Subject:
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Consider amendments to the City's employment policy
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Presented By: City Attorney Brown
Recommendation and Review
This is a revision to the City's employment policy. In accordance with previous direction of Council, staff has met with and received feedback from members of the community, has contacted various other localities, and reviewed employment policies from a variety of businesses and Virginia localities. Based on that research, staff recommends several changes to the City's existing employment policy. These changes include the following general items.
Staff added language to affirmatively state that the City seeks a diverse and inclusive workforce. Other language was added to the policy to ensure that this goal is considered in hiring decisions.
Going forward, internal only job postings will not be used. All openings will be advertised to existing employees and to the general public. A manager or supervisor may apply to the Human Resources Director for a waiver of this requirement if there is a current employee already trained and qualified for the opening.
The policy revisions instruct the Human Resources Department to advertise job openings in a variety of ways to increase the diversity of applicants.
The City may continue to consider an existing employee's service and job performance during the hiring process. City employees and the general public will be notified of job openings at the same time. The City will also give preferential consideration to qualified City employees who have been laid off.
There is a legal issue related to the employment policy which should be brought to Council's attention. The policy list various classes of individuals protected from discrimination. These classes for the most part are found in various federal laws, the Virginia Human Rights Act, or other state laws. These classes include race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condit...
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