Primary Department: Human Resources and Talent
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Andrea Coughlin Rowley, Chief People Officer
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Discussion Item
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request for 1) discussion of the monthly update of the Compensation and Pay Equity Project status, by Human Resources and Talent; 2) approval to temporarily freeze the following activities relative to civilian employees and positions: moves, changes, reclassifications and base salary increases from December 13, 2025-February 21, 2026; and 3) discussion of the proposed Compensation Philosophy.
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Background and Discussion:
On October 30, 2026, Commissioners Court directed Human Resources and Talent, the Office of County Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, Universal Services, the County Attorney’s Office and the County Auditor’s Office to return to Court on December 11, 2025 with a detailed implementation project plan, timeline and compensation philosophy recommendations for the Court’s consideration. Furthermore, in order to accurately implement the project results by the February 7, 2026 pay period, it will be necessary to freeze the activities described in the Agenda Caption. The Court approved project recommendations were based on the status of employees and positions as of June 2025. Since that time salary increases, position changes, new hires and reclassifications have occurred. Therefore, it will be necessary to reconcile the June 2025 file and the current employee and position status in order to properly apply the Court approved recommendations effective February 7, 2026 to be reflected on the February 27, 2026 pay checks.
Expected Impact:
The discussion and presentation is an update to Commissioners Court by Human Resources and Talent to provide Court with the project’s progress since October 30, 2025. The temporary freeze described in Background and Discussion will reduce the volume and time required to investigate changes that have occurred since June 2025. Additionally, it will allow for a true-up of the total cost of the approved salary increases by capturing the impact of changes which have occurred since June 2025. In reference to the proposed compensation philosophy, it will align with Harris County’s strategic priorities by attracting, retaining and motivating a qualified and talented workforce.
Alternative Options: N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: 3. Make our economy more inclusive.
County Strategic Plan Objective: L: Foster more living-wage jobs that ensure worker safety, benefits, and stability across all educational levels.
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Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): L1: Design a set of policies for Harris County to set dynamic living wage rates and ensure essential worker protections and high-quality benefits for all Harris County contracts, employees, and economic agreements.
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Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
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Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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10/30/2025 |
266 |
Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc presented the results of the Compensation and Pay Equity Project and Commissioners Court approved the implementation recommendations. |
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10/16/2025 |
366 |
Court approved a 1-year renewal option with Gallagher Benefit Services Inc. for compensation and pay equity study for Human Resources and Talent for the period of November 1, 2025 - October 31, 2026, at a cost of $1,257,500 (230485), MWBE Contracted Goal: 13.0%, MWBE Current Participation: 52.01% |
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03/27/2025 |
51 |
Gallagher Benefit Services Inc. presented the second quarterly status of the Compensation and Pay Equity Project to Commissioners Court. |
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08/27/2024 |
285 |
Commissioners Court approved the request of an award on the basis of best proposal meeting requirements and that the County Judge execute an agreement with Gallagher Benefit Services Inc. for the Compensation and Pay Equity Project for Human Resources & Risk Management for the period of August 27, 2024 - August 26, 2025 with four (4) one year renewal options (230485), MWDBE Contracted Goal:13%. |
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11/12/2024 |
36 |
Gallagher Benefit Services Inc. presented the first quarterly status of the Compensation and Pay Equity Project to Commissioners Court. |
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04/04/2023 |
378 |
Direct Human Resources and Risk Management to develop a proposal to submit to the appropriate ARPA Focus Area Team to address standardization of employee position classification and compensation. HRRM should also develop a plan with milestones to analyze and identify any pay disparities based on race, ethnicity, and gender, and to remedy any disparities that are found, and return to Commissioners Court to present the plan by June 27, 2023. |
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08/02/2022 |
308 |
Direct the Office of Management and Budget to investigate potential pay disparities and include in the proposed budget going forward adequate resources to address any identified pay disparities. Direct Human Resources and Risk Management to prepare a plan to implement the recommendations of the compensation study. This plan should include, but not be limited to 1.) more standardized job descriptions; 2.) a simpler, fairer pay structure; 3.) a roadmap for implementation, providing sufficient time to departments; 4.) flexibility for high performers and employers with extra duties. This plan will come back to Commissioners Court |
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08/24/2021 |
331 |
Approval of an award and agreement with PayFactors Group, LLC for a compensation study. |
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Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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Anticipated Court Date: 12/11/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 12/13/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Amanda Porter, Director, Compensation, Human Resources and Talent
Attachments (if applicable): Power Point deck for presentation