02-15-2022 Retention IncentiveMonetary Retention Incentive
City Council
February 15, 2022
Brian Davis, Interim City Administrator
Recent Trends in Police Work Force
Since June 2020 there is a decline across the U.S. in
the law enforcement selection pool.
Since July 2021 there is a decline across Washington
state in the law enforcement selection pool.
Fewer people are willing to subject themselves to the
socio-political rigors and the personal legal risks of
policing.
These factors compound LEOs having daily close -
contact with high risk populations during the COVID
pandemic.
Reasons for Retention Incentive
COVID Impacts on City of Federal Way Work Force:
Special hazards to public employees during COVID pandemic —
higher risk of exposure;
Daily potential exposures create a higher risk of taking COVID
home to loved ones before symptoms occur in the employee;
National and state COVID "stay at home" incentives reduced
available work force in all sectors;
Employee retention has been a consistent (and expensive) issue
for the City; in 2021, separations nearly doubled its historical
average
Increase in wage competition, luring city employees away from
public service for higher wages elsewhere;
Recommendation
For personnel employed on January 1, 2022, the City will pay a
monetary retention incentive in the amount of 2.5% of the employee's
base salary if the employee is still employed with no separation in
service as of December 11 2022.
For personnel employed on January 1, 2023, the City will pay a
monetary retention incentive in the amount of 2.5% of the employee's
base salary if the employee is still employed with no separation in
service as of December 1, 2023.
In order for an employee to be eligible for the monetary incentive
they must actually work (be present in the work place) for a minimum
of 1,250 hours from January 1 to December 1 during the year being
incentivized.
The monetary retention incentive is based solely on the employee's
base salary and does not include overtime, specialty pay, or other
compensation.
Applicable incentive pay will be paid to a qualifying employee in the
last pay period of December of the qualifying year.
Use ARPA Funds
To approve this "stay here" incentivize for all city
employees (including police), the projected total cost is
$773,410 for 2022. For both years the total cost is
$1,546,820, plus the presently unknown wage increase
differentials in 2023.
For police department only, the first -year cost is projected
to be $368,771. (Commissioned police officers: $321,946.
Civilian staff: $46,825.) The two-year cost is $737,542, plus
wage increase differentials in 2023.
Mayor's Recommendation
Option #1
Approve the proposed monetary
retention incentive for all city employees
in 2022 and 2023.
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