404 Types of Appointments

Probationary Appointment

       All appointments leading to regular status in full-time or part-time permanent positions shall be subject to successful completion of a one year probationary period.  The probationary period shall be regarded as an integral part of the selection process, and shall be used for evaluating the employee's performance and adjustment to the position and for rejecting any employee whose performance or conduct is unsatisfactory.

An employee who is not dismissed prior to the expiration date of his probationary period will attain regular status with the County.  The department head must complete the Employee Action Form, including salary increase if appropriate, and forward it to Human Resources before the employee obtains regular status.  Any dismissal of a probationary employee must be effective no later than the last workday of the probationary period.

Trainee Appointment

A trainee appointment may be made to a permanent position for which the specification includes special provisions for a trainee progression leading to regular appointment.  A trainee appointment may be made in the absence of a fully-qualified applicant.  An individual may not be appointed as a trainee if he possesses the acceptable training and experience for the class.

If an employee with regular status in another class accepts a trainee appointment, regular status will be waived for the duration of the trainee appointment.  The employee can regain regular status either through successful completion of the trainee appointment, by reinstatement to the class he previously held, or by transfer to a position in a class for which he would have been eligible based on his previous regular status.

A former employee who is eligible for reinstatement but does not meet the minimum requirements of the class to which he is being appointed, shall be given a trainee appointment.  All requirements for the trainee appointment must be satisfied prior to attaining regular status.

Regular Appointment

NOTE:  The use of the term "regular," when referring to employees is equivalent to the use of the term "permanent" in the State Personnel Act.

A regular appointment is an appointment to a permanently established position.  Regular appointments follow the satisfactory completion of a probationary or trainee period.

Temporary Appointment

A temporary appointment may be made to a permanent or temporary position.  The appointment shall be limited to a maximum duration of twelve (12) months.  (Exception:  The twelve-month duration period does not apply to temporary employees working on a seasonal, as needed, or on-call basis.)        

Pre-Vocational Student Appointment

This appointment is to be used to enable students to gain practical knowledge of a particular occupational area.  A suitable plan for training under close supervision must be developed for the individual.  The employee, upon successful completion of his training, will be encouraged to become a candidate for probationary appointment to classes of positions for which he qualifies.

Emergency Appointment

Any emergency appointment may be made when an emergency situation requires the services of an employee before it is possible to appoint from a register of eligible applicants.  The nature of the emergency must be reported to Human Resources before approval can be made of an emergency appointment. When it is determined that an emergency appointment can be made, all other requirements for an appointment will be waived.

An emergency appointment may be made for a maximum period of sixty (60) calendar days.  Such appointments will not automatically lead to regular employment.  Individuals appointed in this manner will be encouraged to become candidates for a probationary appointment, and they must compete with all other applicants for the position.

Work-Against Appointment

A work-against appointment may be made in the absence of a fully-qualified applicant.  When qualified applicants are unavailable, and there is no trainee provision for the classification of the vacancy, the employee may be appointed below the pay grade of the regular classification in a work-against situation.  A work-against appointment is for the purpose of allowing the employee to gain the qualifications needed for the full class through on-the-job experience.  The appointee must meet the minimum education and experience standard of the next lower pay grade class in the series.

Revised 7/16/02