MEDIA RELEASE

Michael R. Ben

Michael R. Ben, Director of Human Resources for the County, is retiring from government service effective December 31, 2009. Ben has served 17 years as Director beginning June 1992, after having served as Deputy Director since October 1988. He has more than 35 years of government service including 21 years with the County and 14 years with the State of Hawai‘i.

Ben’s career paralleled the growth of public sector collective bargaining in Hawai‘i, and had been the County’s chief negotiating spokesperson on collective bargaining matters. As administrative head of the County’s Department of Human Resources, Ben was responsible for recruitment and examination for County civil service positions, compensation and benefits for employees, employee and labor relations, health and safety of employees, employee and organizational development, and equal opportunity both in employment, and access to County facilities and activities.

Soon after his appointment in 1992, Ben implemented the County’s flexible spending program which allowed employees to pay for medical insurance premiums and contribute to medical reimbursement accounts and dependent care accounts on a pre-tax basis. As a result, the County has saved on FICA contributions where this year alone, the County is targeted to save over $350,000 in FICA taxes. Employees realize even more tax savings and as a result, see more in their take home pay each paycheck.

More recently, Ben implemented an employee tuition reimbursement program for employees the cost of which is borne by the flexible spending program and not County funds. Ben will be replaced by Deputy Director of Human Resources Ronald Takahashi. The Merit Appeals Board, at its December 17, 2009 meeting, appointed Takahashi as Director of Human Resources effective December 31, 2009.