MAHONING COUNTY Treasurer contract renews incentives

The employee contribution has been doubled.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- What began as an experiment in a labor contract three years ago has become a way of doing business for employees in the Mahoning County treasurer's office.
Workers there approved a three-year contract in 2001 in which they were to receive an annual bonus based on their job performance. At the time, it was the first such contract of its kind among county offices.
Connie Pierce, county human resources director, said no other county offices have adopted such a contract.
"It was unusual and, actually, innovative," said Treasurer John Reardon.
Employees and county commissioners recently approved a new three-year contract that includes the same incentive clause, but this time they've upped the ante.
The first contract called for 1.5 percent of each employee's gross wages to be set aside and put into a bonus pool. At the end of each year, the employees were evaluated and bonuses awarded based on their job performance. Those who were rated the highest got the highest bonuses, Reardon said.
"It's been a mixed bag" of employee reaction, he said. "A system like this will always be embraced more by some employees than others."
Adding to the bonus pool
Under the new contract, which was approved by commissioners last week, 3 percent of each employee's gross wages will be contributed to the pool, making for higher bonuses at the end of the year.
Employees also will get a 1.5 percent increase in their base wage in 2005 and 2006, Reardon said. Wages currently range from $11.82 per hour to $18.06 per hour.
The new contract also calls for a 1.5 percent raise this year, but Reardon said they won't actually get it in their checks. Instead, it will go into the pool. That, coupled with the original 1.5 percent, will make up the new 3 percent contribution.
Reardon said all employees get a bonus at the end of the year, although they might not get back as much as they put in during the year. He said the goal is to create a competitive environment in which employees are motivated to do their best at all times.
"Some employees are getting bigger bonuses than others -- that is a reality," Reardon said. "But our intent is to reward the top performers. That's how we do business in this office and it's not going away."
Bonus amounts are determined by Reardon and supervisory staff.
bjackson@vindy.com