Fiscal Impact of Employee Overtime and FMLA Scrutinized by Cook County Board

Cook County  Board of Commissioners Committee Meetings and Board Meeting
January 18, 2017

Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting    Meeting Length - 40 minutes

During this meeting the committee continued with hearings related to the fiscal impact of overtime paid to Cook County employees. Today Karen Yarborough, Recorder of Deeds, outlined her office's experience to date with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and its impact on overtime.

• ​Of the 141 FTEs at the Recorder of Deeds office, a full 23% have received FMLA authorization, and of those, 78% of them were using it for themselves personally, not a family member.
• The result has been that recording of deeds which is the primary function of this office, that used to take 2 days, has fallen to 25 days behind. 
• Because workers are SEIU members, they cannot be replaced by non-union workers, and in order to catch up with work, overtime charges result.
• While some workers rightfully need this unpaid leave (up to 480 hours per calendar year), there are obviously abuses if a full 23% of all workers in this small office are availing themselves of this benefit.
• The Recorder's office has just implemented a rule that employees must first use their paid personal benefits time before invoking FMLA.

Overtime is a countywide issue. Commissioners all agreed abuse of FMLA among Cook County workers is a serious problem resulting in massive overtime requirements.   The Sheriff’s department spoke at the last meeting about the issues there.
The Board of Review cross-trains with the Assessor’s office to allow workers to fill in during absences. Cross-training between departments may help offset the issue in the future but apparently needs to be part of union negotiations. 

Business and Economic Development Committee

Comm. Gainer asked about information requested for a report on Class 8 Economic Incentive Awards.  Susan Campbell, from the Planning and Development Dept. of Cook County stated she  had requested the information from the Assessor’s office more than a month ago, but had not received anything back. Chairman Garcia stated his office had received information from the Assessor’s office, only after filing a FOIA, but it was provided in an unhelpful, incomplete format.  His office was attempting to compile the information into a meaningful report. Comm. Gainer stated she was willing to make a call to see about getting the necessary information so a report could be produced. 

Board of Commissioners Meeting                                                Meeting Length: Only 1 hour 15 minutes!

The Consent Agenda honoring individuals and organizations has been moved to a separate meeting time and it seems to have resulted in a more incisive board meeting.  Now each agenda item presented to the Board for consideration is explained in layman’s language by the commissioner presenting the item before action is taken.  This clarifies the meeting immensely for both observers and commissioners

Significant Topics Discussed and/or Referred to Committee: 

• Lawrence Wilson, Comptroller for Cook County, reported that lower County Care revenue and reduced receipts at the Clerk of the Circuit Court reduced Income for year end 2016.  Likewise the state is behind $42 million in payments for real estate.
• A resolution calling for a Feasibility Study of Cross-rail Chicago was referred to the Business Development Committee.
  
• A resolution asking the Federal Government for money for anti-violence was referred to the Criminal Justice Committee.  Comm. Boykin introduced the resolution but other commissioners worried the County should be careful what it wishes for, that the incoming administration may just want to supply beefed-up policing money, rather than economic development money, that would have longer term better effects in besieged neighborhoods like the West side.  The statistics quoted by Comm. Boykin also referred exclusively to the city of Chicago, and CC commissioners thought it important to add suburban statistics as well. Commissioner Daley and President Preckwinkle added that the county was already pursuing federal grants in a formal matter within each department.
  
• Comm. Gainer asked  John Yonan, Supt., Dept. of Transportation and Highways, to highlight the revenue generating components of a project in the future.
  

Observer - Amy Little