Hiring Incentives
Agenda Item 12.E
By Jorge E. Garcia, City Manager
Meeting Date: November 7, 2023
Background
•Vacancies in key areas of the City
•Public Works- Engineering
•Police Department- Police Officer and Dispatcher
•Changes in labor market- created hiring challenges for recruitment
•Vacancies create challenges to existing staff to deliver projects
•October 3, 2023- City Council directed the City Manager bring back a Hiring Incentive Program
Considerations
Pros
•Attract and hire top talent
•Reduce time to hire
•Increase employee retention
•Increase productivity
•Remain competitive in hiring
market
Cons
•Cost
•Potential for abuse
•Unfairness
What are other jurisdictions offering?
Agency
Signing
Bonus Relocation Years Notes
San Luis
Obispo
$16,000 $15,000 3 years Accelerated Vacation Accrual Match (year for year). 40 hours vacation
and sick
Grover
Beach
$11,000 2 years Reloaded vacation of 40 hours and
sick of 96 hours
Santa
Maria
$20,000 $2,500 1 year Preloaded vacation and sick of 80 hours each
Paso
Robles
$20,000 $30,000 3 years Relocation in the form of housing loan
Relocation Assistance
1)Amount
a)Department Head Positions: up to $15,000.00
b)All Other Regular Positions: up to $10,000.00
2)Type of Relocation Assistance
a)Reimbursement: Candidates (job applicants to whom the City intends to offer a position) submit receipts for moving expenses to be reimbursed. Candidates have three months from the date of hire to request reimbursement. Must comply with IRS rules.
b)Security Deposit: City may provide a one-time payment for candidates rental housing security deposit. Candidates have three months from the date of hire to request payment for housing security deposit.
c)Down Payment Assistance: City may provide a one-time wire transfer directly into candidates escrow account for the purchase of a residence. This may require execution of a deed of trust on the property. Candidates have six months from date of hire to request payment for a home down payment wire transfer.
Lump Sum Hiring Incentive
1)Amount
a)Department Head Positions: up to $10,000.00
b)All Other Regular Positions: up to $5,000.00
Conditions of Incentive Program
•Candidates that have been selected from the recruitment process and successfully completed the required background may be offered one or both hiring incentives, based on approval from the City Manager. Any candidate that is offered an incentive will be required to sign a Continued Service Agreement.
•Failure by a candidate to continue service with the City of Pismo Beach due to voluntary resignation or dismissal from the position will result in a need to repay a proportional amount of the incentive(s) received. •Funding for the Hiring Incentive program would be from salary savings