Grievance Procedure Process for Classified Employees

Since we are all human, differences are bound to arise from time to time. In order to air these differences and to be sure they reach a just conclusion, the Medical Center has provided a formal grievance procedure which gives the employee a method of appeal, without prejudice or recrimination, to a higher level of authority in the event the employee believes he has reason for dissatisfaction with his employment situation.

Grievances should be presented promptly so that the facts about the grievance can be readily obtained and a fair decision reached for all.

Time limits are given in the grievance. However, if the employee presenting the grievance does not appeal from one case to the next within the time limit stated, the case will be considered closed unless the employee can show that unusual circumstances prevented him/her from appealing the grievance within the time limit stated. If the employee does not receive an answer within the time limit stated, he/she may appeal to the next step without waiting further for an answer. The limits are exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Step 1

Any employee who believes he/she has reason for dissatisfaction in his/her employment relationships should first talk with his/her immediate supervisor. The immediate supervisor shall have three days in which to give an answer. If the immediate supervisor is unable to settle the matter in a manner acceptable to the employee and within the intent and/or policies of the Medical Center, and the employee wishes to appeal to Step 2 of the grievance procedures, then within (3) three days following the receipt of his immediate supervisor's answer, the employee shall present the complaint to his department head.

Step 2

The department head or his/her designated representative (in his/her absence) shall answer the complaint within five days following its receipt by his/her.

Step 3

In the event the complaint is not settled in Step 2, then the employee within (3) three days from the receipt of the answer of the department head or the department head's representative, may present the grievance in writing to the Medical Center Director of Human Resources. In the event the grievance is presented to the Director of Human Resources, the Director or his designated representative within (10) ten days following receipt of the grievance from the employee shall appoint a committee of (3) three members to review the grievance.

The Director shall appoint persons to the grievance committee who, in his or her judgment, will be fair and impartial in discharging their responsibilities. Before appointing the committee, the Director shall give the employee a reasonable opportunity for consultation on the matter. The committee shall not include the initial rater or raters. Members of the appeal committee shall be officers or employees of the agency, except that the Director may select one or more members of the committee from one or more other state agencies if the appointing authority determines that the objective of a fair and impartial hearing can best be served by doing so. As soon as the committee has been appointed, the Director shall notify the employee of the names of the members of the committee. The committee shall consider such evidence as may be offered by the employee and the Department Head (or representative), and as it may secure on its own initiative, and shall, within (10) ten calendar days of the date the members of the committee were appointed, prepare and sign a memorandum to the Director of Human Resources. The memo will contain the majority opinion of the committee concerning the grievance. A minority opinion may also be expressed. The opinion should include the committee's determination of whether or not the employee has been aggrieved, how (specifically) the employee has been aggrieved, the recommendations for elimination of the grievance(s).

The decision (opinion) of the committee will be advisory on both parties to the grievance.

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Human Resources at 913-588-5080.

Rev. 8/93