C. Guidelines
1. Employees shall be entitled to such time off from regular duties as may be necessary and reasonable for the resolution of the grievance or appeal without loss of pay, vacation, or other work credits.
2. Employees who have not completed the initial three months' probationary period are entitled to all rights of grievance and appeal except the right of appeal of involuntary separation, reassignment or demotion. The following steps constitute the formal grievance/appeal procedure at Furman university:
Step 1. If an employee has a problem which cannot be resolved through the normal process of informal discussion, he or she may notify his immediate supervisor of his or her wish to present a formal grievance. The supervisor must schedule a hearing with the employee within three (3) working days. The employee should present his or her grievance in writing. The employee may choose to have a fellow employee present at the hearing. The supervisor may have higher level supervisors participate in the hearing if the employee agrees, or the supervisor may consult with higher level supervisors outside the hearing before making a decision. The answer from the supervisor must be in written form. The employee shall receive an answer within five (5) working days of the hearing or be advised within five (5) working days of the conditions which prevent an answer and when an answer may be expected. The supervisor will prepare and maintain on file a written record of all pertinent events through the conclusion of Step 1.
Step 2. If the decision from the above hearing is not satisfactory to the employee or if a response is not received within the specified period, the employee may make an appeal to the Director of Personnel of Furman University. The employee must present his or her request under this appeal within five (5) working days after the date established for the initial response. The Director of Personnel will determine to what extent facts will be required in writing. The supervisor(s) and the employee shall provide all pertinent information to the Director of Personnel and will review the facts and hold whatever discussions deemed desirable or as the employee or supervisor(s) may request. The Director of Personnel will advise the employee of the recommended course of action and provide a recommendation to the supervisor within five (5) working days after receipt of the appeal. In the absence of objection or appeal by either the employee or the supervisor, the recommendation in Step 2 is expected to be implemented within a period of five (5) working days.
Step 3. If the decision reached in Step 2 is not satisfactory to the employee or is not properly implemented, an appeal must be filed with the Director of Personnel within five (5) working days after receipt of the Director of Personnel's decision. The Director of Personnel will cause a Furman University Grievance Committee to be formed consisting of (1) an employee chosen by the employee filing the grievance, (2) an employee chosen by the supervisor, and (3) an individual chosen by both the employee and the supervisor. The latter member will serve as the chair of the committee. A member of the Personnel Department will serve as recorder for the committee. The employee requesting the appeal must provide a written summary of the specific facts of the complaint to the committee, copies of which shall be provided at the same time to all other parties concerned. The Personnel Office will be ready to assist in the writing of the summary as may be needed. The Grievance Committee shall conduct whatever hearings, investigations and fact-findings it may consider necessary, but in no case shall the investigations period exceed ten (10) working days. The chair of the committee will inform the President of the University, in writing, of the details of the problem, the reason why it was not resolved at lower levels, and the recommendations of the committee. The President will render a decision within five (5) working days, and this decision will be announced immediately, in writing, to all parties concerned.
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