The city has made some progress in handling discrimination, harassment and retaliation complaints by city employees, but some investigations still fail to follow basic rules for conducting such inquiries, according to an audit conducted by the City Auditor’s Office. Members of the City Council Audit & Finance Committee heard about the audit, which followed up […]
Austin Human Resources Department
This city department oversees city employees, who number over 12,000 strong.
Posted inCity Hall
Audit finds low pay, telework policy among drags on the city’s worker retention rate
A recent audit by the Office of the City Auditor found the city’s efforts to retain employees are falling short, with compensation, career progression and telework policies standing out as problem areas. With a turnover rate that peaked at 11.77 percent in 2022, the need for more effective and strategic retention policies has become critical. […]
Posted inCity Hall
For one city employee, Facebook posts lead to an impossible process
A city department head who disapproved of her employee’s social media posts about city management has filed a human resources complaint against him, an unusual move that gives her the power to validate her own complaint and field any appeal that might be made in the future. Andrew Rivera has worked for the city of […]
Posted inCity Hall
City to start major push to recruit employees
The city of Austin announced Monday that it would begin a major campaign this week to promote difficult-to-fill jobs. Worker shortages have been particularly noticeable within Austin-Travis County EMS and the police department. According to information provided by Deborah Jennings in the Human Resources Department, the city currently has 16,316 employees, compared to 16,352 in […]
Posted inCity Hall
Offering insurance for fertility treatments could cost city $1 million
Including fertility treatments in the city’s employee insurance plan “would have a significant ongoing fiscal impact” on the benefit plan, according to a memo from acting Human Resources Director Rebecca Kennedy (who took on the role of department head at the end of December when HR chief Joya Hayes went on leave). Kennedy said that […]
Posted inPolice
Chief says city working hard to get more 911 employees
Reporting to City Council Tuesday, Police Chief Joseph Chacon stressed the department’s commitment to returning the number of 911 call takers and police dispatcher staff to normal levels as soon as possible. The city has attempted to address the vacancies, primarily through increasing wages. But headlines about callers being placed on hold during an emergency […]
Posted inBudget
Record $5B budget includes pay increase for city workers – and for Council members
City Council’s $5 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022-’23 includes a pay raise for city workers, including Council members themselves. Council voted to adopt the budget, which includes increasing the minimum wage for city workers to $20 per hour, in a 10-1 vote late Thursday, with only Council Member Mackenzie Kelly voting “no.” Originally, the minimum wage was set […]
Posted inCity Hall
Decision to hike pay to $22/hour will cause future budget deficits
The upcoming wage increases for city staff will cause budget deficits in coming years and force leaders to identify new revenue sources, according to analysis by the Human Resources Department. A memo released last week presents a number of scenarios prompted by City Council’s recent direction to increase the minimum wage for all workers to […]
Posted inBudget
Budget recommendation seeks staffer to address long-awaited veterans affairs needs
City staff members are pushing for City Council to fund a new position in the Office of Civil Rights that would allow the office to handle many needs and responsibilities outlined in years of idled plans for a resource center for veterans and military affairs within city government. A memo released last week from leaders […]
Posted inCity Hall
Compensation study for Council staffers could lead to pay increases
City Council members appear ready to pursue increased salaries for their office staff as an answer to the city’s affordability crisis and the current competitive hiring environment that makes it difficult to retain workers. At last week’s work session, Joya Hayes, director of human resources and civil service, gave an update on a request made […]
Posted inCity Hall
Audit: City failing to hire equal numbers of women
While the city has achieved its overall goal of hiring racial and ethnic minorities in numbers equal to the local population, only 39 percent of Austin’s Municipal Civil Service workforce are women, compared to 50 percent of the Austin-Round Rock area population, according to a report by the Office of the City Auditor. Municipal Civil […]
Posted inCity Hall
After ‘damaging’ diversity training, city won’t use company again for similar workshops
A diversity training described by city of Austin employees as “hurtful” and “emotionally and professionally damaging” has prompted the city to prevent an employee assistance company from doing this type of training for staff again. In August 2019, the Austin Transportation Department required its employees to attend the one-hour diversity and inclusion training. In all, […]