Board Policy 501 • Employer-Employee Relations

Board Policy No. 501

Title: Employer-Employee Relations

Purpose: To define the working relationship between the cooperative and its employees as it relates to goals, duties, responsibilities and rights of each party.

Scope: This policy applies to all employees unless it specifically conflicts with the provisions of federal or state laws and/or regulations. Nothing in the Personnel Policy Manual should be construed as altering the Employment-At-Will relationship or as creating an express or implied contract or promise concerning the policies or practices that the cooperative has implemented or will implement in the future.

Policy:

It is the policy of West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. to promote and maintain an employee-oriented workforce dedicated to providing quality of service to all members through fair and consistent personnel policies, procedures and practices.

The cooperative’s responsibility will be to:

1. Implement and maintain fair and effective personnel policies and practices and consistent with applicable statutory requirements.

2. Recruit and employ qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, color, creed, veteran or disabled veteran status, handicap, sex, age or national origin in conformance with applicable federal and state equal opportunity status.

3. Establish and adjust salaries to reflect an individual’s performance and level of responsibility and to adhere to established compensation structure and guidelines.

4. Provide and effectively administer an employee benefits plan in a uniform manner.

5. Establish internal and external training program guidelines and define responsibility for training programs.

6. Define and schedule regular, assigned working hours for all employees, exempt and non-exempt.

7. Encourage the communication of employee suggestions that may be of significant mutual benefit to the employees and to the cooperative.

8. Establish procedures for effective supervisor and employee communication and interaction.

9. Create processes for employees to discuss business-related concerns or problems without fear of retaliation or loss of employment.

10. Ensure the effective operation of the business in safe, healthy and secure working conditions.

11. Strive to achieve the highest possible standard of business ethics by communicating the legal standards and restrictions that apply to all assigned duties.

12. Effectively hire, supervise, train and discipline employees in a fair, uniform and equitable basis which is consistent with policies, procedures, the union contract and applicable state and federal legal requirements.

13. Communicate working hours and assigned duties to each subordinate employee in conformance with the cooperative’s requirements and established policies and guidelines.

14. Transfer and/or promote employees in accordance with the union contract and applicable policies and procedures.

15. Evaluate and maintain labor and operational requirements to effectively meet the objectives and quality standards of the cooperative.

16. Manage all functions in compliance with operational requirements, policies, procedures and statutory guidelines.

Employees of the cooperative will be responsible for:

1. Performing assigned duties in a satisfactory manner.

2. Maintaining an acceptable level of punctuality and attendance.

3. Treating fellow employees with mutual respect and fostering a productive workplace free of harassment, intimidation or any other form of discrimination.

4. Adhering to the policies, safety standards and procedures adopted and maintained by the cooperative.

5. Each employee will follow this policy on a daily basis.

Exceptions:

There will be no exceptions to this policy without the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Responsibility:

Implementation of this policy shall be the responsibility of the Executive Vice President and CEO and/or his designated representative.