Over the past year, my first as governor, I’ve often been asked what has impressed me the most.
My answer is that it’s the dedication and commitment of our state employees. From road crews to health departments, veterans offices to state parks, our employees work hard every day to make sure that every corner of Virginia is a place of opportunity for all.
I believe in treating others as you would want to be treated. Over the past year, our administration has sought to make sure the commonwealth is a good place to work, by treating our state employees with the respect and consideration we’d want to receive. We have aimed these efforts at improving financial benefits, like bonuses to help with student loans, and work-life balance benefits, such as parental leave.
From my own experience, I know how important it is to be happy in one’s work. We all want to know that our contributions are acknowledged and appreciated, and that we’re making a difference. This spring, the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management and the Department of General Services launched a series of employee engagement activities including a signature program, OntheSquareVA and OntheSquare — Anywhere. Activities and events have centered on social, recreational, and educational programs designed for employees and their families. Work-life balance is essential.
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As a parent, I understand the challenges facing working parents and their families. As a child physician, I am committed to improving the development and health of Virginia’s children. And as governor, I am dedicated to recruiting and retaining Virginia’s talented state employees.
That’s why in June, I signed Executive Order 12, which authorizes eight weeks of paid parental leave for employees of executive branch state agencies. Studies indicate that allowing parents to bond with new children positively impacts children’s development and decreases infant mortality rates. Paid parental leave also has significant benefits for parents: It has been shown to increase parents’ health, well-being, and financial stability, as well as increasing parents’ likelihood of returning to the workforce.
So many of our decisions, including choosing an employer, are rooted in a desire for financial stability. Current reports from the media, consulting firms, and government agencies reveal that Americans owe more than $1.48 trillion in student loan debt. Smart employers know that mitigating student debt can boost acquisition and retention strategies, as well as employee and organizational performance. In July, sign-on and retention student loan repayment bonuses went into effect, providing new incentive options for attracting and retaining talent within the commonwealth. Agencies may now offer a one-time bonus up to $10,000, specifically targeted to jobs that are exceptionally difficult to fill and retain talent. I also announced recently that in order to help fill these same positions, state agencies will be able to contribute that money to employees’ Virginia529 college savings plans.
When state employees save money on medical care, the commonwealth saves money too.
We began implementing SmartShopper in October. SmartShopper is a shared savings incentive program that encourages health plan members to “shop” for certain medical services and to identify better-value, lower-cost facilities for these services. When choosing a better-value service, a plan member can earn a financial incentive, ranging from $25 to $500, depending on the service and the chosen facility.
Having had the chance to speak directly with many state employees, I know that compensation alone is not the most effective driver for employee engagement, performance, and loyalty. Although state employees have been concerned about their salaries for several years, I am impressed by their strong commitment to public service nonetheless. That’s why I am especially pleased that my proposed budget includes both salary increases and a bonus for 2019, and that health care premiums will not change for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
Behind these many tangible expressions of my commitment to our state workforce resides an even greater commitment: to honor and improve the lives of those who protect us, educate our children, preserve our natural resources, grow our economy, build and maintain our transportation systems, develop our workforce, and ensure that our most vulnerable citizens have access to the best services and benefits available to them. My administration will continue to identify opportunities to enrich the lives of those who choose careers in public service. The commonwealth was founded on public service, and our state employees work together each day to make Virginia a better place for all of us to work and live.