A review of the Mendocino County Personnel Department (Personnel Department found that inequities in benefits exist for some employees and that all employees are not covered by the Civil Service System. This report makes recommendations to improve certain personnel policies.

REASON FOR INVESTIGATION

As part of its oversight responsibility, the Grand Jury reviewed the operation and status of the Personnel Department.

PROCEDURES

Information was obtained by interviewing Personnel Department staff, other county employees, a local union representative, and personnel services consultants. Documents including the State Ment System Personnel Manual, applicable California Codes, applicable County Codes, County Personnel Policies, and County Civil Service Rules were reviewed.

FINDINGS

1. The Personnel Department with a staff of five, is well-organized, efficiently-run, and serves approximately 1,400 County employees

2. Equal-opportunity, recruitment, and testing are in compliance with existing regulations.

3. Eligibility lists are kept current and tests for new positions are conducted as required.

4. County Civil Service Rules have recently been completely rewritten to conform to the current needs of the County, a major accomplishment.

5 Mendocino County has two classifications of part-time employees: Permanent part-time' and 'extra help." Some of these employees work full-time for several years. The County codes state the use of part-time employees should be for a short duration: however, there is no specific time-limit spelled out. These employees number approximately 25. but this number varies. Some of the positions were in the process of becoming full-time positions as this review was being conducted.

6. Both permanent part-time and extra-help employees may be employed under similar conditions of employment for forty or more hours per week. However, permanent part-time employees receive pro-rated benefits while extra-help employees do not The disparity in benefits has been addressed by previous Grand Juries, but has never been corrected.

7. Most of the Mendocino County Social Services Department is covered by the State Merit System. All other County departments use the County Civil Service System.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The Civil Service Commission should adopt a clear and concise rule on the period of time personnel are employed as extra help." (See Findings 4 - 7.)

2. The County should pro-rate benefits for extra help' employees. (See Finding 6.

3 All appropriate parties should jointly conduct a feasibility study for a single civil service system for this County. (See Finding 7.)

COMMENTS

The County Personnel Office is to be commended for its outstanding operation and for rewriting the civil service rules.

RESPONSE REQUESTED

1. Mendocino County Personnel Officer (Recommendations 1 - 3).

2. Civil Service Commission (Recommendations 1 - 3).

3. Mendocino County Director of Social Services (Recommendations 1, 3).