Governor's Tools Put Longevity Pay at Risk for Marshfield City Employees

Marshfield city employees' longetivity pay could end. (Marshfield News Herald, 1/18/2012)

Excerpt: Longevity pay, a longtime benefit negotiated for Marshfield city employees through union representation, might disappear as the city works to standardize employee policies to reflect new state laws. 

The policies are subject to approval by the Marshfield City Council, but there isn't unanimous agreement about the changes. 

For years, the city paid employees a percentage increase based on years of employment, said Lara Baehr, city human resources manager. After five years of employment, employees earn an additional $11 per month. After 10 years, it jumps to $22 per month, then $33 per month after 15 years, $44 per month after 20 years and $55 per month after 25 years.

Longevity pay was a bonus for remaining with the city and was part of the employee's contract, said Gordon Earll, District 4 City Council member, during a recent council meeting discussion of employee policy changes.