Hughes County trying to balance paying enough to attract workers, with paying enough to keep current employees

For the past few years, businesses and government agencies across the country have had to pay higher and higher starting wages in order to attract workers…. with some of those new employees being paid more than other employees who have worked at the place longer.

The Hughes County Commission is trying to figure out how to adjust wages so those longer tenured employees have an incentive to stay, rather than seek out new jobs for more money.

Commissioner Rob Fines worked at the Hughes and Stanley County Emergency Manager prior to be elected to the commission. He says these discrepancies have been happening for quite some time.

Commission Chairman Tom Rounds agreed.

Commissioner Connie Hohn would like to see not only a cost of living raise, but also job performance evaluations tied to increased wages.

The Hughes County Commission will take up the discussion again at their meeting next week (July 15, 2024).