LMC victory: Changes to scheduling and time off requests
Last week, your OCEA workplace leaders and staff representatives met with management for the Animal Care Labor Management Committee meeting, and we wanted to report some progress made on two key issues: Unfairness in the scheduling process and unnecessary delays in granting time off.
Scheduling
OCEA member leaders shared concerns with management about schedule assignments being based more on favoritism and even retaliation than business needs. After discussion and input from your coworkers, OCAC management agreed to add more transparency and communication in the scheduling process. Effective immediately, management will track who receives their 1st or 2nd choice during each rotation and use this information in subsequent rotations. This will allow us to analyze their scheduling practices to ensure that employee schedules are more fairly allocated while allowing them flexibility in assigning schedules based on their business needs.
Requesting Time Off
Managers received plenty of input and advocacy from OCEA members regarding time-off requests. The current practice requiring field services workers to give 14-days notice for time-off is not flexible enough to accommodate actual life circumstances and is not authorized by the MOU. After further discussion, management agreed to stop the practice of requiring 14-day notice and instead are recommending that for coverage purposes, employees give as much notice as possible to minimize the impact to others. We will keep you updated as to how the changes are being administered. But in the meantime, please notify us immediately if you have any trouble scheduling your time off.
Participation by OCEA members in the monthly LMC meeting is one of the protections offered under your MOU to raise and fight for important workplace issues. It is an opportunity for OCEA represented members and stewards to speak to high level officials within the department about important issues. At last week’s meeting attendees included OCCR Deputy Director Cymantha Atkinson, OCCR’s newly appointed Human Resources manager Colette Farnes, Director of Compliance Thea Bullock, and OC Animal Care management representatives Kris Watson and Sean Fulton.
Standing together, your OCEA workplace leaders and staff speak with a much stronger voice. The next LMC meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 11 in the Squad Room. If you have questions or additional information to share or are interested in participating in the LMC process, please contact us, Veronica or Saliem at vrodarte@oceamember.org or saregaye@oceamember.org.
It’s a privilege to stand shoulder to shoulder with you at Animal Care and we want to thank you for the great work you do every day to keep Orange County safe.
Publication Date: September 20, 2017