Any employee in the classified service, except one serving in his probationary period, who is aggrieved because of any action affecting his status or condition of employment which has not been adjusted to his satisfaction after consultation with his appointing officer or body may, within two weeks of the time he has been formally notified of such action by his appointing officer or body, file a written appeal with the Commission requesting a hearing thereon. This right of appeal shall not apply to one or more suspensions totalling not over seven days in any calendar year. Such appeal shall state the pertinent facts relative to the cause of complaint and shall be signed by the employee. The filing of an appeal shall not stay the effect of the personnel action complained of. The Commission shall investigate each such appeal and shall promptly hold a hearing thereon. A record of the proceedings of such hearing shall be kept by the Commission.
After considering the facts brought out in the investigation and hearing, the Commission shall determine whether such action was made for political or religious reasons or without just cause. If it so determines that it was made for such reasons or without just cause, it shall order that the employee be restored to the status existing before such action. If it finds otherwise, it shall report its decision and order in writing to the employee making the appeal and to his appointing officer or body. The Commission shall render its decision in all matters affecting an employee within thirty days after receipt of the appeal.
Except as hereinafter provided, the decision and order of the Commission shall be final and the affected parties shall comply therewith. If the decision finds the action was made for political or religious reasons or without just cause, it shall order the employee reinstated with payment of any lost salary or wages. Documents which may have been considered by the Commission and the decision and order of the Commission shall be promptly filed with the secretary of the Commission, and shall be public record.
The Circuit Court of Wayne County, upon petition of any party aggrieved, may review, by certiorari, any final decision or order of the Commission. The issuance of such writ shall not however, unless specifically ordered by the Court, operate as a stay of such decision or order. The decision of such Court shall be final, subject to appeal of the Supreme Court.
The removing officer and the person sought to be removed shall at all times, both before the Commission and upon appeal, be given the right to employ counsel to represent either of them before said Commission and upon appeal.