Louisiana Senate Bill SR121

Louisiana 2016 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/11/16
• Passed: 5/12/16

Caption

To urge and request the governor to reconsider pay raise freezes.

Impact

The implications of SR121 could affect state laws regarding employee compensation and incentives within the public sector. The legislative intent is to address the welfare of state employees by advocating for their rights to receive performance pay adjustments, which have been notably absent for a significant duration. The resolution serves as a formal request, signaling that improved financial conditions or alternative funding mechanisms should be considered to support the workforce financial health.

Summary

Senate Resolution 121 calls upon the governor of Louisiana to reconsider the proposal to suspend annual performance adjustments for nearly 40,000 classified employees in the state's workforce for the Fiscal Year 2016-2017. The proposal originates from concerns about the state's financial situation, with the governor indicating that the state could not afford these adjustments. The resolution highlights that previous years have also seen minimal performance adjustments granted to employees and emphasizes the growing concerns regarding morale and workload impacts due to the layoffs experienced in recent years.

Sentiment

The sentiment towards this resolution appears to be one of advocacy for state employees and an argument for fair treatment in terms of compensation. While the resolution reflects a push against the suspension of pay raises, the general atmosphere in discussions suggests a divide between fiscal conservatism and employee welfare. Supporters likely view it as a necessary appeal to ensure that dedicated state workers are not further burdened, while opponents may focus on the need to maintain fiscal austerity.

Contention

One notable point of contention raised in the resolution is related to the history of minimal performance adjustments and the overall turnover rate of classified employees, which has exceeded seventeen percent in several recent years. This raises questions about employee retention and the capacity of state agencies to maintain productivity with an overburdened workforce. The resolution urges consideration of alternative options before completely ceasing performance adjustments, suggesting that further legislative discussions could potentially address underlying budgetary issues.