County Commissioners Reverse Decision On Sick Time Exemption For Front-Line Workers

Grand Traverse County commissioners Wednesday reversed an earlier decision that had excluded approximately 190 front-line employees from being able to access paid sick time under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Those employees – including law enforcement, corrections, 911 central dispatch, health department, and department of public works staff – will now be able to access those benefits, with some conditions applied. Commissioners Wednesday also passed a resolution stating the county will not put any millages on the ballot this year except during the November election, in order to ensure that the most voters possible can weigh in on any proposals to raise taxes.

Commissioners initially adopted a policy on April 1 that allowed a majority of county employees to receive paid sick time under the FFCRA if they were unable to work for coronavirus-related reasons. At the last minute before the meeting, however, additional language was added to the policy that excluded essential front-line workers from accessing those benefits. Staff added the exemption on the advice of labor counsel to avoid employee shortages in essential front-line roles during the pandemic, according to County Administrator Nate Alger.

Some commissioners indicated that because of audio trouble during the virtual meeting, they did not fully understand the amended version of the motion when they approved it. Commissioner Gordie LaPointe said the new federal acts were “coming at us fast and furious” and that commissioners may have “jumped the gun a bit” in excluding some employees from benefits. That board vote drew a critical response from the Grand Traverse County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, whose members argued they should qualify for the same crisis benefits as other county employees, allowing them to stay home if they have COVID-19 symptoms or need to quarantine or care for a sick family member.

“We know that our position puts us in harm’s way on a daily basis,” the Deputy Sheriff’s Association wrote. “However, during this pandemic, we face dangers that can directly affect our families and loved ones as the potential for exposure to the virus grows exponentially every day. The FFCRA was designed for situations such as ours. Coverage should be provided to Sheriff Department personnel just as it is provided to other county employees who must self-quarantine because of COVID exposure or COVID illness, whether they are considered essential or not.”

LaPointe said he wanted to give “healthcare providers and emergency responders the coverage they need” to be safe during the pandemic, but also worried the FFCRA rules are too “loose.” The act qualifies employees for paid sick time if they are subject to a government quarantine order, if a healthcare provider recommends they quarantine, if they have COVID-19 symptoms and seek a medical diagnosis, if they’re caring for an individual who’s been quarantined, or if they’re caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed due to the pandemic. LaPointe recommended approving a resolution that would qualify front-line workers for paid time off in the first three scenarios, but added a caveat to the last two scenarios regarding care for others. In those cases, LaPointe said, front-line workers should only receive paid time off “if it can be documented there is no other adult in the household that can provide the necessary care during the applicant's work shift, or there is no other practical solution available.”

Commissioners Bryce Hundley and Betsy Coffia wanted to extend benefits to all employees without those conditions, saying they trusted front-line workers to use the policy in situations where it was truly needed. “I can't believe that they're going to abuse this ability to take (time) off and take care of themselves or their families and be paid for it,” said Hundley. “I don't think that they're going to abuse that when they know that their brothers and sisters are on the line as well. I just can't imagine that being a real big problem.” Coffia added that 12 deputies have spouses in front-line healthcare roles and another six have spouses who are also in law enforcement. “That's a pretty big chunk of our force, so I think it's important for us to maybe factor that in when we talk about some assumptions we might have around somebody who can be home and be caring for minor children,” she said.

However, Coffia and Hundley couldn’t get support from other commissioners for their motion, which failed 2-5. After it was rejected, a vote was called on LaPointe’s motion to approve benefits with conditions, including that documentation be provided to prove paid time off is needed in cases of caring for others. The board unanimously approved that motion. Coffia also requested that an agenda item be added to the board’s next meeting to discuss approving bonus or hazard pay for front-line employees, who are working longer hours and taking on greater risks during the pandemic. The Deputy Sheriff’s Association has also asked for that consideration, noting that other governments in Michigan have extended additional pay to first responders. “We do accept that we are held to a higher standard,” the association wrote. “We deserve consideration for hazard pay, having accepted the duties of first responders while working during this pandemic amid the infected public.”

Commissioners Wednesday also unanimously decided not to put any countywide millage proposals on the ballot in May or August this year, only allowing such proposals to appear on the November ballot. That decision could mean a large number of ballot proposals appear in the November election, County Clerk Bonnie Scheele warned, potentially creating a “two-page ballot" and confusing voters. But commissioners felt the move was necessary from both a public safety perspective and to ensure that the most voters possible have the ability to weigh in on any tax increases. A November election – particularly in a presidential election year – experiences significantly higher turnout than May or August. “There’s no way that any of these groups can properly educate the public as to their need for the millage and hold public meetings or anything else, particularly in these times,” said Commissioner Sonny Wheelock, explaining the benefits of waiting until November. Other commissioners agreed, with Hundley saying he wanted to “have as broad as participation as possible” in any millage votes.