The top local stories this morning from KERA News: 980 workers with Child Protective Services who recently earned promotions will have to wait as long as six months to get a recently-approved $12,000 raise. Meanwhile, their colleagues — and recent hires — will receive the extra money next month.
The money was intended to address low morale and high turnover. But the Dallas Morning News reports the pay raise has been delayed because of a state law on merit salary increases and one-time merit payments. It prevents employees from getting a merit raise within six months of a promotion. If they're new employees, they have to work at least six months continuously to get a merit raise.
The delay not only affects recently promoted workers, but also about a thousand people who were hired as CPS caseworkers and special investigators between June 1 and Dec. 1. Trainees hired after Dec. 1 will receive the raise immediately because it’s part of their starting salary.
The salary increases are part of an emergency funding package state leaders approved to help the agency work off backlogs of unseen children.
Other stories this morning:
- The United Health Foundation recently released its annual health rankings for all 50 states. Texas ranked 33rd – up from 42nd place five years ago.
- Doctor-patient interactions are pretty routine, but a recent culture-shift is changing the focus from a patient’s symptoms.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
