Changes Necessary for the Merit Over the Top Program

January 25, 2017

King County spends about $7 million a year on a program to retain and incentivize senior county employees. King County has a relatively experienced and senior work force. Retaining and motivating these employees is important for performing county functions. Merit Over the Top (MOT) is one program King County uses to achieve this task. However, it is unclear that the County needs to pay potentially above the market rate by providing MOT in order to retain senior employees, especially given its inconsistent application among bargaining groups and departments. Changing this program will be very difficult given the need to bargain any changes, thus the most effective approach would be for the County to address the issues we raise around MOT in this letter as part of a broader effort to address human resources challenges. While we are not making specific recommendations in this letter, it is essential that the County develop an effective program given the importance of retaining and motivating senior employees.