Michigan Civil Service Commission OKs new state worker evaluations, state trooper raises

Sarah Lehr
Lansing State Journal
The Capitol Commons Center, home of the Michigan Civil Service Commission, is seen in this LSJ file photo.

LANSING — Michigan's Civil Service Commission approved changes Monday which alter the way state workers are rated for their job performances.

Official reviews are still required annually, though they are not capped at just once a year. To reflect this, the evaluations are now called "performance reviews" rather than "annual reviews."

Additionally, all workers are now able to request a review if their supervisors do not complete the ratings on time. 

State Personnel Director Jan Winters introduced the evaluation changes in a proposal released Oct. 20. Commissioners had been discussing the reforms for months prior to that, according to emails obtained by the Lansing State Journal through the Freedom of Information Act.

Read the approved amendments to rules for state worker evaluations

There is only one substantive difference between the proposed and approved versions of the amendments. Commissioners agreed to reduce the maximum time frame between interim ratings from 12 months to six months.

"Twelve months may be too long to be out in limbo, waiting for some formal update," Gnodtke said, referring to concerns raised during the comment period.

Employees who receive "unsatisfactory" interim ratings are ineligible for reclassification or pay-performance awards until they later receive a "satisfactory" rating.

John Gnodtke, general counsel to the Civil Service Commission, said many of the amendments are minor changes, intended to clean-up language.

"The proposals are mainly organizational and stylistic," he said. 

From left, State Personnel Director Jan Winters and Commissioner Janet McClelland review resolutions at a Michigan Civil Service Commission meeting on Wednesday, December 13, 2017.

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Among other revisions, the amendments more explicitly outline what actions can be grieved by employees.

The commission approved more sweeping changes in September, when it voted 3-1 to limit collective bargaining by state employees.

Michigan employs roughly 50,000 state workers, including more than 30,000 who are covered by collective bargaining agreements.

Also on Monday, the commission gave final approval to a three-year contract with raises for state troopers, effective retroactively on Oct. 1, 2017.

Read the latest contract for Michigan state troopers

Roughly 1,600 members of the Michigan State Police Troopers Association will see 3% base hourly wage increases the first year, 2% base increases the second year and a 1% base plus a 1% lump sum increase the third year.

The starting rate for full-time state troopers will be $22.92 per hour beginning this fiscal year.

Jan Winters, state personnel director, had given interim approval to the contract in October. Nate Johnson, president of Michigan State Police Troopers Association, said 85% of the union's membership ratified the pact.

"I think it's a reasonable agreement," Johnson said. 

Contact Sarah Lehr at (517) 377-1056 or slehr@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahGLehr.