2023 - 2026 ESC Memorandum of Understanding: Article 7: Staff Development & Wellness

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What’s on this Page

• 7.1 Staff Development & Wellness Benefit Allowance
  • 7.1.1 Staff Development / Wellness Benefit Allowance: Program
• 7.2 Continuing Education Leave
• 7.3 In-Service Training
  • 7.3.1 In-Service Training Reimbursement
  • 7.3.2 In-Service Training Requests
• 7.4 Staff Development / Wellness Benefit Allowance Guidelines

Read Next: Article 8: Leaves of Absence

Each full and part-time employee in the Bargaining Unit shall be entitled to a Staff Development/Wellness Benefit Allowance and may request reimbursement for allowable expenses as defined in the County’s online Staff Development/Wellness Benefit Allowance Program Administrative guidelines.  

7.1.1 Staff Development/Wellness Benefit Allowance – Program

The annual Staff Development / Wellness Benefit Allowance amount will be provided to all full and part-time eligible employees as specified in the following table:

Unused funds may not be carried over into the next fiscal year Use of funds are subject to the County’s Staff Development/Wellness Benefit Allowance Program guidelines and may be taxable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

7.1.2 Additional Staff Development Benefit Allowance – Occupational and Physical Therapists in the Children's Therapy Program

An additional annual Staff Development Benefit Allowance amount will be provided to all full and part-time eligible employees in the Occupational Therapist I/II- Children’s Therapy Program and Physical Therapist I/II- Children’s Therapy Program classifications as specified in the following table:

Unused funds may not be carried over into the next fiscal year. Use of these funds are restricted to continuing education unit requirements and are subject to advance Department of Health Services approval.

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Employees are eligible for Continuing Education Leave subject to the following conditions:

1. Courses taken on County time must be directly related to the employee’s present position, or career advancement within the present County department.
2. Requests for leave must be approved by the employee’s appointing authority. This provision will be applied as consistently as possible and leave shall not unreasonably be denied.
3. Approval for leave will be based, in the judgment of the County, on the needs of the County, the needs of the employee and the availability of adequate resources to cover the absence of the employee.
4.  Time spent by an employee on an approved continuing education leave will be considered as normal time worked for the period of the employee’s absence which falls within the employee’s regular work schedule.
5. Approval of one course does not automatically constitute approval for an entire series unless specifically authorized by the appointing authority. Approval or denial of leave will be provided to employees in writing in a timely manner.

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The County shall make every effort to provide a program of In-Service training that is designed to maintain a high standard of performance and to increase the skills of employees in the bargaining unit.  Training courses to be attended shall have a direct bearing on the work of the employee. Attendance at training courses may be authorized by the Department Head. Decisions by department heads on requests by employees should be based upon the effect the absence of the employee will have on the department’s operations and its ability to continue to provide the services and perform the functions for which it is responsible; and the relationship of the subject of the program, seminar, conference or workshop to the function performed by the employee and the department, and the employee’s professional development.

7.3.1 In-Service Training Reimbursement

Expenditures for travel, meals, lodging, registration and other items may be included as part of the In-Service training line item in each of the department’s budgets. Occasionally, the departmental budget may not permit trips to be paid by the County. The employee may feel that the trip would be of benefit to the employee’s professional development, and therefore, would be willing to pay the expenses if the employee were permitted time off from work at full salary.  In addition, other public or private agencies provide grants that can be used to cover the cost of the training.

7.3.2 In-Service Training Requests

When several employees within a department make requests to attend In-Service training and it is not possible to grant attendance for all those employees who have made such a request, because of the criteria listed in Section 7.3, the Department Head shall establish an attendance list based upon the following order of priority: prior identified training needs; prior attendance at similar courses; and seniority (continuous service).

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The Department of Human Resources shall develop, modify, implement and administer administrative and programmatic guidelines to remain in compliance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines, which are included in the County’s Staff Development/Wellness Benefit guidelines available online.

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