(PITTSBURGH) - Today, County Executive Sara Innamorato held her first press conference to announce wage increases and other employment policy and benefits updates for county employees. Building off promises she made in yesterday’s inauguration speech to treat all county workers with dignity and respect, and to identify improvements that will make the county an excellent place to work, County Executive Innamorato announced the following changes today:
- In 2024, all full-time county workers will at least be at $18.00 dollars an hour. The wage will increase annually until at least $22.00 an hour.
- For part time workers, there will be an immediate $3.00 an hour base increase so instead of a base of $12.00 an hour, part time workers will make at least $15.00 an hour.
- Every county employee will now start with three weeks of vacation annually. After five years of service it will increase to four weeks. After a decade of service, employees gain an additional day per year until the reach the maximum of five weeks of annual vacation time.
- The county is ending the previous policy of a waiting period before an employee could take sick days or parental leave. Sick time and parental leave will now be available to employees immediately upon their start date.
- The county is ending the blanket policy of pre-employment drug testing except for employees where it is required by law or regulation.
In addition to the policies mentioned above which can take effect immediately, the County Executive also announced intentions to review salary bands, to remove burdensome degree requirements that act as a barrier to employment, and to explore additional benefits such as education credits and reimbursements.
County Executive Innamorato said: “We want the county to be a place that an early career professional can find opportunity and know that they will be supported in their professional growth. I want to remind people that the county is open for business and we’re hiring at all levels. I hope this announcement of higher wages, more vacation time, and policies that enforce a culture of workplace dignity and respect will inspire both our current county workers and encourage potential county employees to come take a look at what we have to offer.”
All policies announced today apply to county employees under the County Executive’s purview. Employees who are part of a union will have the opportunity to address higher wages and policy changes in their next collective bargain agreements.