DMV calling for more workers

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000 | 10:41 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- There are increasing problems with employee turnover and workers calling in sick at the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety.

Department Director Richard Kirkland told the Legislative Interim Finance Committee Monday the agency has a 20 percent turnover in workers, with a 45 percent daily absenteeism rate alone at the Sahara Avenue office in Las Vegas.

"There's burnout at the Sahara store," Kirkland said.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said the employees are subjected to "tremendous stress," but he said the agency has made progress in reducing the times that customers have to wait.

The governor said there is an "abnormal amount of sick leave" but added that may be because the office workers meet the public every day and contract viruses and colds.

Guinn also noted some reasons for stress that may not be present in other jobs, including that employees must sometimes impound the cars of those coming to register them and that worker must explain to drivers why the privilege tax in Nevada is $400, $500 or $900, when in other states it's often less than $100.

The legislative committee agreed to allow the agency to shift funds in its budget to hire an additional 64 part-time workers. Kirkland said he wants the extra workers so that all windows can be staffed in Las Vegas and Reno instead of closing them down when a worker takes a lunch or mandatory coffee break.

The committee also approved the use of $112,929 to finance armed security guards at the North Las Vegas office and the Reno and Sparks express locations.

Kirkland noted an increasing number of calls to police at those offices, where employees have been grabbed by the throat or threatened with bodily harm and even death. The other offices in Reno and Las Vegas have armed security.

The lawmakers told Kirkland the policy of having armed security would be reviewed during the 2001 Legislature. Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, said placing armed guards in public agencies has shown to be a failure. He said a way must be found to lessen the tensions.

But Sen. Bill O'Donnell, R-Las Vegas, said the best deterrent to criminal activity is to have armed security guards.

"The last thing we want to do is read in the paper of a robbery or a customer attacking clerks," O'Donnell said.

"We don't know who is walking through the door. We don't know if they are armed. It is imperative to protect the staff and the public."