Employee Handbook

for all classes of positions, exempt or non-exempt status, and a designation of the standard hours in the work week for each position.

ADMINISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE

The City Manager shall be responsible for the administration and maintenance of the pay plan. All employees covered by the pay plan shall be paid at a rate listed within the pay range established for the respective position classification, except for employees in trainee status or employees whose existing salaries are above the established maximum rate following transition to a new pay plan.

The pay plan is intended to provide equitable compensation for all positions, reflecting differences in the duties and responsibilities, the comparable rates of pay for positions in private and public employment in the area, changes in the cost of living, the financial conditions of the City, and other factors. To this end, from time to time the City Manager shall make comparative studies of all factors affecting the level of pay ranges and will recommend to the City Council such changes in pay ranges as appear to be pertinent. Such assignments will be made by increasing or decreasing the assigned pay grade for the class and adjusting the rate of pay for employees in the class when the action is approved by the City Council.

STARTING SALARIES

All persons employed in positions approved in the position classification plan shall be employed at the minimum pay for the classification in which they are employed. The City Manager may approve the employment of exceptionally well-qualified applicants above the minimum of the established pay range.

TRAINEE DESIGNATION AND PROVISIONS

Applicants being considered for employment or City employees who do not meet all of the requirements for the position for which they are being considered may be hired, promoted, demoted, or transferred with the approval of the City Manager to a "trainee" status. In such cases, a plan for training, including a time schedule, must be prepared by the Department Head and approved by the City Manager. "Trainee" salaries may be no more than two grades below the minimum pay established for the position for which the person is being trained. A new employee designated as trainee shall be regarded as an introductory employee.

If the training is not successfully completed as planned, the trainee shall be transferred, demoted, or dismissed. If the training is successfully completed, the employee shall be paid at least at the minimum rate established for the position for which the employee was trained.

SALARY EFFECT OF PROMOTIONS, DEMOTIONS, TRANSFERS, AND RECLASSIFICATIONS

Promotions. When an employee is promoted, the employee's pay shall normally be advanced to the minimum level of the new position, or to a pay that provides an increase of approximately 4% over the employee's pay before the promotion, provided, however, that the new pay may not exceed the maximum rate of the new pay range. The purpose of the promotion pay increase is to recognize and compensate the employee for taking on increased responsibility.

Demotions. When an employee is demoted to a position for which they are qualified, the pay shall be set at the rate in the lower pay range that provides at least a 4% decrease in pay or to the maximum of the new range, if action is not for disciplinary action. If the demotion is for disciplinary action, the pay shall be decreased at least approximately 8%, or to the maximum of the new range.