FAQs - Workforce
LATEST ADDITIONS
July 3, 2008
Will Stream 3 vendors be required to make employment offers to GTA employees?
Stream 3 deals with telecommunications contracts for agencies to use on a self-service basis. We will make a decision about releasing a Request for Qualified Contractors (RFQC) for Stream 3 after evaluating responses to the Managed Network Services RFP (Stream 2). The RFQC will not include an employment requirement. However, it is likely that providers will be looking for qualified employees.
June 26, 2008
I have 28 years of state service. When will I know what my options are as far as retirement or the possibility of completing a 30-year retirement? Will we know before the contracts are signed in October?
Everyone involved with the outsourcing initiative understands that the status of state retirement benefits is one of the top concerns among employees who are in scope to transition to the new service provider. Those concerns are especially acute among employees who are covered by the state’s old retirement plan.
As part of the outsourcing initiative, a team of human resource directors from each of the agencies was involved in developing the Request for Proposal. One of the team’s top priorities is understanding the impact of the outsourcing on in-scope employees who are close to a milestone, such as 10-year vesting or service anniversaries of 25, 30 or 34 years.
Over the summer, we expect to:
- determine what “close to a milestone” means,
- work with prospective service providers to identify viable options for in-scope employees to achieve those milestones, and
- understand the financial implications of the identified options to the state.
The HR team is working with the Employees Retirement System on these important issues related to retirement. It will take time, but GTA’s leadership is committed to sharing information about these efforts with in-scope employees as soon as possible.
Is my position in-scope?
If you are performing job functions that the state expects to outsource to the service provider, then your position is considered in-scope. At this point in our RFP process, we have provided a list of in-scope positions to the service provider along with an estimate, by position, of the level of effort spent performing those job functions (e.g., 10%, 25%, 100%, etc.).
Later this summer, when we have finalized our evaluation of the service provider proposals and have agreed to the final scope of work they will perform, each agency will be asked to confirm its list of positions and the employees who are in-scope and expected to transition to the service provider. Your agency leadership will meet with you at that time to confirm your status.
TRANSITION TO SERVICE PROVIDER
Will the service provider contact in-scope employees directly to discuss employment offers, employee benefits and other topics?
There will be one-on-one conversations with employees who will receive employment offers; however, the meetings will be arranged by GTA and your agency.
How long will the service provider keep us employed?
We have included a requirement in the RFP that service provider employment offers are for regular, long-term employment.
If the service provider sub-contracts services to other companies, who will the transitioned employees work for?
If the state determines that a sourcing solution that includes both a primary service provider and related sub-contractor(s) is acceptable to deliver the services to the state, in-scope employees who currently perform work to be provided by the sub-contractor will become employees of that sub-contractor. In this case, our RFP requires that the sub-contractor comply with all of the same HR requirements provided in our RFP. The HR Team and the state's compensation and benefits experts will conduct the a detailed review of the sub-contractors' plans. More information about the sub-contractor's compensation and benefits plans will be provided after contract is signed.
When will staff reductions occur?
GTA reduced its administrative staff in January 2008. The transition of infrastructure staff in agencies and at GTA to the private sector should begin in Q2 of FY09.
What assistance will be available for employees if their work is outsourced or their position is no longer needed?
- The state is committed to working with all employees who might be affected by future changes.
- The vendor will likely need experienced people who are familiar with state systems. In addition, the vendor may be able to offer training and possibilities for advancement not available within state government.
- Support will be available for affected employees, such as assistance with applying for other state jobs, resume writing and benefits continuation.
Will the state assist staff who lose their jobs with the job search process (review resumes, training in interviewing skills, etc.)?
Yes. The State Personnel Administration is working with your agency to offer resume writing and interview skills workshops for all in-scope employees. However, employees who lose their jobs are encouraged to apply for positions on SPA’s Job Site at www.thejobsite.org. In addition, employees may want to visit the Department of Labor’s website for other statewide positions at www.dol.state.ga.us.
RETIREMENT
I’m near retirement with the state and don’t want to start over with a new company. How are retirement issues being handled?
We are doing all we can to protect employees’ milestones. We have gathered extensive HR data from state agencies and are looking at each employee’s situation on an individual basis. We have to determine what state employees will receive from the service provider when the service provider accepts their years of service with the state. We will look into whether some employees near a milestone could be leased backed to the state by the service provider so they could reach their milestone.
I currently have 16 years of service with the state. Can I use 10 years of this service to qualify for retirement with the state and 6 years for vested time with the service provider?
We have included a requirement in the RFP for the service provider to grant credit for years of service recognized by the state of
Since this RFP requirement is subject to negotiations with the service providers, the status of this requirement will be shared after the contract is signed.
I am not yet vested with the state and want to remain in information technology. How will the outsourcing benefit my career?
Working for one of the service providers will be very beneficial to your career. Since IT is their core competency, they offer opportunities for training and career development that are not available by working for state government. There will also be opportunities to work for other companies that outsource their IT operations to the service provider.
Will there be any help or guidance on retirement issues?
Yes. The State Personnel Administration will work with the Employees Retirement System and Teachers Retirement System to offer special workshops for affected employees. The workshops will be announced at a future date.
If a state employee is eligible to retire, can they retire from state service and go to work for the outsourcing vendor?
Yes, provided that they receive an employment offer from the service provider.
If I go with the service provider and wait until I'm 65 to start drawing state retirement, will I be eligible for state health insurance at that time?
Health insurance benefits can be kept if you immediately retire with a monthly benefit. All other questions should be answered by the Department of Community Health, www.dch.state.ga.us.
I have time that I spent as a temporary employee waiting to be hired full time. Can I purchase that time back?
Under rules of the Employee Retirement System, time worked as a temporary employee is not eligible to be purchased.
Members of the Teachers Retirement System should consult TRS’s website for an explanation of the various types of service credit that can be purchased.
How will consolidation and outsourcing affect my retirement?
- Employees have multiple options concerning their state retirement.
- Many employees will already qualify for a retirement benefit under the Employees Retirement System. Eligibility is based on age and length of service. Employees can retire with 10 years of service if they are at least 60 or with 30 years of service regardless of age. A 25-year retirement is also available, but the benefit is reduced by 7 percent for each year under 30 years of service or for each year under age 60. Employees who are eligible for retirement may purchase up to three years of additional service.
- Employees who are already vested (they have 10 years of service credit) may leave their contributions on deposit with the Employees Retirement System and qualify for a retirement benefit at age 60.
- Employees with fewer than 10 years of service credit may also leave their contributions on deposit and re-establish their previous membership if they return to state service within four years.
- We are working with ERS and the State Personnel Administration to address retirement issues.
I will be vested soon. How will I be affected?
- Employees who are already vested (they have 10 years of service credit) may leave their contributions on deposit with the Employees Retirement System and qualify for a retirement benefit at age 60.
- Employees with fewer than 10 years of service credit may also leave their contributions on deposit and re-establish their previous membership if they return to state service within four years.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Will I have a lapse in insurance coverage? Will there be a waiting period for health insurance? Will employees who transition to the service provider(s) be offered health insurance on the first day of work?
We have included a requirement in the RFP for the Service Provider(s) to waive all waiting periods for health insurance. This would ensure that in-scope employees who transition to the Service Provider will have health insurance on the first day of work. The intent of this requirement is to prevent any lapse in insurance coverage. We will confirm the status of this requirement after the contract is signed.
Is the insurance company required to provide coverage to both me and my immediate family members?
We have included a requirement in the RFP for the service provider(s) to provide a comparable benefits package to what the state's in-scope employees have today. More information about the service provider(s) benefits package will be provided after the contract is signed.
How do you intend to protect state employees' benefits and retirement as they transition to one of the commercial companies?
We have included a requirement in the RFP for the service provider(s) to provide comparable compensation and benefits packages to transitioning employees. Our HR Team and state compensation and benefits specialists will be evaluating each service provider response for comparability. More information about the service provider(s) compensation and benefit plans will be provided after the contract is signed.
If an employee has an existing medical condition, will it now be considered a pre-existing medical condition?
We have included a requirement in the RFP for the service provider(s) to waive limitations on coverage of pre-existing conditions. The status of this requirement will be shared after the contract is signed.
What will be the pay scale once we are in private sector? Will we get a pay increase or will we be asked to take a pay cut?
We have included a requirement in the RFP for the service providers to provide a comparable compensation package. The HR team and our state compensation specialists will be reviewing each service provider's response to this requirement for comparability. More information about the service provider(s) compensation program will be provided after the contract is signed.
If I have a job with one of the service providers, could I make less money?
As always, salaries will be commensurate with skills, experience and level of responsibility.
GENERAL
How many infrastructure employees are in scope?
About 550 infrastructure positions are in scope to be outsourced.
Won’t someone need to remain in state agencies to perform IT functions?
Yes. The consolidation and outsourcing is focused on infrastructure services. Agencies will still need a chief information officer and applications support.
Won’t it be difficult to keep IT employees from leaving state government prior to completing the outsourcing?
It’s important for IT employees to understand the career opportunities that are available with the service provider. It is the state’s intent for employees to have careers and growth opportunities with the service providers. These companies do not have a reserve of employees to bring in to fill IT positions at the state. They need existing state IT workers. They bring processes and opportunities to upgrade your skills. The future is with well-established IT companies.
Will the contracts for contactors be renewed July 1, 2008?
Yes. Based on the current schedule, we anticipate that contracts will be renewed July 1, 2008.
Will people lose their jobs?
As part of the transformation, consolidation and downsizing will occur. State government will get smaller. About 1,100 positions throughout state government will be affected due to reorganization and consolidation.
We anticipate that natural attrition in the government IT sector will address some of the positions that will be eliminated. For instance, 21% of GTA’s staff will be eligible for retirement within the next year. Other states are seeing similar staffing trends. Further, many affected positions will be transferred to service providers.
What happened to employees in states that have outsourced their IT operations?
When