RPM | REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES MANUAL

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    Title:

    Appointments, Term

    Publication date:

    11/9/2020

    Effective date:

    11/9/2020

    BRIEF

    Policy Summary

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) employs persons in one of many different appointment types. This policy defines the terms and conditions of a term appointment.

    Who Should Read This Policy

    This policy applies to non-represented employees. Represented employees should consult their collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

    To Read the Full Policy, Go To:

    The POLICY tab on this wiki page

    Contact Information

    For more information, contact your division's Human Resources Center.
    Feedback on HR policies or procedures is welcomed. Send comments to [email protected].

    Title:

    Appointments, Term

    Publication date:

    11/9/2020

    Effective date:

    11/9/2020

    POLICY

    A. Purpose

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) employs persons in one of many different appointment types. This policy defines the terms and conditions of a term appointment.

    B. Persons Affected

    This policy applies to non-represented employees. Represented employees should consult their collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

    C. Exceptions

    Requests that exceed what is allowed under current policy or that are not expressly addressed by current policy are considered exceptions to policy. A request for an exception to policy requires, at a minimum, the approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).

    D. Policy Statement

    1. Term Appointment1
      1. Term appointments apply to staff hired to work for six months to five years. Term appointments have a specific, pre-established end date and may be appropriate under circumstances such as:
        1. Projects with specific objectives and defined outcomes;
        2. Position funding may be short-term or uncertain;
        3. Temporary need during restructuring, reorganization, or workflow redesign efforts; or
        4. Career-track scientist and engineer positions. For information regarding career-track term appointments, see the Appointments, Scientist & Engineer policy.
      2. Term appointments are made after a competitive recruitment or as otherwise provided by the Recruitment and Hiring policy.
      3. If the initial appointment is between six and twelve months, the individual must be at 100% fixed time. If the initial appointment is one year or more, the appointment must be at 50% fixed time or more.
      4. Time spent in term appointments is cumulative and may not exceed five years. Time spent in other appointment classifications (e.g., postdoctoral fellow) is excluded from the five-year limit.
      5. Stop the Clock. If a term employee is on an approved paid or unpaid leave of absence for one month or longer, the appointment may be extended by the length of the leave but only up to one year beyond the five-year maximum.
      6. University of California (UC) Retirees. UC retirees hired into term appointments must be hired in accordance with the Retired Employees, Re-employing policy.
    2. Applicability of Policies. Term appointees are covered by all Berkeley Lab policies, with the following exceptions:
      1. Probationary Period. Term employees in career-track Scientist & Engineer (S&E) positions do not serve a probationary period. Term employees in non-S&E positions do not serve a probationary period, unless the initial appointment is for one year or more. See the Terms & Conditions of Employment policy, Section D.6., "Probationary Period."
      2. Tuition Assistance. The Tuition Assistance policy does not apply to term employees.
      3. Reduction in Force and Severance Payments. The Berkeley Lab Reduction in Force and Severance policies do not apply to term employees.
    3. Conversion to Career
      1. A term appointment may be converted to a career appointment if the incumbent employee was selected through a competitive recruitment process in accordance with the Recruitment and Hiring policy.
      2. However, in order for an employee in a scientist and engineer non-career-track term appointment (Project Scientist) to move to a career appointment, the employee must apply and compete for a career position. For information regarding scientific non-career-track term appointments, see the Appointments, Scientist & Engineer policy.
    4. Termination of Appointment
      1. A term appointment will automatically terminate on the last day of the appointment unless there is an earlier separation or formal extension of the appointment in writing.
      2. Employees in term appointments may be terminated before the end of their appointment for disciplinary reasons or substandard performance of which the employee has been advised, as provided in the Corrective Action & Discipline policy.
      3. A term appointment may also be terminated early due to lack of funds, lack of work, or changes in operational/business needs in which case, whenever possible, an employee should be given at least 30 days' advance written notice that their appointment will be terminated.

    1. As of July 1, 2020, the term appointment will appear as the "contract" employee classification in UCPath. Berkeley Lab policy, rather than UC policy, will apply to contract appointments at Berkeley Lab.

    E. Roles and Responsibilities

    Managers, supervisors, and employees have the responsibility to adhere to the provisions of this policy.

    F. Definitions/Acronyms

    Term

    Definition

    Contract Appointment

    Per the University of California Personnel Policies for Staff Members (PPSM), a contract appointment is established at a fixed or variable percentage of time for up to a four-year duration. A contract appointment can be extended for up to one additional year for a maximum total of five years.

    G. Recordkeeping Requirements

    None

    H. Implementing Documents

    None

    I. Contact Information

    For more information, contact your division's Human Resources Center.Feedback on HR policies or procedures is welcomed. Send comments to [email protected].

    J. Revision History

    Date

    Revision

    By Whom

    Revision Description

    Section(s) Affected

    Change Type

    1/2/2012

    0

    M. Bello

    Rewrite for wiki (brief)

    All

    Minor

    2/11/2015

    1

    L. Westphal

    Rewrite for wiki (policy)

    All

    Major

    8/18/2016

    1.1

    L. Westphal

    Periodic review. Minor change to clarify probationary period. 

    D

    Minor

    11/9/2020

    2

    W. Crosson

    • Revised Section D for clarity
    • Added reference to the employee classification change in UCPath for term appointments
    • Added a section on rehiring a UC retiree
    • Expanded the termination section
    • Added a definition for contract appointment

    All

    Minor

    DOCUMENT INFORMATION

    Title:

    Appointments, Term

    Document number

    02.03.002.000

    Revision number

    2

    Publication date:

    11/9/2020

    Effective date:

    11/9/2020

    Next review date:

    11/9/2025

    Policy Area:

    Types of Appointments

    RPM Section (home)

    Human Resources

    RPM Section (cross-reference)

    Section 2.01(F)(4)

    Functional Division

    Human Resources

    Prior reference information (optional)


    Source Requirements Documents

    University of California Personnel Policies for Staff Members (PPSM) 3, Types of Appointment

    Implementing Documents

    None



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