Table of Contents: Chapter 2

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211 BILINGUAL COMPENSATION POLICY (Effective 11-13-2020)

211.1 Purpose: 

To establish guidelines, qualifications needed, and job positions authorized to receive additional compensation for bilingual proficiency and translation services for the City. The additional compensation is intended for job positions that require a substantial amount of bilingual communication as an essential function and is not intended for using bilingual skills on an incidental basis.

211.2 Policy: 

A full-time employee who is bilingual in any non-English language (e.g. Spanish) will be compensated at a fixed amount of $34.62 per pay period (“Bilingual Pay”). Part-time employees, including regular part-time employees, will not be eligible for bilingual pay. Bilingual pay will not be paid on sick, vacation time or payout of accrued time off.

211.3 Bilingual Certification: 

For purposes of this policy, an employee is considered bilingual after the employee passes an oral exam and written fluency exam selected and administered by the Human Resources Department, provided that such exams must be sufficient to qualify the employee to testify in court regarding what was interpreted. Employees certified as bilingual must recertify their oral and written fluency through an exam every two years. If an employee does not complete and pass the written and oral fluency recertification exam, the employee shall no longer be considered bilingual and shall not be eligible for Bilingual Pay as of the first pay period after the date the test results were received.

Employees receiving bilingual pay will be required to translate on behalf of the City as requested during their normal regular work hours for their own department and on the behalf of other departments if needed, even if such interactions are outside their job description.

If an employee does not pass the oral or written fluency exam, the employee may test again six (6) months after the failed test.

If a Department Director or employee requests bilingual certification, the Department Director will approve the request and then contact the Human Resources Director for information on testing and final approval will be given by the City Manager.

An employee will no longer be eligible for and shall stop receiving Bilingual Pay, if the employee ceases to translate as needed. All certified translators will be available in an identified pool for contact during business hours to assist in translations. A bilingual employee may only receive one stipend even if the employee is certified in more than one language.