STATE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS COUNSELOR 27471

10/16/89 B

This class provides advice, assistance, and counsel to state employees and managers in the resolution of work-related problems, concerns, and grievances; in the use of the grievance procedure; and in finding alternative methods of dispute resolution. Positions in this class typically interview employees and managers in the resolution of employment problems; provide interpretations of the grievance procedure and advise on related personnel policies; conduct investigations in requests for rulings on grievability and compliance issues; and prepare written drafts of official rulings citing legal references and supporting case facts. Responsibilities include managing and coordinating an agency programmatic area such as training, budget, and technical assistance to local governmental entities.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of considerable difficulty in providing individual counseling and work-related assistance to state employees and managers by analyzing problem situations, assessing alternatives for problem resolution and mediation, and consulting with managers/administrators on all levels of government. Provides information on personnel policies and employment rights and assistance in the use of the grievance procedure to employees and management. Independently investigates all requests for grievance procedure rulings and recommends decisions. Investigates and analyzes a full range of legal employment issues involving charges of unfair, unequal or inconsistent employment practices, grievability, and compliance of employee complaints by using statutes, policies and procedures, written case documentation and verbal testimony. Monitors agency grievance activity to assure procedural compliance, advises management of the grievance administration process, and provides technical interpretive data to agencies relative to the effectiveness of their grievance process. Conducts audits of assigned agencies to monitor grievance activity. Trains management in conflict management and the grievance procedure. Prepares written drafts of official rulings including the citing of legal references and supporting case facts. Informs management of possible outcomes of proposed employee disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and grievance procedure. Advises local government entities on the development and implementation of the grievance procedure. Coordinates the service delivery of programmatic areas of the agency's annual plan such as training, local entity assistance, budget, employee counseling, annual report and data collection.

Supervision Given: Supervision is typically not a factor.

Supervision Received: General direction is received in the operations of the grievance procedure, employee counseling, casework processes, draft rulings, and management of projects from a State Employee Relations Counselors Deputy Director. Independently manages counseling caseload and agency projects.

Scope: Incumbents in this class serve as consultants to employees and managers by providing direct assistance in the resolution of work-related problems to promote and enhance effective employee relations.

Impact of Actions: Work has serious impact on the work-related concerns of employees and managers such as disciplinary actions, compensation, discrimination, classification, performance, work conditions, and/or benefits. Advice and decisions may have major financial impact on state agencies.

Personal Contacts: Frequent internal contact with employees, managers and human resource officers of state agencies, and the Attorney General's Office and attorneys to receive and exchange information on employment issues/grievances/complaints, training needs, project planning and implementation, data collection, and monitoring. Frequent external contact with local government employees, officials and constitutional officers.

Knowledge: Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of personnel administration and applicable federal and state laws. Working knowledge of grievance rights of employees; personnel policies; and judicial and administrative decisions related to employee rights.

Skills: None.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to counsel clients effectively; mediate issues with managers and human resource officers to resolve employment disputes; communicate effectively orally and in writing; organize and implement projects or program plans; develop and advise on policy; and to investigate and analyze complex cases and appeals.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

License or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in psychology/counseling, personnel management, industrial relations, law or a related discipline.

Level and Type of Experience: Experience in personnel administration, counseling and/or the legal profession.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class was revised as a result of the Classification Review/Specification Update Program, effective

October, 1989.