Longevity increases are a retention tool designed to recognize and reward employees who have dedicated many years of service to the courts and have reached or exceeded the top of their job salary range.
**IMPORTANT NOTE** The Office of Guardian ad Litem (GAL) budget is its own separate line item, and GAL employee compensation is administered independently by its Director. Specific questions about GAL employee compensation should go to the Director of the Office of Guardian ad Litem and CASA.
According to HR Policy HR06-6(3), employees are eligible for a 3% longevity increase when they meet the following criteria:
Have completed at least eight (8) years of continuous state service
Have been at or above the maximum of their current salary range for a minimum of one (1) year
Have not been formally disciplined or placed on a performance improvement plan within the 12 months prior to the increase.
Longevity increases will be granted annually in July. An employee is eligible for their initial 3% longevity increase after being at or above their salary range maximum for at least one (1) year. Following the initial increase, an additional 3% increase is awarded every three (3) years, provided the employee continues to meet the eligibility requirements listed above.
Longevity increases are intended to recognize and retain long-serving employees who may no longer qualify for standard pay increases due to being at or above their salary range maximum.
According to HR Policy HR06-6(12), employees at or above the salary range maximum are not eligible for pay-for-performance increases, which are also dependent on legislative funding. In contrast, longevity increases are not contingent on legislative approval, as they are only applicable to a small subset of employees who would be eligible in any given year. The longevity increase is a tool that helps retain seasoned employees by providing a consistent pattern of rewards for dedicated years of service.