TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Salvador Llamas, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Update on Long-term Leave Challenges
BRIEFING ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ?
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving an update to the report presented to the Board on May 28, 2025, regarding the Human Resources Department's ongoing long-term leave challenges and their impact on Bus Operator availability.
Staff Contact:
James Arcellana, Executive Director of Human Resources
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STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - High-Performing Workforce
This initiative directly supports service continuity and workforce optimization, by improving hiring and retention efforts, and minimizing disruptions through the effective control of extended leaves.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary or fiscal impact associated with receipt of this report.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
This report is an update based on the Board's request at the May 28, 2025, meeting (Report 25-254a) to return in six months with an update on long-term leave (LTL).
Long-term leave (LTL) continues to present ongoing challenges that affect service delivery, staffing levels, and day-to-day operations. As a reminder, District leaves are currently managed across multiple departments:
* Office of the General Counsel - Responsible for work-related injuries.
* Office of Civil Rights & Compliance - Responsible for DOT violations, and the Substance Abuse Program.
* Human Resources - Responsible for managing non-occupational leaves.
RECAP OF PRIOR REPORT
A snapshot of LTL cases from 2023 to early 2025 showed an increase of 28%, driven primarily by work-related injuries (i.e., Industrial Injuries or II). The sustained LTL growth over this period indicates a persistent upward trend rather than a temporary fluctuation.
UPDATED FINDINGS
Leave data from October 2025 reveals the following:
* There are 150 employees on long term leave (LTL), representing an increase of 4 from the 146 repo...
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