CLEARFIELD – To encourage people to continue working and show their appreciation, the Clearfield County Commissioners on Wednesday approved a retention bonus plan for union employees.
Specifically, the commissioners approved agreements with Teamsters Local No. 205 and Clearfield County Association of Professional Employees (Probation) regarding a retention bonus.
A retention bonus is a reward outside of an employee’s regular salary that is offered as an incentive to keep a key employee working during a particularly crucial time.
The bonus totaling $1,000 will be paid in two installments of $500 with the last pay in January and July of 2022, according to Commissioner John A. Sobel, board chairman.
Bonuses are contingent upon employment with the county at the time of payment, he said. For example, if someone is employed through January, he/she will receive the first bonus payment.
But if they would subsequently leave employment with the county for any reason before the last pay in July, they will not receive the second bonus payment.
The county will use American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding to pay out its retention bonuses, according to Commissioners Sobel and Dave Glass.
“It’s been a really tough two years [with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic],” commented Glass, “and this is just a small token of our appreciation.
“We can’t shut down the jail, we can’t shut down 911 and we can’t shut down the courthouse forever. We did for a very brief time, but everybody here has to come to work.
“For a lot of those jobs, there has been no getting around it. They’ve been working through everything, so this is what we can do and hope it indicates our appreciation of our employees.”
Also, on Wednesday, the commissioners approved an agreement with the Clearfield County Association of Professional Employees (Probation) regarding health insurance premiums.
The agreement keeps the same terms and conditions that existed at the end of 2021 through the end of February as negotiations continue with the collective bargaining unit, Sobel stated.
“It’s a good faith move … to give a little bit more room for negotiations without having health insurance increases slam anyone amidst negotiations,” Glass explained.
The salary board also approved raises for employees in the non-union salaried group at $800 for full-time salaried positions and $400 for part-time salaried positions, effective Jan. 1.