Wednesday, March 3, 2010

State Workers blast proposed merit pay plan

State employees are complaining they are being singled out for unfair treatment under a proposed pay plan that the Civil Service Commission is scheduled to vote on today.


The proposal, which would link pay raises for about 60,000 workers to the attainment of certain job ratings, was redrafted after Gov. Bobby Jindal refused the initial proposal Jan. 12.


Many of the comments complain that the roughly 30,000 unclassified state workers — largely those who are politically appointed — are not being targeted as are classified employees.


Under the proposed plan, classified state government employees who are judged by their supervisors as having performed their work well would be eligible for — but not guaranteed — an annual pay increase, the amount of which would be determined by the level of their performance. Those who are said by their bosses to have “met expectations” would be eligible for a 3 percent annual pay raise; those who “exceed expectations” could get a 4 percent raise and those who rate “outstanding” could receive 5 percent more.


Agency heads would be allowed, under the proposal, to withhold pay raises altogether if that move avoids employee layoffs.

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