Once the City Council adopts a layoff plan
– expected Jan. 28 – management plans to offer counseling and
other ways to help employees through the trying times.
Three options are under consideration, according to City Manager
Dale Shaddox, who has been meeting with personnel manager Clay Lee
on the issue.
Once the City Council adopts a layoff plan – expected Jan. 28 – management plans to offer counseling and other ways to help employees through the trying times.
Three options are under consideration, according to City Manager Dale Shaddox, who has been meeting with personnel manager Clay Lee on the issue.
“It’s definitely what we want to do,” Shaddox said Wednesday.
On Jan. 28, the Council is expected to approve a “reduction in force” plan. As of now, 36 employees would be cut from a 175-person workforce.
The idea of Hollister helping its departed workers arose during talks with employee groups before Shaddox released the proposed list Jan. 9, he said. Someone from the mid management union requested it, according to Luis Aguilar, president of the local Service Employees Union.
Services that Hollister may obtain for laid off employees – or anyone else in the workforce – include financial planning advice, counseling, information about job searching and advice on taking part in job interviews.
“We’re beginning to formalize our list of potential efforts,” Shaddox said.
Jeff Welch, a local financial planner, offered his help to Shaddox at no charge, according to the city manager. Shaddox said he and Welch have met twice to discuss the possibility.
Welch, also president of the Hollister Downtown Association, said he offered his help for two reasons: to help Shaddox and the city, along with obtaining professional exposure in the community.
“My whole thing is to help them make those decisions,” Welch said. “Whether they do any business for me is secondary.”
Hollister is also a paying member of a counseling group called CONCERN, Shaddox said. He hopes to have those representatives in town – for employees “who would like to just sit and talk a bit” – either Feb. 2 or Feb. 9, he said.
And for additional information on filling out applications, writing resumes and transmittal letters and honing interviewing skills, the city may commission the state’s Employment Development Department.
“There are a lot of little ways we can try to help people,” Mayor Tony Bruscia said. “It’s important that we do that. We have a morale obligation to do so.”
Aguilar said he expects many employees would use the services.
“I think that’s a good idea,” he said.
But he called it “premature” to discuss those options. Before Jan. 28, employee groups hope to meet with city management and Council members to discuss the layoff plan, he said. There have been no meetings scheduled since the plan was delayed Jan. 12.
