In preparing a budget for FY2015, the Pike County Commission has proposed the updating of the annual leave and vacation time for its employees to reward long-term employees with additional leave.

Harry Sanders, county administrator, Sanders said the commissioners have discussed the changes in the annual/vacation leave policy for some time and have determined that now is the right time to include the changes in the budget.

“The change in the annual leave policy is a way to reward long-term employees,” Sanders said. “They have been around longer and should be able to do more and be more productive because of their experience. These changes will match the state’s vacation time and how it is accrued. It’s just simply giving our more senior employees more vacation time.”

Based on the current annual/vacation leave policy, an employee who has worked for the county for less than 10 years earns four hours of annual/vacation leave time per pay period (every two weeks).

An employee who has worked for the county from 10 to 15 years, earns five hours every pay period and one who has worked for more than 15 years earns six hours per pay period.

Under the proposed changes in the annual/vacation leave policy, employees who have worked for the county for five years or less would earn four hours of vacation time per pay period.

Those employees who have worked five years but less than 10 would earn five hours of vacation time per pay period.

County employees who have worked 10 years but less than 15 would earn six hours per pay period and those who have worked 15 years but less than 20 would earn seven hours per pay period.

Employees who have worked 20 years but less than 25 would earn eight hours of vacation time per pay period and those who have worked for the county 25 years would earn nine hours vacation per pay period.