The updated Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual for 2023 is now posted on GOOD WORKS.

We have made several changes to the manual this year following a full legal review of the entire manual, the updating of current policies and the incorporation of additional policies.

Twelve new policies have been added, including Bereavement Leave, Shift Differentials and Electronic Communications, to name a few.

Nine policies have been updated, with most of the significant changes related to Jury Duty, Paid Time Off and Volunteer Time Off.

As always, if you have questions related to clarity, understanding or enforcement of CHS/CHF policies please reach out to your supervisors, program leadership or the HR team.

Summary Highlights of Policy Changes 2023

New Policy! Bereavement Leave

The objective is to support full-time employees in the event that a loved one passes away.

New Policy! Communicable Disease
The purpose of the policy is to establish standard practices and procedures for CHS/CHF staff to report communicable diseases.

Updated Policy! Conditions of Employment
Annual criminal background checks will be conducted for all Residential Treatment and Education staff. Additional screenings have been established for other programs and non-direct care staff specific to each respective department.

New Policy! Disability Accommodation

It is the policy of Children’s Home Society to comply with all federal and state laws concerning the employment of individuals with disabilities.

New Policy! Education Loan Assistance

Previously a program and now an official policy, Education Loan Assistance provide all full-time and scheduled part-time employees with direct financial assistance in repaying education loan debt.

New Policy! Electronic Communication
The purpose of this policy is to explain an employee’s Electronic Communication rights and responsibilities.

Updated Policy! Employee Grievance
The intent of the update is that CHS will respond to any grievance made by an employee as quickly and directly as possible.

Updated Policy! Jury Duty

Employees with Jury Duty no longer need to provide documentation of jury pay.

New Policy! Lactation in the Workplace
This policy provides employees who have chosen to breastfeed a place to pump at work.

Updated Policy! Non-clinical Emergency On-Call Pay, formerly known as Emergency Call Back/On-Call Work

On-call pay allows for extra compensation for employees who respond to emergency situations via telephone/computer, or on site, outside of regularly scheduled hours.

Deleted Policy! Pay Advances

Employees will no longer be allowed pay advances in emergency situations.

New Policy! Clinical On-Call Pay

On-call pay allows for extra compensation to employees who take “nursing on-call” or “restraint on-call” duties outside of regularly scheduled hours.

Updated Policy! Paid Time Off
Non-exempt employees may take PTO in 30-minute increments.

Updated Policy! Performance Reviews

Any employee whose evaluation in the final quarter of the fiscal year reflects below-acceptable performance standards may not be eligible for a merit salary increase.

New Policy! Personal Leave of Absence
For employees who require time off in addition to other types of leave, CHS/CHF will consider an unpaid Personal Leave of Absence.

New Policy! Progressive Discipline
The Progressive Discipline policy provides a structured corrective action process to improve and prevent a recurrence of undesirable employee behavior and performance issues.

New Policy! Shift Differential Pay

The Shift Differential allows for extra compensation to all non-exempt employees who are scheduled on a regular, rotating or sporadic basis to work during evenings, overnight and weekend shifts. This includes relief staff.

Updated Policy! Timekeeping

This policy stipulates that work time is calculated based upon actual punch- in and punch-out times.

New Policy! Tuition Reimbursement Program

Previously a program and now an official policy, it provides all full-time and scheduled part-time employees, regardless of program or department, with tuition reimbursement.

New Policy! USERRA, formerly Military Leave Policy
This policy provides a means for an employee to be absent from work for individual Uniformed Services duty or training.

Updated Policy! VTO

VTO is to be used as a replacement for your regularly scheduled shift.