Staff Senate Minutes
April 2, 2003
The Staff Senate had it second meeting of the year on April 2, 2003. Members in attendance were Gaye Calhoun, Very Camp, Charles Honza, Keli Honza, Jason Goodrich, Sarah Jennings, Robert Jones, Essie Moore, Kellye Ogle, Beth Scroggins, Tommy Slaughter, Cledis Stuart, Sarajane Telford, Mark Trout, and David Wingfield. Guests included LaTricia Davis and Tim Schroeder.
President Keli Honza called the meeting to order. A motion was made to approve the minutes from the last meeting. They were approved. The senators then drew lots for years of service. The results were as follows:
One year terms: Two year terms: Three year terms:
Kathy Cole Jason Goodrich Gaye Calhoun
Charles Honza Keli Honza Vera Camp
Robert Jones Sarah Jennings Beth Scroggins
Essie Moore Kellye Ogle Houston Taylor
Cledis Stuart Peggy Walters Sarajane Telford
David Wingfield Tommy Slaughter Mark Trout
Roger Giles then was asked to explain a number of leave issues. The first one was regarding the maternity leave policy. He explained that one could take leave with or without pay. The State has implemented a policy where one can use all or part of their sick leave. If they choose to use all of their sick leave for the year, then sick leave would be taken later in the year without pay. He also mentioned that a husband has the same rights if involved in the initial care of the child.
He then explained the holiday leave policy. There are currently eleven paid holidays a year. Those include New Years, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after, Memorial Day, George Washington’s birthday, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King’s birthday, and the employee’s birthday. He mentioned that those days could be changed if enough people wanted it or a worthwhile reason was given.
A recommendation was made to look at the possibility of flexibility in the four-day workweek regarding the thirty-minute lunch break. Would it be feasible for some to take an hour lunch and work until 6:00 p.m. in the evening rather than the usual 5:30 p.m? There have been many complaints about only having thirty minutes at noon. President Honza asked that the Senate talk to co-workers about their views on this issue.
