About Employee Advisory Council
The Fairfax County Employee Advisory Council (EAC) is an elected body that acts as a liaison between county employees and management to improve the career merit system and working environment. This advisory board of employees meets regularly with the County Executive, the Human Resources Director and other officials to advise and make recommendations on matters of personnel policies and procedures. EAC hosts the Don Smith Awards, recognizing Fairfax County employees who go above and beyond to create better workplaces, foster collaboration, and make a meaningful impact.
EAC also sponsors activities for employees, such as craft fairs, food trucks and other social activities and special projects that improve the welfare and morale of county employees.
The EAC consists of eleven members elected by their peers to three-year terms. Terms are staggered to allow for continuity. Representative responsibilities include attending 3 monthly meetings, one of which is with the County Executive and the Human Resources Director. The meetings are generally held on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. It may also be necessary to attend special committee meetings from time to time. Members often spend time informally counseling employees with problems or potential grievances. If requested to serve as the official representative for an employee filing a formal County grievance under Chapter 17 of the County's Personnel Regulations, a member may be required to attend several grievance meetings and spend a reasonable amount of time in preparation for those meetings. A representative may also serve as chairperson or committee member of an EAC committee or attend meetings of various boards and commissions as directed by the EAC Chairperson.
The EAC consists of eleven members elected by their peers to three-year terms. Terms are staggered to allow for continuity.
Representative responsibilities include attending 3 monthly meetings, one of which is with the County Executive and the Human Resources Director. The meetings are generally held on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. It may also be necessary to attend special committee meetings from time to time. Members often spend time informally counseling employees with problems or potential grievances. If requested to serve as the official representative for an employee filing a formal County grievance under Chapter 17 of the County's Personnel Regulations, a member may be required to attend several grievance meetings and spend a reasonable amount of time in preparation for those meetings. A representative may also serve as chairperson or committee member of an EAC committee or attend meetings of various boards and commissions as directed by the EAC Chairperson.
ELECTION PROCESS
Individuals interested in serving as a representative or nominating a fellow employee must complete an EAC Petition for Election Form. A person must consent to be nominated before the petition is signed. A nominee must be a merit employee (not exempt) from an agency within their employment group. The candidate must obtain at least 20 signatures from merit employees (including DROP employees) within their employment group by the designated deadline. If only one valid nomination is received in a group, the person nominated is declared the winner and no election is held.
If there is more than one valid nominee for a group, then an election will take place. Ballots will be printed and mailed to the address of record with Department of Human Resources (DHR) to each merit employee in the appropriate group. Ballots returned to DHR by the designated date will be tabulated; the nominee receiving the most votes will be declared the winner and serve as the Group representative for designated term.