REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 9, 2024
FROM
DIANE RUNDLES, Assistant Executive Officer, Human Resources Department
SUBJECT
Title
Side Letter Agreement with California Nurses Association
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve a Side Letter Agreement between San Bernardino County and the California Nurses Association for an extension of the In-House Registry Pilot Program, effective January 13, 2024 through January 10, 2025.
(Presenter: Diane Rundles, Assistant Executive Officer, 387-5570)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the Side Letter Agreement (Agreement) will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The In-House Registry Pilot Program (Program) extension will continue to provide a financial incentive of double time pay to County nurses assigned to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Sheriff) to sign up and work additional shifts above their standard tour of duty.
The rate(s) proposed by this Agreement can have multiple fiscal impacts:
• Some overtime hours that are regularly performed by County nurses will qualify for the Program and therefore be paid at a higher rate, thereby increasing costs above the current obligations. However, these increases will be offset by the reduction of the County’s use of temporary employees employed by an outside temporary staffing agency (Temporary Employees).
• The overall reduction of the use of Temporary Employees will realize a reduction in costs as County nurses are incentivized to work additional shifts, thereby reducing reliance upon Temporary Employees. The savings vary based on the skill level of the Temporary Employees and the seniority of the County nurses. The savings can range from $55 to $94 per hour.
It is the goal of the County, ARMC and the Sheriff to utilize the Program so that it is cost neutral to the County, while providing additional pay for the County nurses.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On January 25, 2022 (Item No. 27), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a Side Letter Agreement with the California Nurses Association (CNA) for the implementation of the Program, for one year, effective January 13, 2022, unless the parties mutually agree to extend the Program. On January 24, 2023 (Item No. 30), the Board approved another Side Letter Agreement for an extension of the Program from January 13, 2023 through January 12, 2024.
The Program has proved to be successful in decreasing staffing shortages, attracting eligible nurses to fill shifts, and decreasing the use of Temporary Employees. The Program was set to sunset on January 12, 2024, however the County would like to extend the Agreement due to the success of the Program and the ongoing nursing labor shortage. ARMC and Sheriff have continued to experience an increased demand to fill shifts. The County engaged in the meet and confer process with CNA regarding the extension of the Program, which resulted in the proposed Agreement.
This Agreement includes:
• An extension of the Program to January 10, 2025, to continue to provide a financial incentive of double time rates, i.e., two times the employee’s base hourly rate, to County nurses assigned to ARMC and the Sheriff’s Department.
• An update to the shift registration process for the Program.
• A change in the maximum compensation for a shift.
• An outlined shift cancellation order for the Program.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 6, 2023; Human Resources (Diane Rundles, Assistant Executive Officer, 387-5570) on December 4, 2023; Finance (Abigail Grant, Administrative Analyst, 387-4603) on December 8, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on December 21, 2023.