evaluation,” said Thompson. “It (compensation) is not the sole motivator, but a key component.”

Each department will determine the standards for evaluation rated on a 0 to 5.0 scale, the resolution said.

Thompson will recommend an appropriate funding level available for pay for performance increases as part of the overall budget.

Supervisor Travis Schachtner had a fundamental problem with the evaluation system. “We are not moving forward smartly,” he said.

Looking at evaluations, an employees could achieve every goal and won’t get the compensation they deserve, he said.

He suggested that the leaders and employees get familiar with doing the evaluation process first.

Supervisor Fred Yoerg wondered about an appeals process. “If an employee disagrees (with the evaluation), is there an appeals process?” he asked.

HR director Tammy Funk said, “We just started working on it.”

Supervisor Fred Horne also voiced concern. “I’m struggling with telling employees they met our expectations, but didn’t exceed so (they get) no compensation.”

Board Chair Daryl Standafer said he was familiar with a similar policy in the private sector and the “reward is you get to keep your job.”

“The bar is set high. The goal is to award performance over and above expectations,” said Thompson.

Supervisor David Peterson said, “We will have to make some modifications down the road. Keep in mind there are adjustments to be made.”

“Our job as supervisors will not be over,” said Supervisor Buck Malick. He cautioned the board it will have to appropriate an amount in the budget to pay for performance and refrain from a tradition of years past to shorten the training budget.

The measure passed by a 15-3 margin with supervisors Schachtner, Horne and Richard Ostness voting against.

Tags: local government, news, government