The Oregon state employee., March 01, 1947, Page 9, Image 9

will appreciate the principle that if the
immediate benefits in individual cases
■are somewhat limited a t this time that
all employees will eventually receive
the long term advantages which are
gainable under the pay plan.
Recognized Imperfections
One of the less desirable features of
the installation process was its effect of
equalizing salary rates as between older
and newer employees i n many in­
stances. This resulted because the new
pay levels and minimum rates were
considerably higher than previous scales
for many employments. Funds were not
available to provide blanket readjust­
ments of salaries within thé new ranges.
Again,, the Commission believed th a t
within existing financial limitations the
overall benefits, to employees in higher
ranges more than outweighed this cur­
rent difficulty. Suggestion was made
by the Commission' that older em­
ployees whose work was meritorious
should be given first consideration in
making future salary adjustments.
Facts and Figures
As< ari indication of results, employees
¡should bear in mind that merely to ad­
just to new minimum rates; about 2600
monthly employees were automatically
raised and an additional 1000 employees
on flat hourly rates also received ad­
justments. The total cost of this ad­
justment aloné approximates one and
one quarter million dollars for the next
biennium. Approximately one half mil­
lion dollars additionally was required
to , place the pay plan into effect in
March rather than July. In addition to
thé above figures of Course, are costs
of other merit adjustments which will
continué to be made within the new
ranges.
The formalized procédure outlined
for approval of salary advancements
m ay appear restrictive in many - re­
spects. The necessity for maintaining
necessary controls in connection with
expenditure of some $60,000,000 in
salaries over the next biennium, as well
as, guaranteeing equitable treatment of
7
all of the some 9,000 employees re­
quires that such a system be adhered to.
Long Term Benefits
Under the new scales, beginning sal­
aries for lower classes are higher than
ever before enjoyed by state employees.
Maximum salaries to be reached i n ’a
position w ith conscientious effort and
merit are likewise higher than ever be­
fore and promotional opportunities; for
employees have been greatly broaden­
ed. The plan is one which now, as well
as later, will bring significant benefits
to employees. The attainment of these
and other benefits will always be con­
ditioned however, on the quality and
sincerity of the services which are giv­
en 1Iby employees to the public of this
state.
Retirement Date Set
On April 7 , Mr. Jerry S. Sayler, Ex­
ecutive Secretary of the Public Em­
ployees Retirement System, issued a let­
ter, regarding the effective dates for
retirement of public employees.
"O n December 31, 1946 the Presi­
dent of the United States proclaimed
that hostilities of World W ar II had
ceased. The proclamation" as it affects
retirement of members of the Public
Employees Retirement System is ex­
plained below.
"A ny member of ¡the retirement sys­
tem classified as a police officer or fire­
man, who on July 1, 1947 is 60 years
of age or older,” and
"A ny member of the retirement system
other than a police officer or fireman,
who on July 1, 1947 is 65 years of age
or older may be retired on that date,
or any subsequent date before Decem­
ber 31, 1947, by action of the employ­
er, and m ust be retired on' December
31, 1947 unless prior to that date the
employer and the retirement board have-
m utually, agreed that the retention of
such over-age employees is in the pub­
lic interest.
(Continued on page 8)