Cumberland County employees could earn up to 16.5% more starting next month. Here's why.
A pay increase of up to 16.5% was unanimously approved by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners at its meeting last week.
Cumberland County staff presented the results of its months-long compensation study at the board's agenda session last Monday.
Dominique Hall, director of human resources for the county, shared the recommendations from the study with the board Oct. 12. County Manager Clarence Grier told the board the ultimate recommendations are to increase employee pay by 7% and make compression adjustments of 5.5% based on years of service. Compression occurs when longer-term or higher-ranked employees make less than or close to the same amount as newer or lower-ranked hires.
Total adjustments could be as high as 12.5%, or 16.5% when accounting for the 4% cost-of-living adjustment the county implemented over the summer, Grier said.
Hall said that the study found that applicants and employees wanted a better work-life balance and higher salaries in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and mass resignations.
“Cumberland County also has had a practice of hiring the majority of new hires at or close to the minimum salary for their position,” she said. “We do not currently have a mechanism to move employees through a pay range over their career and cost-of-living adjustments have not been consistent and not aligned with the market. All of this has combined to adversely impact our ability to attract and retain a skilled and motivated workforce.”
Hall said vacancy rates climbed following the pandemic, reaching a peak of 23% in June 2022. The county’s vacancy rate as of Oct. 1 was 19.94%.
The issue prompted the county to hire McGrath Human Resources Group for the compensation study last year, according to Hall’s presentation. The study included employee questionnaires, meetings with department heads, a market survey and analysis, and staff reviews, the presentation states. Part of that analysis looked at employee salaries from comparable local organizations like Cape Fear Valley Health, as well as six cities and 12 counties in North Carolina, according to the presentation.
Low wages and short tenures
Hall said the study found that 90% of county employees were earning below the average market rate for their positions, and 36% of county employees had less than four years of experience.
“Our tenure analysis shows we are not retaining employees long-term,” she said, noting the average county employee was 46 years old.
According to Hall’s presentation, some of the major salary changes include:
A $4,990 increase per year for all Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office deputies (from $45,760 to $50,750)
An $8,404 increase per year for all social workers with the lowest level of experience (from $41,293 to $49,697)
An $8,690 to $17,690 increase per year for all paralegals, depending on experience level (from $42,310 for all paralegals to between $51,000 and $60,000)
A $1,854 increase per year for all custodians (from $33,096 to $34,950)
Hall said that employees whose salaries were currently at or above the market minimum would not receive a pay-grade increase.
In addition to the pay-grade changes, experienced employees will also see the following compression adjustments, Hall said:
A 1% salary increase for 945 employees with one to five years of experience
A 2.5% salary increase for 320 employees with six to 10 years of experience
A 3.5% salary increase for 228 employees with 11 to 15 years of experience
A 4.5% salary increase for 133 employees with 16 to 19 years of experience
A 5.5% salary increase for 191 employees with 20 years or more of experience
In total, the pay-grade increases and compression adjustments will cost the county $12.3 million annually for currently filled positions or $16 million if all positions become filled, Hall said.
Hall said her department will also pursue improved training and development programs, internships and mentorships.
“Implementing this study is only a piece of the overall puzzle,” she said.
Hall said employees will receive the increases in their Nov. 9 paychecks.
Got a tip for a follow-up on this story? Government watchdog reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com or 910-481-8526.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Some Cumberland County employees to receive pay raises
