Previous Story
Austerity won’t affect accrual of leaves
|
Posted on Mar 09 2020
The austerity will have no effect on the accrual of annual and sick leaves of government employees.
In a letter to Sen. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota), CNMI Office of Personnel Management director Isidro K. Seman clarified that the accrual of leave benefits will remain despite the modified work schedule that is set to begin on March 15.
“Since employment status will not change and [the austerity] is essentially temporary in nature, the accrual rates for each employee will remain unchanged, unless by virtue of creditable service earned,” Seman stated.
Seman added that the CNMI Administrative Code is “silent and does not address the issue so that the modified work schedule will have no effect on the accrual of these benefits.”
Under the code, employees who have less than three years of creditable service are to earn an annual leave at the rate of four hours per pay period; those with three but less than six years of creditable service are to earn an annual leave at the rate of six hours per pay period; and employees with six or more years of creditable service are to earn annual leave at the rate of eight hours per pay period.
Further, the code states that sick leave shall accrue to the employee at the rate of four hours per pay period, provided the employee has been in pay status as required by the excepted service employment contract.
This clarification came soon after Santos recommended that government employee benefits not be diminished by the modified work schedule, or “Austerity Friday,” and be accrued as if the employee has worked a full 80 hours per pay period.
“As you know, public employees across the Commonwealth face a harsh reality: an over 20% reduction to their wages for an indefinite period of time. Families on each island are bracing for the full impact of austerity measures, and… it is our duty to soften the blow of these impending cuts,” she said. “Our government employees already face a difficult road ahead; their benefits should not be jeopardized for circumstances beyond their control.”
