TGB Approves PTO Buy Back Plan

By Joe Morey

News Editor

At their weekly meeting on Sep. 25, the LCO Tribal Governing Board (TGB) voted unanimously to support a plan presented by TGB Member Gary “Little Guy” Clause to offer to buy back Personal Time Off (PTO) accrued by tribal administrative employees across the board, which includes the Tribal Office and Health Center.

The plan allows employees to one-time sell back up to two weeks of PTO from October 1 and is allowable through the Fiscal Year 2021.

“Christmas time is coming up and every little bit helps,” Little Guy stated. “This has been the worst summer ever with Covid. People have been cooped up and this will help put some smiles on our members’ faces.”

Little Guy noted essential workers had to keep on working.

Chairman Taylor said workers who had to work shouldn’t lose their PTO because they couldn’t take that time off. Taylor also said that sometimes everyone is trying to use up their PTO at the same time and they need those workers at work.

It’s estimated that about a third of employees won’t have this time accrued. The weekly tribal payroll affected by the plan is just over $400,000.