Several MnDOT FLSA exempt employees have recently been asked to pay back hours they worked in pay periods that contained both holidays and approved overtime. While MGEC is trying to understand the employer’s basis for this (no one from MnDOT or MMB has advised us of what they are thinking or that they will be demanding payment), we advise people to respond to any request to refund “overpayments” with the following as written by our attorney: “I do not agree that I was overpaid, and I do not agree to any reduction in my paycheck. If you make an unauthorized reduction of my pay, you will be ... Read More >>
Activity/Organization updates
Deferred Compensation Management Change
If you are participating in the deferred compensation (MNDCP 457b) program, first off, congratulations on taking charge of your financial future! But you also need to be aware that the management of that benefit will be transitioning from the “employee self service” portal to the Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) website. The last day to access your salary deferral in self-service is June 16th, and the first day you can manage it in MSRS is July 1; there will be a blackout period. ... Read More >>
FINAL REMINDER: Scholarship & Awards Application
This is your final reminder to submit your MGEC scholarship applications for the Family Member Scholarships and the Connie Minetor Memorial Scholarship. Applications must be received by MGEC no later than 5:00 pm on June 30, 2025. Winners will be decided by the MGEC Membership Committee in July with announcement in August. MGEC, at their discretion, may award up to $4,000 each calendar year for scholarships, distributed amongst any number of qualified applicants for the Family Member and Connie Minetor Memorial Scholarships. For the MGEC Family Member Scholarship, MGEC will now accept ... Read More >>
Potential State Shutdown
As you no doubt have heard, the Minnesota Legislature has adjourned without passing the budget and spending bills required to maintain continuity of service without the risk of layoffs for MGEC members. While no one is stating that a state shutdown is their goal, the fact remains that planning for a shutdown must take place in the absence of funding bills that pay for services. MGEC, like the state’s other unions, knows as much as the public about what happens next. The Legislature has passed bills that significantly reduces projected future structural imbalances, including public safety, ... Read More >>
Telework Responses
Thanks to everyone who has provided responses to us about the telework policy update. MGEC and MMB met on April 14 and MGEC shared feedback with MMB to represent the feedback we received from members. We have shared the voice of our membership with MMB. So far, we've received 61 responses. Of those who responded: 41 (69%) want to see continued telework flexibility with no change to the current policy allowing telework flexibility; 6 (10%) had questions about the change but did not express a viewpoint for or against the change; and 13 (21%) felt the new policy is either fair or, ... Read More >>
President’s Response to Telework Policy Changes
The announcement by Governor Walz yesterday about the state’s telework policy changing June 1 to require most state agency employees to work in-person for at least 50% of their scheduled workdays each month was as much of a surprise to MGEC as we’re sure it was to you. We only learned about the policy change after hearing about it from your fellow MGEC members. There was no attempt to communicate with MGEC by anyone at MMB, the Governor’s Office, nor any agency about this sudden and significant change. We’re completely blindsided. MGEC and the other union partners met with MMB earlier ... Read More >>