(A) Transfers, reassignments and reinstatements.
(1) With the consent of the Commission, a person holding an office or position in the classified service may be transferred to a similar position in another office or department having the same pay and similar duties; but no transfer shall be made from an office or position in one classification to an office or position in another classification. Nor shall a person be transferred to an office or position for original entrance to which there is required by civil service law, or the rules of this Commission, an examination involving essential tests or qualifications or carrying a salary different from, or higher than, those required for original entrance to an office or position held by such person.
(2) An employee shall not be reduced by reassignment except upon request of the employee and approval by the Commission. An employee is reduced if reassigned to a classification assigned a lower pay range. An employee returning to his or her regular position from a temporary work level will not be considered to be reassigned, reduced or reclassified.
(3) Inter-departmental transfers and reassignments. Any employee in the classified service who has served the required probationary term, may be transferred or reassigned from a position in one department to a position of the same classification in another department. Where the good of the service demands, transfers may be made. Nothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the right of the city to assign or reassign employees within a given classification among the various departments as necessary in the best interests of the service.
(4) Temporary assignment to other work. Any employee in the classified service may be assigned to work other than that described in the specifications of his or her classification, but of the same general level of responsibility, for a period not exceeding 30 days. Such an assignment shall not involve a decrease in compensation. No person shall be reassigned for more than 30 days at a time on other duties than those implied by his or her classification title unless he or she has qualified through competitive examination and is appointed in accordance with the procedure in these rules.
(B) Reinstatement after separation. Any person holding an office or position under the classified service who has been separated from the service without delinquency or misconduct on his or her part may, at the discretion of the appointing authority and with consent of the Commission, be reinstated within one year from the date of such separation to a vacancy in the same or similar office or position in the same department.
(C) Leave of absence. The appointing authority may grant leave of absence to an employee in the classified service for a period not to exceed one year. All such leaves of absence granted by appointing authorities shall be referred to the Commission in order that the civil service status of such absentees may be protected. All leaves of absence shall be according to the policies established by the appointing authority. If it is found that a leave is not actually being used for the purpose for which it was granted, the appointing authority or the Commission may cancel the leave and direct the employee to report for work by giving written notice to the employee.
(D) Absence without leave.
(1) Any employee in the classified service who absents himself or herself from duty habitually for three or more successive duty days, without leave,and without adequate advance notice to his or her supervisor of the reasons for such absence, may be subject to discipline, up to and including removal, for neglect of duty. This rule does not require an appointing authority to initiate removal action if he or she determines it unwarranted nor does it preclude removal action for a shorter period of absence if the absence is of sufficient seriousness.
(2) Failure to report after a leave has expired or has been disapproved or revoked and canceled by the appointing authority or the Commission for cause shown shall be considered neglect of duty and cause for discharge; provided, however, that if the employee so discharged shows to the satisfaction of the appointing authority and/or the Commission that the failure to report was excusable, the employee may be reinstated.
(Ord. 2001-03, passed 1-16-01)