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Merit increases to appear on Feb. 13 checks

Most full-time ITD employees will find their paychecks a little heavier – or their direct deposit account a little healthier – on Feb. 13, thanks to a new merit increase program that went into effect this week.

Breaking from recent practices, the transportation board voted in December to allocate approximately $2 million in salary savings from 2003 into merit increases, recognizing that ITD employees have labored more than two years without a raise.

The merit increases, ranging from 1 to 4 percent, went into effect this pay period, which began Sunday. Sue Simmons, Administrative Services, told the transportation board Wednesday that 1,804 employees received increases ranging from 1 to 4 percent, based on performance reviews. The minimum any employee received, she said, was 25 cents per hour.

In all, 1,759 permanent full-time employees and 45 temporary or part-time employees received the increases. Part-time employees who have worked for ITD at least two years were included in the merit increase package.


Defensive driving class offered at District 3

Employee Safety will present a defensive driving course that leads to certification (or recertification) for ITD drivers. Employees who operate state vehicles are required to take a defensive driving class every three years.

This class will be Wednesday (Feb. 4) from 8 a.m. to noon in the District 3 conference room at the Chinden Boulevard location.

ITD employees interested in participating should complete an ITD-0733 Nomination for In-service Training form and send it to Human Resource Development. For more information, contact Michelle Rowland at 334-8570.


State health insurance information on the web

Pam Ahrens, director of the Idaho Department of Administration, recently presented information about state employee health insurance to the Change in Employee Compensation Legislative Committee.

Her presentation included the following:

  • State Employee Benefit Overview
  • Benefit Focus Health Insurance Survey, a report on comments and recommendations from state employees in response to the informal health insurance survey, and
  • Other related benefit information (fact sheets and handouts) that were provided at the meeting.

To view the information in Ahrens’ report, go to the state employee portal at the following web link: http://www2.state.id.us/empportal/index.htm


Want a winter break? Watch the Stampede

ITD employees who live in the Treasure Valley and are tired of the winter exposure can take a break by heading indoors and catching a professional basketball game.

The Idaho Stampede, the state’s only professional basketball team, offers state employees tickets at a discounted rate as a way of saying thanks “for their dedication and hard work in keeping the great state of Idaho running smoothly.”

The State Employee Night is planned for Saturday (Feb. 7) when the Stampede plays The Great Lake Storm at 7:10 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Halftime entertainment will feature an extreme and exciting BMX professional bike stunt show called “Perfection on Wheels.”

Discounted tickets can be purchased by calling (208) 388-4667 (HOOP).