November 2023 No. 267
Important Employee Notes!
3 min read
Just In Time for Christmas!
METRO is pleased to announce merit and cost-of-living (COLA) compensation increases, effective with the Dec. 8, 2023 paychecks for eligible, non-union employees. The increases are awarded as follows:
| Rating | Merit | COLA | Total |
| High Performing | 3.60% | 3% | 6.60% |
| Exceeds Requirement | 3.10% | 3% | 6.10% |
| Successful | 2.75% | 3% | 5.75% |
Questions can be directed to the Human Resources Compensation Team:
Irma Arevalo (ext. 4055), Yvonne Sims (ext. 4380), or Mary Gutierrez (ext. 6941).
You can also email HRCompensation@RideMetro.org
As the year winds down, Human Resources is reminding employees to check PTO balances to make sure they are using the required vacation time and don’t lose any.
Some unused time can be rolled over into the new calendar year but only if mandatory time off requirements have been met.
These charts detail those requirements:
Mandatory Vacation Usage
| Length of Service | Mandatory Vacation Usage |
| Less than 3 years | None |
| 3 years - 5 years | 40 hours (1 week) |
| 5 years - 8 years | 80 hours (2 weeks) |
| 8 years - 15 years | 80 hours (2 weeks) |
| 15+ years | 120 hours (3 weeks) |
Unused Vacation Carryover Allowance
| Length of Service | Maximum Carryover |
| Less than 2 years | 160 hours |
| 2+ years - 5 years | 240 hours |
| 5+ years - 8 years | 320 hours |
| 8+ years - 15 years | 460 hours |
| 15+ years | 600 hours |
Employees should work with their supervisor as soon as possible to ensure no time off will be forfeited.
MPD K-9 Officer Marks a Milestone
METRO Sr. Police Officer Nancy DeMartin is celebrating more than 30 years with the Authority. She was recognized at the November Board meeting.
A video was played at the meeting featuring DeMartin and some of the great work MPD does.
Retirement Celebration and Proclamations
METRO held a retirement celebration for President & CEO Tom Lambert who will step down from the Authority on December 31 after 45 years of service.
Lambert has received proclamations recognizing his service from Harris County and the city of Houston as well as elected leaders on the state and national levels.
President & CEO Tom Lambert was honored at Houston City Hall on Nov. 28. Among those in attendance, METRO Board Member Diann Lewter, METRO Chair Sanjay Ramabhadran, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Lambert’s wife Cindy, and METRO Board Member Lex Frieden. (Pictured left to right)
During the celebration at METRO’s administration building, Lambert was presented with a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol in his honor and a special coin from the METRO Police Department.
METRO Police Chief Vera Bumpers presented Lambert with a special coin honoring his 45 years of service during a retirement celebration on Nov. 28.
Lambert helped create MPD and served as its first chief of police.
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