29.1.    Length

Probationary employees shall undergo a probationary period of one thousand forty (1,040) regular hours, unless a longer period, not to exceed two thousand eighty (2,080) regular hours is prescribed by the Civil Service Commission for their classifications. If an employee is incapacitated due to medical conditions and is reassigned to work that is not part of the employee’s normal duties, the probationary period for the primary job will be extended for the duration of the reassignment. The employee shall be notified in writing of the probationary extension at the time of the reassignment.

Time worked by an employee in a temporary or provisional status shall not count towards completion of the probationary period. The probationary period shall start from the date of probationary appointment.

29.2.    Regular Appointment 

An employee who is not rejected prior to the completion of the prescribed probationary period shall acquire permanent status automatically. Former permanent employees appointed from a reemployment eligible list shall be given permanent appointments when re-employed. Permanent employees who are involuntarily demoted to lower classifications shall be given permanent appointments in the lower classifications.

29.3.    Reemployment in New Classification 

An employee who is laid off and subsequently appointed as a result of certification from a general employment eligible list to a position in a different classification than that from which laid off shall undergo the probationary period prescribed for the class to which appointed. Former probationary employees whose names were placed on a reemployment eligible list before they achieved permanent status shall start a new probationary period when appointed from a reemployment eligible list.

29.4.    Rejection During Probationary Period 

The appointing authority may terminate a probationary employee at any time during the probationary period without right of appeal in any manner and without recourse to the procedures provided in Section 32 (Grievances), except when the employee alleges, and substantiates in writing that the termination was due to discrimination prohibited by county, state or federal statutes or regulations. If discrimination is alleged, the appeal or grievance shall be decided solely on the basis of whether or not the termination was due to discrimination; and unless it is determined that there was discrimination, the person or persons hearing the appeal or grievance shall not substitute their judgment for that of the appointing authority. In case of rejections during probationary periods, employees shall be given written notice, with reasons therefore, at once. The Human Resources Director may, upon request by an employee rejected during their probationary period, restore that employee’s name to the eligible list for that classification. However, the employee’s name shall not be certified to the department from which rejected without approval of the department head.

29.5.    Transfer Within Existing Classification 

Permanent employees who transfer to another position in the same classification within the same department shall not be required to undergo a new probationary period in the position into which transferred.

Employees who transfer to a class in another series or in another department may be required by the department head to start a new probationary period. If a new probationary period is a condition for transfer, the employee shall sign a statement indicating an understanding of this fact prior to the effective date of the transfer. At the discretion of the Human Resources Director, examinations to demonstrate qualifications may be required before transfers between separate classes can occur.

If a new probationary period is in force, the employee shall have a window period of twenty-eight (28) days from the date of transfer to elect to return to their former position. Should employees be rejected at a point beyond the window period, they shall have the right to return to their former department if a vacancy in their former classification exists. If no vacancy exists, such employees shall be placed in the longest standing vacancy, as determined by the requisition form date, County-wide. If no vacancy exists, such employees shall displace the least senior employee as determined by Section 12. If no less senior position exists, then the employee shall be removed from County service.

2019-07-03