Full-time, permanent employees may request a reduction in their work hours by 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, or 20% through the Voluntary Time Off (VTO) Program as described in the County’s Voluntary Time Off Policy as summarized herein. Employees may apply for the VTO Program at any time during the year. Application forms shall be made available through payroll clerks and the Benefits Office. Approved applications for enrollment received after April 1st of each year will be effective the first pay period in July of that year. Approved applications received prior to April 1st will be effective the pay period following receipt of approved applications in Human Resources Department.
Participating employees shall be considered to be in a full-time pay status and the voluntary reduction in work hours will not affect the following benefits:
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Dental Insurance Coverage
- Basic Life Insurance
- Short Term Disability
- Pay for Work-Out-Of-Class
- Step Increases
- Probationary Period
- Supplemental Life Insurance
There will be no effect on accrual of vacation, sick leave and holidays; however, all regular or normal time taken off during the program for vacation, sick leave, holiday, or compensatory time will be compensated at the reduced hourly rate.
The following benefit areas may be impacted by VTO under the following circumstances:
Long Term Disability: Because the Long Term Disability Plan is based on the worker’s salary, the reduced work hours and the corresponding reduced salary may lower the premiums and the benefits derived.
Retirement: VTO does not impact years of service but may impact calculation of salary for retirement purposes. Workers should contact the Retirement Office for detailed information.
All applications are subject to approval by the applicant’s department head. Applications which are disapproved by the department head, or which are approved for a lesser amount of time than requested will be reviewed by the Human Resources Department Director whose decision is final.