Owensboro Municipal Utilities employees will see a three percent wage increase for the fiscal year 2021.
“Every year we do a general wage evaluation and compare ourselves to other utilities and other like entities to determine how we should budget for the upcoming year,” said Sonya Dixon, OMU manager of public relations and communications.
Consulting firm The Johanson Group conducted a compensation and benefits study and recommended a 3.1 percent general wage increase in order for OMU to stack up with other markets.
According to data from OMU, employees have consistently seen raises since 2018.
1.75 percent in 2018
2.75 percent in 2019
3 percent in 2020
“This year, after looking at that data, we made the recommendation to the commission that we budget for a 3.0 wage increase for OMU employees and the commission approved (it),” Dixon said, which will be effective June 1 for fiscal year 2021.
The budget impact of the total for the recommended adjustments will not affect electric rates, according to OMU.
OMU will also be altering its employee sick leave policy and guidelines in response to COVID-19.
“It outlines additional sick leave that will be provided to those that have been exposed to or suffer from the coronavirus,” Dixon said. “What we’re trying to do is to be responsive to the need of our employees and the need of our community.”
Employees who have been diagnosed with or have been exposed to the virus can get paid sick leave for up to 80 hours within a period of 14 days through May 31.
Dixon said this is separate from OMU’s normal paid sick leave time. OMU is also considering moving its next regular meeting on April 15 to online.
“We’re taking the Coronavirus very seriously and working to make sure that our employees and the community are safe,” Dixon said. “Like everyone, we’re trying to refine these sorts of things.”
