HomeMy WebLinkAboutA- 5 Staff report Temporary Continuation of Benefits and Salary for Military DutyINFORMATIONAL ITEM
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: VICTORIA CROSS, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
VIA: RICK COLE, CITY MANAGER
DATE: MARCH 17, 2003
SUBJECT: TEMPORARY CONTINUATION OF BENEFITS AND SALARY FOR EMPLOYEES CALLED TO MILITARY
DUTY IN SUPPORT OF “OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM”
This information is provided for city council consideration regarding the implementation of a Temporary
Continuation of salary and benefits for city employees called to active duty in connection with the nation’s
response to the terrorist attack on the United States of America – “Operation Enduring Freedom”.
BACKGROUND
In response to the events of September 11, 2001, the President of the United States began calling up military
reservists in anticipation of national military action. Since this action has the possibility of affecting City of Azusa
employees who also serve as military reserves with the United States armed forces, it was requested that the City
review the policy, which provides continuation of benefits and salary for these individuals during their military
assignment.
Currently, the City of Azusa is in compliance with the Federal and State law regarding military leaves. While
current law does guarantee the reinstatement of reservists once their military assignment has been completed, it
only requires that agencies provide those individuals with continued salary for the first 30 days of duty. In
consideration of this potential loss of income, many agencies in the San Gabriel Valley and throughout Southern
California are providing temporary additional paid leave and continuation of benefits for employees who have
been recalled to active duty to defend the United States of America.
Typically, the normal tour of duty to which a reservist may be ordered to serve, without congressional action, is six
(6) months. As such, an employee called to active duty potentially results in a financial hardship for that individual
and their family. To ensure Azusa employees are not adversely affected by being called to active duty to serve
their country, it has been suggested that the City provide a temporary addition of military leave pay along with a
continuation of benefits for employees who are recalled in response to the September Executive Order.
This provision would allow employees who are recalled to be compensated by the City for the difference between
the amount employee would receive from the regular city gross bi-weekly wage (not including overtime) and the
amount the employee receives from their military service including all allowances. The continuation of salary and
benefits to an employee would extend for an additional 150 days beyond the required 30 days under Federal and
State law. This action in total may not exceed 180 days (a total of 6 months). Additionally, the employee’s health,
retirement and leave accruals would be continued for the employee and their family in the manner it would be
provided if the employee was still actively employed by the City.
Since this is a temporary modification to the City’s military leave policy, the salary continuation would only be
provided to those individuals who are called to active duty as a result of the President’s Executive Order specific to
the current military action. And as cited under the City’s Military Leave Policy an employee must be in City
employment for a period of one (1) year, upon being called for military duty.
Lastly, as this is a temporary continuation, if there were other military actions in the future, additional City Council
approval would be needed to extend this provision.
FISCAL IMPACT
It is estimated that the City may experience slight salary saving as the fiscal impact would be the cost of salary and
benefit continuance minus the employee’s military pay. The salary saving could then be utilize to fund or offset
costs to underfill or temporarily fill the position.