ANDERSON – Facing a potential unsecured liability of $2.2 million in accrued sick pay by employees, the Madison County Council wants a change in the policy.
The council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to approve a resolution asking the Madison County commissioners to revise the current sick leave and sick leave conversion policy for employees. Councilmen Mike Gaskill and Clayton Whitson cast the no votes.
County employees receive 12 paid sick days each year and are allowed to bank up to 120 sick days. When an employee retires or leaves employment with the county they are entitled to receive pay for the unused sick days.
The council's Personnel Committee voted to recommend changing the policy for anyone hired after Jan. 1, 2018.
The maximum number of sick days would be reduced to nine. Employees with between 10 and 20 years of employment would be limited to a payment of $2,500 and employees with more than 20 years could receive a maximum of $5,000.
Any change in the policy has to be approved by the county commissioners.
Anderson city employees receive 15 paid sick days, according to Tom Brown, director of human resources. Brown said when employees leave the city payroll they are paid for half of their accumulated unused sick days.
Councilman Anthony Emery, chairman of the Personnel Committee, said paying 12 sick days per year is among the highest in the state.
“The recommended change in the policy would not impact current employees,” he said.
“We want to reduce the $2.2 million unsecured liability and we want to start reducing the amount immediately,” Emery said.
Whitson asked if the Personnel Committee was concerned about how cutting benefits for potential employees would impact retaining employees.
“The new employees would know upfront about the policy,” Emery said. “Most people are interested in the pay and not the number of sick days when seeking a job.”
Sheriff Scott Mellinger said if the policy is changed employees will accrue sick days up to $5,000 and then start using the sick days.
Mellinger said when an employee takes a sick day it increases the overtime budget.
“We have $2.2 million in unsecured debt,” Emery said. “It will continue to grow each year. We have no money for extra spending in the budget.”
Councilman Brent Holland said when the county pays an employee for unused sick days it affects the services the county can provide.
“We need to think about the budget,” he said.
Whitson said the $2.2 million is not a one-time cost and is spread out over a number of years.
He proposed tabling the resolution so council members could meet with the commissioners.
No action was taken on the proposal.
“This is a recommendation,” Emery said of the resolution. “It’s a small step, but it can lead to ideas on how to change the policy.”