Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment removes prohibitions on state
agencies' ability to establish grievance procedures for employees to grieve
certain employment actions.
(1) Prohibited Grievance Procedures.
(A) No state agency may establish a grievance
procedure permitting a state employee, including a part-time employee, other
than a regular employee, to grieve a dismissal or any other action that would
limit the right to terminate employment at will.
(B) Subsequent to the effective date of this
rule, no state agency may enter into an agreement with a certified bargaining
unit providing for the same or any alternative dispute resolution procedure
regarding the matters prohibited in subsection (1)(A).
(C) The foregoing prohibitions shall not
apply to grievance procedures that allow for the presentation of allegations
that a dismissal or any other employment action was taken for a reason
prohibited by law.
(D) A "grievance
procedure" as used in this section means a right to a process or practice
whereby an employee could have a decision addressing any of the foregoing
matters reviewed either within or outside the employee's agency.
(E) The prohibition on the creation of a
grievance procedure contained in this section does not prohibit a state agency
from adopting policies allowing for the reporting of instances of unlawful
discrimination or other illegal acts, as well as policies permitting the agency
the discretion to review and address other employee concerns regarding other
employees, facilities, or other aspects of their work environment. Such
policies are specifically excluded from the grievance procedures prohibited by
this rule.
(F) The grievance
procedure found in sections (2)-(4) of this rule shall not apply to state
employees, including part-time employees, other than regular employees. This
section does not prevent an employing agency from bargaining over a grievance
procedure addressing employment actions other than dismissal, so long as no
terms affect the employing agency's right to terminate at will non-regular
employees.
(2) Grievance
Procedure Established. The settlement of differences within the classified
service between management and employees shall be provided through the
establishment of an orderly grievance procedure for each position covered under
section 36.030.1(2),
RSMo.
(A) The established grievance procedure
in any division of service shall apply to employment conditions and related
matters over which the appointing authority has complete or partial
jurisdiction and for which redress is not provided by the personnel law, rules,
or procedures.
(B) Notwithstanding
subsection (A) of this section, an agency may enter into an agreement with a
certified bargaining representative that allows for an alternative dispute
resolution procedure that a represented employee may elect in lieu of the
agency's established grievance procedures or the employee's right to appeal to
the Administrative Hearing Commission as provided by the personnel law, rules,
or procedures.
(C) Unless an agency
has entered into an agreement with a certified bargaining representative that
provides otherwise, the grievance procedure shall not apply in instances where
the grievance involves personnel transactions or administrative decisions of
the appointing authority for which the personnel law or rules provide a
specific appeal to the Administrative Hearing Commission. Because the director
of the Division of Personnel is not subject to an established grievance
procedure, neither a grievance procedure nor alternative dispute resolution
procedure may include provisions for grieving decisions made by the director
under authority granted by the personnel law or regulations.
(D) The responsibility and authority of
appointing authorities to create, promulgate, and enforce operational policies
for the efficient and effective operation of the divisions of service is not
altered by the ability of employees to use the grievance process to question
the application of these policies or to seek clarifications or modifications of
them.
(3) Objectives of
Grievance Settlements. To every extent possible, the grievance procedure shall
be designed to-
(A) Resolve the grievance
quickly;
(B) Settle the
disagreement informally at the employee-supervisor level, when
possible;
(C) Correct, if possible,
the cause of the grievance to prevent future similar complaints; and
(D) Promote fair and equitable treatment of
employees and to promote harmonious relations generally among employees,
supervisors, and administrative staff.
(4) Management Responsibility.
(A) Unless an agency has entered into an
agreement with a certified bargaining representative that provides for an
alternative method of resolving grievances which includes subjects for which
redress is provided by the personnel law, rules, or procedures, the grievance
procedures of each division of service shall distinguish between issues subject
to review through personnel law, rules, or procedures and other matters subject
to the grievance procedure. If there are separate procedures for filing
internal complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation for
grievances, or other matters, these shall also be identified.
(B) The grievance procedure shall include the
following minimum provisions:
1. Except where
the agency has a separate procedure as stated in subsection (3)(A), or unless
the agency has entered into an agreement with a certified bargaining unit
representative that provides otherwise, the procedure shall begin with the
immediate supervisor and, if not resolved to the satisfaction of the grievant
at the beginning or succeeding steps, shall end with the appointing
authority;
2. The procedure shall
require that the grievance and responses be in written form beginning at the
first step, unless agreed to by both parties. A copy of all written responses
will be delivered to the grievant. A copy of all written grievances and
responses will be filed with the appointing authority or his/her designated
representative;
3. The procedure
shall include specific time frames for filing and responding to grievances at
each step. The procedure may include a method of extending time frames
initiated by the grievant or management, or both;
4. The procedure shall include a provision
prohibiting retaliation or harassment for filing a grievance and for
investigating charges of alleged retaliation or harassment. Each agency must
give employees alleging retaliation for grievances an opportunity to address
this allegation to a higher level than the alleged incident;
5. The procedure shall permit group as well
as individual grievances;
6. The
procedure shall allow the grievant reasonable time off from duty for attendance
at formal grievance hearings; and
7. The procedure shall include a method for
informing all employees of the existence of the grievance procedure and for
providing a copy of the grievance procedure and appropriate forms to employees
desiring to file a grievance.
*Original authority: 36.070, RSMo 1945, amended 1979,
1995.