08-01-2022 Council Work Session Packet

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WS — Item 8 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item Date: August 1, 2022 To: City Council From: John Swenson, Public Safety Director Re: Public Safety Department Employee Wellness Background The Public Safety Department has experienced a significant increase in the number of work related injuries, costs associated with these injuries, and staffing shortages. The below table shows the total number of work related injuries and associated costs for all City staff with the total number of work related injuries and associated costs for Public Safety staff broken out dating back to 2018. City Wide Reported Work City Wide Total Public Safety Public Safety Total Year Injuries Cost Reported Injuries Cost 2018 13 $ 11,138.94 8 $ 709.01 2019 21 $ 6,240.85 15 $ 2,089.82 2020 24 $ 266,841.01 19 $ 259,049.97 2021 * 23 $ 926,131.15 20 $ 924,926.16 2022** 12 $ 12, 711.70 11 $ 12, 711.70 * Four of the 2021 WC Case remain open as of 6.21.2022 ** 2022 data is through 6.21.2022 Of the total costs for work related injuries in 2018, the Public Safety Department accounted for 6% of the costs. In subsequent years the Public Safety Department has accounted for an increasing percentage of the costs (2019 — 33%; 2020 — 97%; 2021 — 99%) and so far in 2022 the Public Safety Department has accounted for 100% of costs. In effort to reduce the impact to our staff and the City, staff has identified enhancements to our current wellness program that: 1. Provides staff the knowledge, tools and resources to proactively address and improve their individual wellness. 2. Focus on individual employee wellness to prevent and reduce physical and mental health injuries. 3. Conduct ongoing evaluations of staff and the overall program to ensure the program is beneficial to the employee and employer.