Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an administrative order calling for a pay and classification study of salary and compensation for the City’s 911 Call Center employees to help improve staff retention and recruitment.
Because APD’s 911 Call Center plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Atlanta residents, businesses, and visitors, Bottoms’s order directs the Department of Human Resources to coordinate with the Atlanta Police Department to develop recommendations for an implementation plan no later than Jan. 4, 2021.
According to a spokesperson, public safety is a top priority for Bottoms; this commitment has been demonstrated through a series of actions since taking office, the spokesperson said. Earlier this year, Bottoms issued an administrative order directing the institution of a hazard pay policy for front-line City employees amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the end of her first year in office, the mayor announced the Administration’s historic comprehensive plan to raise compensation for APD members would be instituted ahead of schedule. A year ago, Bottoms announced the most significant pay raises for Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) personnel in 15 years.
Bottoms has also prioritized equity in hiring and compensation for Atlanta employees, the spokesperson said. In her second year in office, Bottoms banned the salary box history requirement for City of Atlanta applications, as salary history can trap employees in an unfair earnings cycle based on history rather than their skill set—disproportionately affecting women and communities of color.
