West Seneca Youth & Recreation
• Register Now •

News: Summer Employee Bonus 2021 (NOTES)

Date Published Author
4/6/2021 12:00:00 AM  Lauren J. Masset 

Final Results

We have 27 staff members who qualified and 6 staff members who do not qualify for the Summer 2021 Bonus.

  • 2 who did not qualify because they did not obtain their certifications and were hired late. Their Town Board agenda item stated they would not get a bonus.  
  • 1 who did qualify because they did not turn in their certification on time and did not attend the mandatory orientation. 
  • 3 who do not qualify because they did not turn in their certifications on time.
The department had zero no-call/no-shows, no last-minute low staffing shutdowns, all staff found shift coverage as needed, and zero employees with disciplinary action or investigation. 

The total cost of the Summer Employee Bonus 2021 was $7,300.

The bonus forms were completed the week of 8/9/2021 and sent to the Finance Department to process for payment on 8/13/2021. All staff were notified via email if they did or did not qualify for the bonus on

Summer Employee Bonus
The department is having a challenging time hiring for both year-round and seasonal positions. Recreation programs and facilities are contingent upon proper staffing levels and filling these positions is required to open and operate our facilities and programs. The departments’ goal is to have all Summer 2021 positions filled and appointed by the May 17, 2021, Town Board meeting. This means interviews must conclude by May 7, 2021. The department will need to submit the request for Summer Employment Appointments for the May 17, 2021 Town Board agenda, by the end of the day on May 12, 2021 (as per Town Policy/Open Meetings Law). 

A bonus will be issued to Summer 2021 Employees (at the end of the season) who meet all of the following criteria: 
  1. Employee must have obtained all required certifications, on their own and have them on file with West Seneca Youth & Recreation, by June 10, 2021. All required certifications must be valid until September 1, 2021. Proof of enrollment in an unfinished course will not be acceptable for this. Certifications can be emailed to lmasset@twsny.org or dropped off to the Recreation Office, 1300 Union Road, West Seneca, NY, 14224.  
  2. The employee must have worked the entire length of the season (opening date – closing date).
  3. The employee must have attended all mandatory orientations, trainings, in-services, meetings, etc. during the regular season and pre/post season.
  4. The employee must show up for all their shifts (entire length of shift) or find shift coverage for the shifts they are unable to attend. This is for all request-off types. If the department must find the coverage or there is no coverage the employee does not qualify for the bonus. 
  5. The employee must have had no disciplinary action for the entire season. This includes but is not limited to verbal, written, final, or investigation.
If the employee is fully certified and has presented certification by June 10, 2021 and accepted employment as approved by the Town Board, and the Town is unable to run the summer program, the employee will receive 25% of the bonus for the program they were hired for.

If the employee is fully certified and has presented certification by June 10, 2021, and accepted employment as approved by the Town Board, and the Town is forced to shut down the summer program after it has already started, the employee will receive (a) the bonus at a pro-rated amount based on how many weeks the program has already run for or (b) 50% of the bonus for the program they were hired for. The employee will be issued the lesser amount.

The bonus will be submitted to the finance department on or around September 1, 2021 to issue to Summer 2021 employees. The attached “End of Season Qualification Form” would be used. Employees would be required to sign the “Onboarding Employee Acknowledgement of Summer Bonus Requirements” during the on boarding process.

Offering a bonus over a certification reimbursement will offset the cost of a certification course and would hopefully allow us to be more competitive in finding qualified staff, avoid employees requesting off/no call, no show for their shift causing the program to close/cancel last minute and ensure all employees follow the policies set forth by the Town.

There is no guarantee that by offering a reimbursement or bonus that the Town will find enough applicants to run our Summer programs. Further, if we do hire enough staff, this does not guarantee a staffing shortage caused by COVID-19 and/or a closure/shut down or for any reason related or not related to COVID-19. If an employee is placed in quarantine, they must follow the Town of West Seneca COVID-19 Quarantine Policy. This will not affect their bonus.

Bonus Amounts Approved 4/19/2021:
Pool Supervisor $500
Assistant Pool Supervisor $400
Head Lifeguards $300
Camp Director $500
Assistant Camp Director $400
WSI Lifeguard $250
Lifeguard $250
Camp Counselor $250
Assistant Camp Counselor $250


On boarding Employee Acknowledgement of Summer Bonus Requirements
I understand that I will qualify for the Summer 2021 Bonus if and only if:
  1. I obtain all required certifications, by June 10, 2021 and have them on file with the West Seneca Youth & Recreation Office AND All of my certifications must be valid through September 1, 2021. Proof of enrollment in an unfinished course is not accepted for this. 
  2. I understand that I must work the entire length of the season (opening date - closing date).
  3. I understand that I must attend all mandatory orientations, trainings, in-services, meetings, etc. during the regular season and pre/post season.
  4. I attend all my shifts that I am scheduled for OR I find shift coverage for the shifts I am unable to attend. This is for all request-off types. If the department must find my coverage or there is no coverage then I do not qualify for the bonus.
  5. I must have no disciplinary action for the entire season. This includes but is not limited to verbal, written, final or investigation.
  6. I understand that if the program shuts down for any reason including but not limited to COVID-19 my bonus amount may be affected and could be issued at a lesser amount and/or not issued at all.
  7. The bonus amount is based upon my position and meeting all requirements above #1-#6.
West Seneca Youth & Recreation will submit the bonus requests on or around September 1, 2021 to issue the bonus to qualifying Summer 2021 employees.
Print Name (First, Last)  
Signature  
Date  

 
End of Season Qualification Form
Employee Name  
Position  
Season  
Any other information  
 
 
  1. Did the employee have all of their required certifications for their employment valid and on file between June 10 – September 1, 2021?
Circle:           YES                        NO
Notes:         
 
  1. Did the employee work the entire season (opening date – closing date)? If the employees employment ended early mark NO.
Circle:           YES                        NO
Notes:
 
  1. Did the employee attend all mandatory orientations, trainings, in-services, meetings, etc. during the regular season and pre/post season?
Circle:           YES                        NO
Notes:
 
  1. Did the employee show up for all their shifts and/or find shift coverage for those they could not/did not attend?
Circle:           YES                        NO
Notes:         
 
  1. Did the employee have any disciplinary action (verbal, written, final, other) this season and/or were they a member of an investigation?
Circle:           YES                        NO
Notes:         
 
If the answers were as follows Q1 YES, Q2 YES, Q3 Yes, Q4 Yes and Q5 NO the employee qualifies for the Summer Bonus. If yes, this form will be submitted to the Finance Department for issuance on or around September 1, 2021.
 
Did this employee qualify for the Summer Bonus? Is the bonus being issued at 100%, 50%, 25% or less and why?
Circle:           YES                        NO         100%                     50%                        25%                        OTHER: _____
Notes:
 
Print Name Lauren J. Masset, Recreation Supervisor
Signature  
Date  
Information for the Finance Department:
Budget Line:
Bonus Amount:

2021 Summer Pay Rates
Title Type     2020 Rate 2021 Rate
Pool Supervisor Aquatics     Return ($15.00) New ($14.50) Return ($16.50) New ($16.00)
Camp Director Recreation     Return ($15.00) New ($14.50) Return ($16.50) New ($16.00)
Asst Pool Supervisor Aquatics     Return ($14.50) New ($14.00) Return ($16.00) New ($15.50)
Asst. Camp Director Recreation     Return ($14.50) New ($14.00) Return ($16.00) New ($15.50)
Head Lifeguard Aquatics     Return ($13.50) New ($13.25) Return ($15.00) New ($14.75)
Lifeguard Aquatics     Return ($13.00) New ($12.50) Return ($14.50) New ($14.00)
Camp Staff Recreation     Return ($13.00) New ($12.50) Return ($14.50) New ($14.00)
Bus Driver Recreation     Return ($16.00) New ($15.50)  N/A for 2021
WSI Cert Both     .50 Cent Per Hour Pay Raise  50 Cent Per Hour Pay Raise
 
MORE INFO ON OPEN POSITIONS AND/OR HOW TO SIGN UP FOR AN INTERVIEW:
NOW HIRING DIRECT LINK:
http://www.westseneca.net/departments-and-services/youth-recreation/youth-gym-3#gsc.tab=0
INTERVIEW SIGN UP DIRECT LINK: https://westsenecany.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29853

OTHER:
Agenda Item re: Proposal for Summer 2021 Employee Bonus at the April 5, 2021 Town Board Meeting
http://www.westseneca.net/application/files/3016/1720/2252/employee_bonus05289920210331093616.pdf


Return to News