Department: County Library
Department Head/Elected Official: Edward Melton, Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request for approval of an incentive pay policy to use surplus labor budget funds and identified grant funds to pay staff for certification achievement, special job assignments, or grant program involvement effective upon adoption through April 2025.
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Background and Discussion:
Harris County Public Library (HCPL) offers a wide range of free programming across its 26 branches, using library staff to provide education and support to Harris County residents. Some programs require specialized skills or certifications that are critical to enhancing the Library's service delivery. Examples include the Family Place Library, ESL (English as a Second Language), Citizenship Certification, Career Online High School and College and Career Support, and Passport Agents, among others.
HCPL’s incentive pay policy provides structured compensation to employees who meet specific criteria. Employees qualify for incentive pay if they hold certifications or perform special job assignments that exceed the minimum requirements of their position. This applies to both grant-funded and general positions. To be eligible, employees must demonstrate proficiency in specialized skills that are essential for performing their duties or contribute significantly to the department’s overall service.
Expected Impact:
The incentive pay program is expected to boost employee motivation and retention by rewarding staff for acquiring specialized skills and certifications. This leads to improved service quality, as employees are incentivized to develop expertise in areas like ESL instruction, citizenship certification, and career support. In turn, the library can deliver more effective programs, enhancing community engagement and access to essential services. Additionally, the policy helps attract and retain talent, ensuring the library maintains a skilled workforce to meet the evolving needs of Harris County residents.
Alternative Options:
Incentives help compensate staff for expertise in areas such as ESL instruction, citizenship certification, and career support. This recognition boosts employee morale and retention while improving the quality of programs available to Harris County residents, ensuring they receive valuable services from a skilled and motivated workforce. Ultimately, this initiative reinforces HCPL's commitment to enriching lives and strengthening communities. Discontinuing incentives and allowances would significantly impact employee morale, engagement, retention rates, and productivity.
Alignment with Goal(s):
_ Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
X_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Location: Harris County
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Anticipated Court Date: October 8, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date):
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department:
Lori Remington, Division Director of Human Resources
Daisy Torres, Division Director of Financial Services
Attachments (if applicable):
HCPL Incentive Pay Policy