The Johnson City Power Board’s board of directors on Tuesday approved a number of changes to the utility’s employee handbook, including an effort to provide vacation time for newly-hired employees.
“During the first year that we hire someone, they really don’t get any vacation that first year. You talk about a recruiting nightmare when you’re trying to bring somebody in, so one of the things we wanted to do during that first year was go ahead and give someone vacation time based on when they’re hired,” Power Board CEO Jeff Dykes said during the meeting of the utility’s board of directors.
Each new full-time employee will get a number of vacation days based on when they were added to the payroll.
For example, an employee added to the payroll between April 1-June 30 will receive 7.5 days of paid vacation time, while someone who is added to the payroll between Oct. 1-Dec. 31 will receive 2.5 days of paid vacation time.
Another change to the handbook pertains to the utility’s employee educational assistance program.
Power Board employees must agree to remain with the utility for a minimum of three years following the completion of courses.
If the employee leaves the utility during that time period, the employee will be required to reimburse the Power Board the full or pro-rated amount for the courses.
In other business, the board approved a resolution for board member Wendell Messimer, who is stepping down from his position after serving for seven years and four months with the Power Board.
During his time on the board, Messimer served on the Economic Development Board, Insurance Committee, Professional Services Committee and as chairman of the Land Use Committee and Service Extension Committee. He also served as a legislative liaison and as vice chairman and chairman of the utility’s board of directors.
County Commissioner Gerald Sparks will take Messimer’s place on the board.
The board also approved a retirement resolution for Robert White, who is leaving his post as the utility’s chief public relations officer on May 10 to run the Russellville (Ky.) Electric Plant Board.