§ 38.040 PAID LEAVE TIME.

   (A)   All full-time employees, after 90 days of service, may take up to 40 hours of paid leave time for any reason during the county's fiscal year (December 1 through November 30) after receiving approval from their supervisor. Time must be taken in no less than one hour increments. This benefit is not cumulative. Employees will be paid for unused time upon resignation provided a two-week notice is given and not terminated.

   (B)   All part-time employees, after 90 days of service, will earn one hour of paid leave time for every 40 hours of time worked. Paid leave time may be used for any reason during the county's fiscal year (December 1 through November 30). This benefit can carry over year to year with a maximum leave of 40 hours in the county's fiscal year. Time must be taken in no less than one hour increments. Any unused earned time will be paid upon resignation.

(Ord. passed 11-28-2011; Res. 23-14, passed 11-28-2023; Res. 24-7, passed 8-22-2024)

§ 38.041 LINE AND STAFF RELATIONS.

   (A)   Decisions affecting a given area should be made by the administrator in charge of the area.

   (B)   All personnel should refer matters requiring administrative action to the administrator in charge of the area.

   (C)   All personnel may have the right to appeal an administrative decision to a higher authority.

   (D)   Whenever possible, each employee should be made responsible to only one immediate supervisor. If this is not possible, the employee is to understand who he or she is responsible to for what functions.

   (E)   Staff personnel should always work through their administrator in carrying out their assigned functions.

(Ord. passed 11-28-2011)

§ 38.042 REPORTING LEAVES REQUIRED OF DEPARTMENT HEADS; EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.

   Department heads shall submit reports to the Executive Administrative Assistant of the County Board for vacation requests, sick leave and personal days. The Executive Administrative Assistant shall report requests for vacation requests, sick leave and personal days to the County Board Chairperson.

(Ord. passed 11-28-2011)

§ 38.043 EYE PROTECTION.

   (A)   (1)   All maintenance and highway personnel will be required to wear safety glasses with side shields at all times during the working day. Custodian personnel will be required to wear safety glasses with side shields when working directly with cleaning chemicals. Each employee shall report to work with their safety glasses.

      (2)   Employees reporting to work without their safety glasses will not be allowed to work and will be docked in pay until they have reported to work with the safety glasses.

      (3)   If breakage occurs while at work, face shields/goggles will be provided and must be worn until replacement lenses may be obtained.

   (B)   The county will provide reimbursement for the purchase of safety glasses with side shields not to exceed $55 every 24 months.

   (C)   Violation of any part of this policy will result in disciplinary action, as outlined in §§ 38.160 and 38.161.

(Ord. passed 11-28-2011)

§ 38.044 COUNTY-OWNED VEHICLES.

   (A)   Employees may not drive vehicles for county business without the prior approval of their supervisor. Before approving a driver, the supervisor must check the employee’s driving record, verify the existence of a valid driver’s license and personal auto liability insurance coverage and make certain that the employee is eligible for coverage under any applicable county insurance.

   (B)   Employees whose jobs require regular driving for business as a condition of employment must be able to meet the driver approval standards of this policy at all times. In addition, employees holding those jobs must inform their supervisors of any changes that may affect their ability to meet the standards of this policy. For example, employees who lose their license must report this to their supervisors. For all other jobs, driving is considered an incidental function of the position.

   (C)   Employees who need transportation in the course of their normal work may be assigned a county vehicle for their use. All other employees needing transportation for county business may use vehicles assigned to their department or those from another department if available. As a last alternative, when no county vehicles are available, employees may use their own vehicles for business purposes, but only with the prior approval of their supervisor.

   (D)   Employees who drive a vehicle on county business must, in addition to meeting the approval requirements above, exercise due diligence to drive safely and follow all traffic laws, to avoid distractions while driving (such as using cellular telephones) and to maintain the security of the vehicle and its contents. Drivers also must make sure that the vehicle meets any county or legal standards for insurance, maintenance and safety. Employees are responsible for any driving infractions or fines that result from their driving and must report them to their supervisors.

   (E)   Employees are not permitted, under any circumstances, to operate a county vehicle or a personal vehicle for county business when any physical or mental impairment causes the employee to be unable to drive safely. This prohibition includes circumstances in which the employee is temporarily unable to operate a vehicle safely or legally because of illness, medication or intoxication.

   (F)   A mileage usage log shall be kept by all departments who use a county vehicle with copies of the log being submitted to the controlling committee monthly.

   (G)   Employees driving on county business may claim reimbursement for parking fees and tolls actually incurred. In addition, employees driving county vehicles may claim reimbursement for gasoline and other expenses directly incurred for business purposes.

   (H)   Employees who use their personal vehicles for approved business purposes will receive a mileage allowance.

   (I)   Employees must report any accident, theft, damage, breakdown or mechanical problem involving a county vehicle or a personal vehicle used on county business to their supervisor and the County Board’s Executive Administrative Assistant regardless of the extent of damage or lack of injuries. These reports must be made as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours after the incident. Employees are expected to cooperate fully with authorities in the event of an accident. However, they should not make any statements other than in reply to questions of investigating officers.

   (J)   Time spent by nonexempt employees (those covered by the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, being 29 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq.) in driving a county or personal vehicle on county business during normal hours is considered hours worked for pay purposes. Commuting time before the start and after the end of the work day is not treated as work time for pay purposes.

(Ord. passed 11-28-2011)