Subchapter A. PROBATIONARY PERIODS AFTER APPOINTMENT OR PROMOTION
Sec.
603a.1. Probationary periods required.
603a.2. Duration and extension of probationary periods.
603a.3. Probationary period following reassignment or transfer.
603a.4. Probationary period following demotion.
603a.5. Probationary period following reinstatement.
603a.6. Probationary period following promotion.
603a.7. Probationary period of trainees.
603a.8. Probationary period of interns.
603a.9. Credit towards probationary period.
603a.10. Effect of leave of absence on probationary period.
603a.11. Effect of a leave of absence for military duty on probationary period.
603a.12. Conferment of regular status and removal of probationary employees.§ 603a.1. Probationary periods required.
Except as otherwise provided by the act and this subpart, an employee in the classified service shall serve a probationary period after an appointment or promotion.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.2. Duration and extension of probationary periods.
(a) Duration of probationary period. The length of the probationary period required for appointments and promotions for a full-time position is a minimum of 6 months, defined as 180 calendar days, and will be determined by the Office of Administration for each job classification. The probationary period for part-time positions shall be prorated according to the number of hours in the work week.
(b) Extension of probationary period. The probationary period, except for a trainee job classification, may be extended up to a maximum of 18 months (defined as 545 calendar days—365 calendar days plus 6 months at 30 days per month), at the discretion of the appointing authority. If the appointing authority extends an employee’s probationary period, it must notify the employee in writing at least 1 workday prior to the effective date of the extension.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.3. Probationary period following reassignment or transfer.
(a) Regular employees. An employee who has achieved regular status and who is appointed to a position through reassignment or transfer shall retain regular status.
(b) Probationary employees. The unexpired portion of the probationary period of an employee who never achieved regular status and who is appointed to a position through a reassignment or transfer shall continue to be served in the position, unless the employee accepted the appointment after being notified in writing that the appointing authority having jurisdiction over the position requires a full probationary period in the position as a condition of appointment.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.4. Probationary period following demotion.
(a) Regular employee. An employee who has achieved regular status and who is demoted shall retain regular status.
(b) Probationary employee. The unexpired portion of the probationary period of an employee who never achieved regular status and who is demoted shall continue to be served in the position, unless the employee accepted the demotion after being notified in writing that the appointing authority having jurisdiction over the position requires a full probationary period in the position as a condition of appointment. An employee who held regular status in a lower-level job classification shall be assigned regular status in the job classification to which the employee is demoted, unless the employee had not previously held the job classification to which they are demoted.
(c) Subsequent promotion. When a regular employee has voluntarily demoted to a lower-level job classification and is subsequently promoted to the higher-level job classification held prior to demotion, the appointing authority may waive all or part of the probationary period for the higher-level job classification.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.5. Probationary period following reinstatement.
An appointing authority may waive the probationary period for a position if the former employee is reinstated within 2 years after resignation. If more than 2 years have expired since the former employee’s resignation, the former employee shall serve the probationary period prescribed for the job classification to which reinstated.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.6. Probationary period following promotion.
(a) Generally. A regular status employee who is promoted shall serve the duration of the probationary period that is specified for the job classification to which promoted, subject to the following conditions:
(1) During the first 3 months of the probationary period, the employee has the option to return to the regular status position held immediately prior to the employee’s promotion.
(2) At any time after the first 3 months of the probationary period, an employee in probationary status may return to the previous regular status position or job classification held immediately prior to the employee’s promotion, with written consent of the appointing authorities.
(3) If the performance of the employee is found to be unsatisfactory by the appointing authority, the employee shall be returned to the previous regular status position or job classification held immediately prior to the employee’s promotion.
(b) Status after return. Employees returned under subsection (a) shall be assigned regular status in the job classification to which the employee is returned, provided the employee achieved regular status in that classification.
(c) Employees without regular status. A promoted employee who has never held regular status in the classified service does not have a right to return to a probationary status position previously held.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.7. Probationary period of trainees.
(a) Status as trainee. A trainee shall maintain the status of a probationary employee while employed in the trainee job classification.
(b) Duration of probationary period. The probationary period for the trainee job classification and working level job classification will be combined and may be set by the Office of Administration at a minimum of 6 months, defined as 180 calendar days, and a maximum of 24 months, defined as 730 calendar days, to coincide with the length of the designated training period.
(c) Extension of probationary period. The probationary period of a trainee may be extended up to a maximum of 24 months, defined as 730 calendar days, at the discretion of the appointing authority. If the appointing authority extends an employee’s probationary period, it must notify the employee in writing at least 1 workday prior to the effective date of the extension.
(d) Promotion to working level job classification. A trainee shall be promoted to the working level job classification, with regular status, if the trainee successfully completes the designated probationary period. Notice of successful completion of the probationary period shall be given in accordance with § 603a.12 (relating to conferment of regular status and removal of probationary employees).
(e) Removal of trainee. An appointing authority must immediately remove, or, if appropriate, return a trainee who fails to successfully complete the designated probationary period in accordance with § 603a.12(d).
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.8. Probationary period of interns.
(a) Status as intern. An intern shall maintain the status of a probationary employee while employed in the intern job classification.
(b) Duration of probationary period. The probationary period for an intern job classification shall coincide with the duration of the internship.
(1) Minimum duration. The minimum duration of a probationary period for an intern job classification shall be 6 months, defined as 180 calendar days or 975 hours if the internship is completed over a noncontiguous period.
(2) Maximum duration. The maximum duration of a probationary period for an intern job classification shall be 18 months, defined as 545 calendar days (365 calendar days plus 6 months at 30 days per month) or 2,925 hours if the internship is completed over a noncontiguous period.
(c) Promotion after internship. An intern who has successfully completed the duration of the internship may be promoted in the manner set forth in § 602a.33(b)(2) (relating to promotion). Notice of successful completion of the probationary period shall be given in accordance with § 603a.12(a) (relating to conferment of regular status and removal of probationary employees).
(d) Removal of intern. An appointing authority must immediately remove or, if appropriate, return an intern who fails to successfully complete the internship in accordance with § 603a.12(d).
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.9. Credit towards probationary period.
(a) Temporary assignment of higher-level duties. A probationary employee who is temporarily assigned the duties of a higher-level position shall have the period during which they are performing the higher-level duties credited toward the lower-level probationary period.
(b) Service in same level position. If an appointing authority reassigns a probationary employee to another position in the same or a similar job classification within the appointing authority, the employee shall be credited with time served in the previous position toward the completion of the probationary period required for the present position.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.10. Effect of leave of absence on probationary period.
(a) Generally. A leave of absence shall not count toward the completion of a probationary employee’s probationary period. Upon return from a leave of absence, a probationary employee shall complete the unserved portion of the probationary period.
(b) Extended leave. When a leave of absence exceeds 30 consecutive workdays, the appointing authority may require that a new, full probationary period be served by the returning probationary employee.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.11. Effect of a leave of absence for military duty on probationary period.
A leave of absence for military duty shall not count toward the completion of a probationary employee’s probationary period. Upon return from a leave of absence for military duty, a probationary employee shall complete the unserved portion of the probationary period.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
§ 603a.12. Conferment of regular status and removal of probationary employees.
(a) Evaluation of performance. Prior to the expiration of an employee’s probationary period, the appointing authority shall evaluate the employee’s performance and provide the employee with the results of the evaluation.
(b) Form of evaluation. Performance evaluations of probationary employees shall be made using the same form developed in accordance with § 603a.13(c) (relating to performance evaluations generally).
(c) Conferment of regular status. If an employee’s overall performance during the probationary period has been rated satisfactory or higher, the appointing authority shall confer regular status upon the employee at the expiration of the probationary period.
(d) Removal of probationary employee.
(1) If at any time during the probationary period the appointing authority determines that an employee is failing to perform satisfactorily, the appointing authority may promptly remove or, if appropriate, return, the employee in accordance with the act and this subchapter.
(2) If at the completion of the probationary period the appointing authority determines that an employee failed to perform satisfactorily, the appointing authority will immediately remove or, if appropriate, return, the employee in accordance with the act and this subchapter.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 603a.7 (relating to probationary period of trainees); 4 Pa. Code § 603a.8 (relating to probationary period of interns); and 4 Pa. Code § 603a.21 (relating to status after involuntary movement).
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