Firefighters in the City of Greensboro continue to be the lowest paid among their peers in cities of similar size across NC. Over the course of an average career in Greensboro this results in a loss of $252,000 for firefighters vs their peers in other similar cities. This is having an extremely negative impact on the City’s ability to recruit and retain a talented and diverse firefighting force.
Recruitment continues to be at an all-time low and competition for a talented workforce is increasing as peer cities develop aggressive lateral transfer programs to take advantage of their competitive edge in compensation. Peer cities are aggressively increasing salaries, incentives, and recruitment efforts and Greensboro is being left systemically behind. Consider these facts:
Despite these facts, outside consultants were paid to produce an obviously flawed mid-year pay study. The consultants reported that, despite record US inflation and wage increases, the 50th percentile for base salary actually decreased within peer cities. The consultants supplied none of their raw data to support this outlandish claim and interviewed only a small fraction of the municipalities that are normally included in the annual survey.
Set our control points to at least those found as the 50th percentile from the FY22 pay study.
Both steps are supported directly by Greensboro compensation policy and/or direction from council in the FY22-23 budget. If immediate action is not taken, public safety in Greensboro will continue to suffer as we lag our peers in recruitment, and retention
Inaction will leave Greensboro less likely to grow, less efficient in its delivery of services, and its citizens less safe. Direct and immediate action is needed by council on these issues.
“General employees will experience an updated step program for everyone in the step plan. Effective May 2023, the value between individual steps will be four percent. Employees in the merit system will receive a four percent pay adjustment, also effective in May 2023.”
Taiwo Jaiyeoba
6.22.22 email to employees