2018 - 2019 SCLEAMemorandum of Understanding:   Article 29: Staff Development

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What’s on this Page

• 29.0 Staff Development
• 29.1 Staff Development and Wellness Benefit Allowance Program
  • 29.1.1 Staff Development and Wellness Benefit Allowance – Amounts
• 29.2 Physical Fitness
• 29.3 Non-Grievable

Read Next: Article 30: Grievance Procedure

The County shall retain its authority to determine training needs, resources that can be made available, and the method of payment for training authorized by the County. Nothing in this Section 29 shall preclude the right of an employee to request specific training.

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The Department of Human Resources shall develop, modify, implement and administer administrative/programmatic guidelines to remain in compliance with IRS regulations, based on the County’s Staff Development and Wellness Benefit Allowance Administrative Program Document.

Full-time and part-time (.40 FTE and above) employees in regular allocated positions are eligible for the Staff Development and Wellness Benefit Allowance.

An eligible employee may request reimbursement for allowable expenses, upon approval of the appointing authority, and as defined in the County’s Staff Development and Wellness Allowance Administrative Program Document.

29.1.1 Staff Development and Wellness Benefit Allowance – Amounts

As specified in the chart below, full-time and part-time eligible employees shall be entitled to the following annual benefit amounts each fiscal year:

Effective upon adoption by the Board of the 2016-2018 MOU, for expenditures made on or after the date of adoption, total funds per fiscal year can be used for Staff Development and/or Wellness expenditures. Funds may not be carried over into next fiscal year. Use of funds subject to approval and provisions of the Staff Development Administrative Manual and may be taxable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

The annual Staff Development and Wellness Benefit Allowance may be applied to the purchase of a computer hardware and mobile devices, in accordance with the County’s Staff Development Benefit Allowance Program Administrative Manual. Monthly service charges for internet and mobile communication connections are not reimbursable under this program. The use and approval of all computer hardware and mobile devices is subject to the specific job requirements for each job classification in that department. All computer hardware and mobile devices must be directly job related, must be used for County business a minimum of 50% of their use and requires department head (or senior manager designees) authorization in order to qualify for reimbursement. Use of computer hardware and mobile devices to perform County business is subject to all County administrative and departmental policies related technology use and security. Department Head authorization for the use of this benefit towards reimbursement for computer hardware and mobile devices must be outlined and approved in the employees' annual Professional Development Plan or proposal and will be considered together with other staff development training and education priorities required by the Department Head. Taxability of this benefit allowance is strictly administered under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as outlined in the County’s Staff Development Benefit Allowance Program Administrative Manual.

No employee shall work overtime by using the computer hardware or mobile device before or after regularly scheduled work time or on non-work days unless the work is authorized as described in Section 14.9 of the MOU by the employee’s designated supervisor.

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The total annual maximum Staff Development and Wellness Benefit Allowance allowed under Section 29.1 is available for wellness related taxable expenses. Employee enrollment in any Physical Fitness/Wellness program shall be voluntary.

An eligible employee may request reimbursement for allowable Wellness expenses as defined in the County’s Staff Development and Wellness Benefit Allowance Administrative Program Document.

SCLEA Members’ unused staff development/wellness funds as of July 1 of the new fiscal year, will automatically be donated to the equipment and equipment maintenance fund for the two workout rooms located in the Sheriffs’ Department facilities not to exceed a total fund maximum of $35,000 per workout room site. If additional sites are added, funds for equipment and equipment maintenance for those sites would be set aside as well, up to the total fund maximum of $35,000 per site. If the County approves a workout room for Probation Department employees, SCLEA represented employees in the Probation Department will be authorized to contribute $50 or more from the Staff Development and Wellness benefit to voluntarily share in the costs of equipment and equipment maintenance for the workout room.

29.2.1

A joint labor-management committees oversees the equipment purchase and maintenance, and allocation of funds to each site.

29.2.2

All equipment purchased pursuant to this Section 29.3 becomes the property of the County.

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Article 29 shall not be grievable (see appeal process in County Staff Development Program document).

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