NEWPORT NEWS—Worker shortages created by the covid-19 pandemic and perpetuated by The Great Resignation are affecting every business sector, including municipalities. Newport News and its Waterworks division have been putting together some unique ways to try to draw people back in, especially for key positions that are being vacated by people who will soon be retiring.
“We currently have five critical positions posted right now, but we have a span of positions available—from entry level construction and maintenance workers to high-level division administrator jobs available,” said Greta Rohrbach, administrative services supervisor with Newport News Waterworks Department. “We’re trying to reach a broad spectrum of people.”
One thing the city did recently to help was to increase the city employee minimum wage to $15. Newport News is also conducting a four-year salary review for all positions to see if they can increase current positions and grades to move the salary scale up. That process began in January of last year, so the process is currently in its second year.
“In collaboration with the city’s Human Resource Department, we’re also creating Career Sheets to promote some of the higher-level positions we have available,” said Rohrbach. “These are colorful brochures that are job specific and offer more in-depth information versus simply posting a link to a job description.”
Referral bonuses are also helping to bring workers in. When a Newport News employee refers someone to a Waterworks position and that person stays employed for at least six months, the referring person can receive $500. Flexible schedules are another incentive to attract employees. Some positions provide teleworking opportunities as well as the potential to work four 10-hour days so employees can get an extra day off each week.
For positions that require a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), the city is not only paying for the training, it is also paying city employees while they are taking the classes.
“Something I’ve been hearing from people in the field is that, if you want to work outside, we have opportunities available to do so,” said Cyndi Masterstaff, public education coordinator for Newport News Waterworks. “If you want to work inside, we have opportunities for that, too. But I know a lot of the guys that were working in the field have been telling me that when they were working for construction companies, their biggest issue was, if it rained, they didn’t get to work. Here, it’s steady work and you are guaranteed 40 hours per week. I think that’s a big bonus for a lot of field workers.”
Masterstaff admits that when she joined Waterworks, she had no idea what went on behind the tap and she wants to try to send a message that lets people know the wide range of jobs that are available and how vitally important those roles are for everyone.
“There are so many opportunities when it comes to water,” said Masterstaff. “Chemists, people outside maintaining the watershed that protects the water source, customer service jobs, accountants, water treatment people. We’ve put together a regional message to try to get people to understand that working for water, in a sense, is like working for life. We all need water, so it’s an essential job.”
Under the “Work for Water” title, Newport News is trying to put out a regional message to show how important working for Waterworks is for everyone.
“Work for Water talks about all the different people, the diversity of the jobs, the job responsibilities, promotion opportunities that are available within Waterworks, and more,” said Masterstaff. “Something like 43 percent of Waterworks employees will be retiring in the next five years, so we want people to know what an essential service they will be providing by joining us. Water helps everyone—you can’t live without it. And there are opportunities for people to join us, no matter where they want to be on the employment ladder.”
For the record, job applicants do not need to be residents of Newport News to become a city employee. For additional information on jobs that are available, visit nnva.gov/jobs.