The employees of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control face hurdles. From March 2020 to December 2020, DABC stores totaled almost $425 million in retail sales, with more than 36 million units sold. Sales are up 4.5% from last year and all stores have remained open throughout the pandemic. However, the DABC experiences a very high level of employee turnover – with the current rate reaching 109%. During an agency presentation in the Business, Economic Development, and Labor Appropriations Committee, the DABC Interim Executive Director, Tiffany Clason, said, “The turnover rate is unacceptable.” The agency has requested $2 million to increase compensation and improve employee retention.
Committee Chairman, Senator Daniel McCay, asked if compensation is the driving reason for turnover; Clason confirmed low salary is the major cause for their retention issues. Senator Gene Davis referenced an interim study about the DABC and its findings prompting the prioritization of DABC employee pay. Sen. Davis informed the committee that he will be sponsoring a bill requesting an additional $4 million to fund an increase in pay for DABC employees. Once this bill is made public, UPEA will track its progress and keep members informed on its success.
Chairman McCay told Interim Director Clason to “take this message back to your employees: pay will be prioritized this year by this committee. We want to ensure your employees are properly compensated and appreciated.”