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A Penny gives his two cents

Ron Penny said his job is "to advocate for you, the employee."

And at a Nov. 1 Employee Forum meeting, he also told forum members how he plans to do just that.

Penny, recently named vice president for human resources for the UNC system, said his main goals will be to add "value" to what it means to be a UNC employee and to consult UNC schools for their advice on how he should lobby for the system in the state legislature.

Making UNC jobs more attractive is particularly important now because system enrollment is projected to increase while the labor pool is expected to shrink, Penny said. And that will be even truer for areas with particularly strong economies, such as the Triangle, where workers often can find higher-paying jobs in the private sector.

On making employment with UNC more attractive, Penny said:

* He wants to get recognition of the "unique" circumstances of some of North Carolina's job markets, such as the Triangle. He said that the state should consider offering different salary ranges for State Personnel Act (SPA) employees depending on where they live.

* He realizes state employees are concerned about their lack of health insurance options and will work on that issue.

* He will work to extend the state's Optional Retirement Program to employees exempt from the SPA and make vesting in the program immediate.

* He will work to make the state's contribution to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System at least as much as the employee contribution.

But Penny said compensation isn't the main thing employees consider when deciding whether to take a job or stay in one. He said the number one factor in determining employees' job satisfaction is management.

"Your supervisor defines your experience," he said.

With that in mind, Penny said he will stress developing supervisors who can meet their staff members' needs and motivate them in their work.

Penny also responded to questions from forum members. Highlights:

* He said there is a "possibility" that UNC could someday have a human resources system separate from the state, though he doesn't see that happening now. In the meantime, he said, the General Assembly may be willing to give UNC more flexibility in its employment practices.

* He said the Office of State Personnel -- which Penny directed before coming to UNC -- is looking at revamping its compensation system so that fewer employees will be at the maximum of the salary range. According to Penny, the state might unveil new salary ranges within the next two to three years.

* He said UNC and the state cannot address the issue of employees exempt from the SPA working extra hours without compensation because federal law determines which employees are exempt from overtime provisions.

* He said that -- in his role as head of the Office of State Personnel -- he did not excuse workdays missed because of last January's snowstorm because N.C. Gov. Jim Hunt did not declare "catastrophic" conditions for the area.

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