THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507120145
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHAWN TERRY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
City employees are concerned about a proposed pay-for-performance plan, where future raises will be based on performance, because, they say, they fear their evaluations could be subjective.
They also are angry because many employees did not get a raise this year, and they say the new pay plan, approved by council last spring, may mean that new hires could be earning as much as employees who have been working at City Hall for several years.
The City Council approved a new pay plan in which pay scales are compared with other cities across the region and city employees are paid based on the surrounding job market. The council also is considering a move to pay-for-performance in the next 18 months, in which raises are based on performance evaluations.
City employees have been bringing their complaints to the council over the past few weeks. On Monday, the council asked Personnel Director Charlotte Fletcher to once again explain the existing plan and the move toward pay-for-performance.
For 18 years under the old pay plan, city employees were eligible for a general raise in the spring of each year or got an increase in pay based on the number of years of service. The raises were automatic and no evaluation was required.
Six months ago, the council voted on a new plan that did not reward employees for years of service, but rather worked to make salaries for jobs more competitive. The city also announced its intention to begin emphasizing job performance.
``Employees (pay) would move based on their performance. You get your money based on how well you performed,'' Fletcher said.
But employees complained to council members that they don't understand the plan and that they feel it is inequitable.
``In other cities, employees find that the pay performance plan is terrible,'' said Shirley Kirkwood, of the Virginia Alliance of State Employees. ``It's a lot of favoritism in it.''
City employees have told council members that they are afraid to approach city supervisors with their concerns.
Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons said the new classification and pay plan needs to become more ``user friendly'' with the employees. Clemons suggested that a informational video detailing the pay plan be distributed to supervisors.
The study by David M. Griffith & Associates includes the new position classifications, a salary survey and a new pay structure.
That company is currently setting up a computerized evaluation system, so that supervisors will follow the same evaluation format for all employees.
The new pay plan is similar to those used in most Hampton Roads cities. Fletcher and Mayor Gloria O. Webb agree that the new plan could save the fiscally strapped city money over the next few years. They have also said it will reward the more ambitious employees.
``It's a conservative but equitable pay plan,'' said Fletcher.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY EMPLOYEES by CNB