Virginia should consider a different approach to compensating state employees, according to a new legislative study that says workforce pay needs to be an annual priority to ensure that agencies can recruit and retain talent, especially in jobs with high turnover and non-competitive salaries.
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission received a comprehensive look at total employee compensation on Monday that found the Virginia government to be comparable to other employers, but primarily because of generous health insurance benefits and retirement benefits that have diminished for newly hired state workers under pension reforms implemented in 2014.
The study recommended that the General Assembly look at requiring the state to consider the competitiveness of salaries and other compensation every year before developing the proposed budget, rather than leaving the issue to political chance, which has made pay raises irregular and unpredictable.
