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County will pay $1k for new hires until June 30

COLUMBUS—Polk County is now offering sign-on bonuses to be a county employee. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners amended its recruitment and retention policy at a recent meeting that means anyone hired between September and the end of the fiscal year, June 30, will receive a $1,000 sign-on bonus. 

Commissioners approved a resolution that says Polk County, like most regions across the state and country are experiencing a much higher unemployment rate than normal. 

Polk County has had a large number of vacancies in a few departments, including emergency services. 

The new policy also includes that full-time emergency personnel working for the sheriff’s office, jail, animal control, school resource officers, EMS and 911 communications will be paid overtime hours instead of compensation time from September through the Dec. 19 pay period this year, at the discretion of the county manager. 

Job openings for Polk County government can be found at polknc.org. 

Following is the resolution commissioners approved: 

Polk County Recruitment and Retention Resolution

WHEREAS, Polk County North Carolina, like most regions across the State and

Country is experiencing a much higher unemployment rate than normal; and

WHEREAS, Polk County Local Government has had a large number of vacancies in different County departments, including emergency services; and

WHEREAS, these positions have remained vacant for an extended time period, using all the standard recruitment strategies and methods; and

WHEREAS, we understand, and are sympathetic to other business and organizations experiencing the same staffing difficulties, however, the services Polk County Local

Government employees provide to the citizens are deemed essential, and many positions are statutorily required, and provide emergency and life safety functions in the community.

Therefore, be it resolved the Polk County Board of Commissioners enact the following temporary recruitment and retention measures:

1. Full-time non-exempt emergency personnel working in the following departments: Sheriff, Jail, Animal Control, School Resource Officers, EMS, and 911 Communications, at the discretion of the County Manager, may will be paid overtime hours instead of accruing compensation time beginning in the September 13 – 26, 2021 pay period and ending in the December 6 – 19,

2021 pay period.

2. Any new person who accepts a position with Polk County Local Government between September 7, 2021 and June 30, 2022 will receive a one thousand dollar ($1,000) hiring bonus after they complete the customary probation period.