Mr. Joe Sgroi

"If we were a business, we'd be kicking butt," says Joe Sgroi, director of human resources for the Roanoke County.He points out that the Board of Supervisors recently voted to reduce the real estate tax rate, "[proving] our government services must be profitable."

Employees of Roanoke County pride themselves on working "cheaper, faster, better," he says.But what pressure could a non-profit be under?"Compared to the private sector, we're more under the microscope," says Sgroi.He adds that the organization needs to be nimble in order to respond to challenges such as unfunded mandates.

Employee turnover is 11 percent, he says, compared to 15 percent nationally for state and local governments; the average employee has nearly 10 years of service.With more than 1,000 employees, there were only three grievances filed last year.The last citizen survey, administered in 2001, showed a citizens satisfaction level of over 93 percent, versus 60 percent for peer counties.

Sgroi describes the norms of the county's culture as: "an expectation, especially among management, of cooperation, adaptability and flexibility."There is also an expectation of employee "engagement," which he defines as "happy, helpful, positive, and service-oriented."The reward is not pay, he says, "but having someone say 'we appreciate your idea and we're going to put it in place.'"

In a report to county supervisors, Joe Sgroi, director of human resources, cited the following example: A sheriff's deputy earns a monthly salary of $3,046.As a sergeant who has eight years in the reserves, he earns $2,400 a month.Under the county's proposal, the deputy would receive a supplement of $646 for each month of active duty.

Carilion's strategy "puts uncertainty into the rate process," said Joe Sgroi , human resources director.

"It's not a grab for a bag of money," Carilion's Lorton said.

"What all of us want out of this is reasonable health care costs and reasonable increases that are somewhat predictable and affordable," said Joe Sgroi, human resources director for Roanoke County, which has 800 employees.

"We can't pick and choose where we want to go outside of the contract and where we work within the contract," said Joe Sgroi, the county's human resources director.

"We would like to take care of our employees who are serving our country," said Joe Sgroi, the county's director of human resources.Roanoke, Salem and Bedford County already have similar policies, Sgroi said.

Fourteen county employees are in the military reserves, he said.Three of them have been called to active duty.

Sgroi said it was impossible to estimate what the policy could cost the county, because it's impossible to know who will be called up and how long they will be on active duty.Even so, the supervisors were unanimous in their support.

That, according to Human Resources Director Joe Sgroi, exceeds the county's goal.The county's 2000 report cites "skilled craft workers" and "service maintenance" as job classifications that need more minority workers.

Mr. Joe Sgroi

Director of Human Resources

City of Salem