In today's labor market, Local 2419 and management recognize that more flexible work schedules are necessary to attract and maintain a quality work force. Job sharing is a way to permit employees to work part-time in positions where full-time coverage is required.
Section 1. Definition
Job sharing is a form of part-time employment in which the tours of duty of two (2) or more employees are arranged in such a way as to cover a single full-time position.
Section 2. Status
Although they share the duties of a full-time position, job sharers are considered to be individual part-time employees for purposes of appointment, tour of duty, pay, classification, leave, holidays, benefits, position change, service credit, record keeping, reduction in force, adverse actions, grievances, and personnel ceilings.
Section 3. Tour of Duty
Specific work schedules depend on the nature of the job and the needs of the office and job-sharing team. Almost any reasonable arrangement is possible if it meets the needs of the supervisor and the job sharers. Scheduling should take advantage of the fact that two (2) people rather than one (1) are filling the job; these possibilities include overlapping time, split shifts, or working in different locations at the same time. Work schedules for job sharers can be from sixteen (16) to thirty-two (32) hours per week and can be varied in the same way as other part-time employees. The amount of scheduled overlap time depends on the needs of the particular position.
Section 4. Employee Requests
Employee requests for part-time employment in order to participate in job sharing, must be made in writing to the employees immediate supervisor. The Employer will give fair and objective consideration to the employee's request for part-time employment and grant such requests based on the Employer's need for the employee's services, the suitability of the position for part-time employment, availability of resources, and the impact on the efficiency of the Agency. Requests will be approved or disapproved within thirty (30) days of receipt by the immediate supervisor. In the case of a disapproval, the supervisor will inform the employee in writing and provide the reason for the denial.
Section 5. Information on Impact of Conversion to Part Time Employment
Employees who have been approved to convert to part-time employment for the purposes of job sharing may request information concerning the impact of the conversion from full-time to part-time employment in the areas of retirement, reduction in force, health and life insurance, promotion and step increases. This information will be provided to the employee in the form of a written fact sheet. The employee will be required to sign a statement indicating that they received this information.
Section 6. Changes in Job Sharing Situations
Job sharing situations may change from time to time. For example, one employee who shares a position with another might leave the program. This may have an adverse affect on the remaining employee who shares the position. In these instances management will fully consider the affect on the remaining employee and their needs. The remaining employee will be allowed fifteen (15) workdays, if practicable, from receiving written notice from the Employer to find another employee, acceptable to management, to share the position. If no employee can be identified or is not acceptable to management, the remaining employee will resume full-time employment. The final decision for all changes in job sharing situations shall be made by management.Section 7. Limitation on Job Sharing
No more than 5% of each organizational segment (MES, PRB, NDCC, MAPB, LB) in the bargaining unit will be allowed to participate in job sharing initiatives at any one time.
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