Article IX - Miscellaneous Benefits

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS BENEFITS

SECTION 1. A. Shift Differential - The 10% night differential shall be extended to all County employees whose normal schedule of work hours are assigned in the second or third shifts, and covers all employees who are working the above shift and not receiving the same at the present time.

B. Social Welfare Examiner Differential - Any differential must comparably impact with Caseworkers in Child Protective Unit. $500.00 annual differential for both title assignments.

Effective January 1, 1999, Adult Protective Services Caseworkers shall receive $500.00 annual differential. The parties acknowledge that six (6) employees are affected.

SECTION 2. The County agrees that employees will be reimbursed at Internal Revenue Service mileage subsistence for driving their own vehicles on County business.

SECTION 3. A. The County agrees to provide coveralls (pants and shirts) to maintenance personnel of the Department of Highways and Bridges, the Department of Buildings and Grounds and the Ulster County Community College at no cost; the Department Head shall determine the number of uniforms.

The Labor/Management Committee will be the forum to discuss problems in the administration of this program.

B. The annual allowance for health personnel covered hereunder who are legally required to wear uniforms on the job shall be increased to $200.00 effective January 1, 2000.

Effective January 1, 2002, all security personnel required to wear uniforms will receive $400.00 annually in two payments of $200.00 (January 1^st and July 1^st of each year).

C. Laundry personnel in the Golden Hill Health Care Center shall be furnished coveralls at no cost to the employees.

D. OSHA Safety Shoes must be worn by designated employees. The County will provide an annual safety shoe allowance, which will be increased to $100.00, effective January 1, 2002, for maintenance/ highway titles and automotive mechanics (excluding housekeeping/ cleaning personnel) in the Department of Highways and Bridges, Department of Buildings and Grounds, Department of Rural Transportation, Purchasing Department, Golden Hill Health Care Center and Ulster County Community College. The safety shoe must meet OSHA requirements; the Safety Officer will provide a brand name and style number list of acceptable safety shoes and outlets where obtainable.

E. Bus Drivers: Nylon shells and hats will be provided plus one pair of rain pants.

SECTION 4. Educational leaves of absence of not more than one year shall be granted without loss of previously earned salary, fringe benefits and seniority rights, at no cost to the County and subject to the approval of the Legislature.

SECTION 5. Except as provided in Section 6, and where authorized by the Department Head, effective January 1, 2002, the maximum reimbursable daily meal allowance for employees traveling on approved County business shall be as follows:

Breakfast--------$ 6.00 Lunch------------$ 9.00

Dinner- ------- -$15.00

If traveling out of Ulster County for an overnight conference a $30.00 meal allowance, per diem without receipts, will be provided subject to departure and arrival times.

- Food locker for Fire Control for unexpected second shift

- Supervisor must maintain food locker

SECTION 6. Effective January 1, 2002, all employees in the Highway Department who work four hours beyond their regular work shift shall receive a meal allowance of $8.00 and shall receive an additional allowance of $8.00 for each additional four hours of work.

The employee(s) shall receive the meal allowance through the use of a voucher supplied by the employer to such employee(s), payable after two weeks of submission of each voucher.

SECTION 7. The employer shall continue to provide coffee breaks for all employees as in the past.

SECTION 8. All full-time and part-time employees required by the County, or where required by law, to attend in-service training programs or workshops during working hours shall be granted approved leave with pay.

SECTION 9. Highway Department - The County will provide safety goggles for any Highway Department employee who must engage in work activities which present a potential hazard to his/her eyes.

SECTION 10. The County shall provide alternate weekends off for regular full-time employees of Community Corrections, Fire Control/911 and Golden Hill Health Care Center.

SECTION 11. Benefits under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) shall be provided pursuant to the procedures set. forth in Appendix A. (Family and Medical Leave of Absence Policy and related forms are available through the Personnel Department (Refer Appendix A).

SECTION 12. When County departments are closed and/or employees are directed to leave work as a result of a state of emergency declared by the Chair of the Legislature, or as a result of an unsafe condition as determined by the Chair of the Legislature, employees shall be released from work without charge to accruals. Employees who were not scheduled to work or who were required to work shall receive no additional compensation, including compensatory time. This shall not apply to employees who are required to work overtime, including the Department of Highways and Bridges, Golden Hill Health Care Center, E-911 or Community Corrections.