City recognizes continous employment
Any City of Merritt employee with 45 years of continuous employment will be recognized with a plaque and a $675 gift certificate, according to the newly revised Employee Recognition Policy.
The policy outlines the dollar amount of the gift certificates awarded for each five years of continuous employment starting with $75 for five years of employment and increasing to the 45-year amount.
This policy revision is part of on an ongoing City policy and bylaw review by a committee made up of the mayor, and several councillors and administrative staff.
Besides increasing the dollar amounts awarded for five to 30 years of employment, the revision standardizes awards for 35, 40, and 45 years of employment, which were not previously included in the policy.
According to the report, the policy goal is to provide recognition of long service employees and encourage long term employment.
Merritt city councillors adopted the policy revision at a regular council meeting on Sept. 4.
Coun. Alastair Murdoch — the only one to vote against the revision — said he worried that the City was taking money from the taxpayers and using it against local businesses to recruit their employees.
However, Coun. Dave Baker said that one of the policy’s objectives is to make the City the employer of choice.
“If they stay for five years or for ten years, that’s a pretty good chunk of their career,” he said. “It’s not a great deal of money, but it’s a good way to say ‘thank you.’”
Coun. Clara Norgaard also pointed out that the gift certificate would be from one of Merritt’s local businesses.
The policy specifies that “the choice of the supplier of the gift certificates will be reviewed and selected by administration and will be based upon the availability of the widest possible range of goods.”
Recognition plaques and gift certificates are made by a City representative an the annual Employee Recognition Dinner held in December.
RECOGNITION PROGRAM:
• 5 years — $75
• 10 years — $150
• 15 years — $225
• 20 years — $300
• 25 years — $375
• 30 years — $450
• 35 years — $525
• 40 years — $600
• 45 years — $675
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