Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: HR - Human Resources

Directors' Update: TBD

Business Meeting: Dec. 23, 2025

Summary:

Approve updates to the Lewis County Employee Handbook to align County policies and practices with adopted and proposed 2026 collective bargaining agreements, Washington State law, and current County operational practices, including administrative clean-up and identified substantive policy revisions.

Publications:

Cover Letter To:

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has authority to approve countywide personnel policies, including the Lewis County Employee Handbook; and

WHEREAS, Human Resources has conducted a comprehensive review of the Employee Handbook to ensure consistency with adopted and proposed 2026 collective bargaining agreements, Washington State law, and current county policies and compensation practices; and

WHEREAS, the proposed updates include administrative clean-up for clarity and consistency as well as substantive revisions addressing employee status definitions, compensation principles, attendance and leave expectations, holiday and accrual eligibility, sick leave alignment with state law, family and household definitions, and longevity pay provisions, as outlined in the attached Human Resources memorandum dated December 18, 2025, and attached hereto; and

WHEREAS, the revised Employee Handbook reflects current operational practices and provides clearer guidance to employees and supervisors while maintaining consistency with applicable collective bargaining agreements.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BOCC hereby approves the updated Lewis County Employee Handbook, attached hereto as presented by Human Resources, effective January 1, 2026, and authorizes its implementation countywide.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 23rd day of December, 2025.