The grievance procedure for the application of express terms of this chapter which deprive an employee of accrued and/or existing pay and/or benefits or that is related to any adverse action taken against him or her for reporting governmental waste or legal violations is as follows.
(A) Step 1. An employee that has completed his or her orientation period who believes that he or she has a grievance relating to the application of the express terms of these policies and procedures which deprive him or her of accrued and/or existing pay and/or benefits or that is related to any adverse action taken against him or her for reporting governmental waste or legal violations in violation of § 32.107 shall reduce the grievance to writing and submit it to the employee’s department head, with a copy sent to the Human Resource Director, within ten working days of the alleged violation. The grievance shall state the violation and cite the policies and procedures section. Upon receipt of the grievance, the department head/elected official will provide the employee an opportunity to meet him or her and will then promptly respond to the grievance in writing. If desired by the employee, he or she may designate a representative to attend but not participate in the hearing, and the employee shall provide to the Human Resources Director the name of the employee’s representative at least one working day prior to the hearing. The department head/elected official’s grievance response must be consistent with county human resource systems, programs, procedures and practices as established by this chapter and/or by the Human Resource Department.
(B) Step 2.If the grievance is not settled after following the procedure described in division (A) above, the employee may file within ten working days of receipt of the department head/elected official decision a written request to the Human Resource Director for review by the Chief Administrative Officer. The Human Resource Director will forward the request to the Chief Administrative Officer. At the discretion of the Chief Administrative Officer, an employee grievance may be referred to the Administrative Law Judge for review.
(Ord. passed 6- -2019; Ord. 2023-03, passed 5-16-2023)