The Guilford County Manager’s Contingency Fund is money allocated to the county manager each year to help him or her pay for unexpected and special matters that weren’t anticipated when the Guilford County Board of Commissioners approves the new fiscal budget each June.
Usually, that means the fund money is used to pay for busted pipe repairs or to recover from a big storm or something like that. However, this year, just in time for Christmas, $4,500 from that fund is going to be used to thank Guilford County Animal Services workers in a unique manner – the county is going to buy new shoes for the animal shelter workers.
It’s part of the county’s “Our People Matter” initiative. Guilford County, like many public and private entities, is having trouble keeping good employees. So, Guilford County has raised pay across the board and provided a vast number of perks to keep county employees happy in recent months.
In a continuation of that trend, Guilford County Manager Mike Halford is transferring $4,500 from the Manager’s Contingency Fund to Animal Services’ animal shelter operations.
According to the motion expected to be adopted by the Board of Commissioners this week, the purpose of this transfer is to provide funding for Animal Services to purchase shoes for the following workers:
- Animal Care Team members
- Animal Cleaning Team members
- Veterinarian Health Team members
- Animal Control Team members
The motion notes: “Animal Services employees are responsible for the daily care and feeding of the animals within our care. In this fast-paced environment, employees assist in cleaning, feeding and maintaining the animal population. Providing shoes was identified as a way to demonstrate Our People Matter.”
Wow, Chinese made shoes, thanks Guilford County!
I can’t think of anything that govt does well, including this.
Wow! Really?
Anyone out there working where your employer pays for a pair of street shoes?
I’ve been to the new animal shelter and it seems to be a wonderful facility with a friendly staff. Lol good for them. This upsets me far, far less than many of the other recent expenditures by Skip Inc.
Please include value in YE W-2 form.
It amazes me that the same commenters who made noise to allow take home police cars (which I support) and increase pay and benefits for police officers (I also support), get bent out of shape about a small inexpensive gesture to help reduce employee turnover at animal shelters.
Guess we know where priorities sit for this group of folk.
This is an example of the management deciding what people need. If it is a give any of public money give the employees some money and let them purchase what they need. Quit the paternalistic crap. Who has ever heard of a governmental agency giving employees specific items of personal wear.
I’ve worked with many construction firms who give free steel toed shoes to new hourly hires to insure OSHA compliance. Don’t see this as being any different, especially if you’re working around pet waste, water and soap all day. These folks do more for the good of society in 1 day than most RT readers accomplish in a lifetime.
You People , You Just Don’t Know How To Be Grateful For ANYTHING !!! I Just Can’t Understand Such Ungrateful People ! Sad Generation !
“Let them wear shoes.”
You got that one wrong. It is “Let them eat shoes”.
The staff were given shoes because the stronger cleaners that are used at the shelter eats away at their shoes over time. Before ranting, inform yourself.