Job Description

Posting number: 00/00-0000-0

Department: County of Sonoma (COS)

Job classification: TRANSFERS/FREENAMES/SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS

Posting type: Transfer

Categories: Miscellaneous

Summary

TRANSFER/VOLUNTARY DEMOTION/FREENAME/RETIREE EXTRA-HELP

You should be in this announcement if you are a permanent, probationary, or former Sonoma County employee and want to complete an application for transfer, voluntary demotion, freename, or retiree extra-help opportunities.

For County of Sonoma regular, probationary, or former employees, Human Resources maintains lists for job classes where there are individuals who meet the criteria and refers these lists to hiring departments when departments have vacancies in accordance with the Civil Service Rules and other policies or programs as applicable.

TRANSFER/VOLUNTARY DEMOTION

Transfer/Voluntary Demotion Opportunities

If you see that Human Resources is recruiting for a position where you would like to be considered for transfer/voluntary demotion or is soliciting transfer/voluntary demotion applications through some kind of communication channel, you may submit an application. You may also submit applications for these opportunities at any time with or without a current vacancy or solicitation.

Employees:

• submit an application to this announcement and complete the supplemental questions; and
• will have to meet the below criteria.

Transfer Criteria

• You must be a permanent or probationary County of Sonoma employee; and
• you may transfer to the same classification you currently hold;
• or you can transfer to a closely related* classification provided the A-step of the classification is within 4% (up or down) of the A-step of your current classification, AND you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. (See definition below for closely related.)

Voluntary Demotion Criteria

• You must be a permanent or probationary county employee; and
• you may voluntarily demote to a class in which you've previously held probationary or permanent status in;
• or to a closely related* class with a lower salary range AND in which you possess the minimum qualifications.

Transfer/Voluntary Demotion Process

• Employees submit application materials for EACH job class they wish to be on a list for.
• Human Resources staff reviews the application and the classification(s) in which you have submitted your request for transfer/voluntary demotion and determines your eligibility.
• Human Resources notifies you if your request for transfer/voluntary demotion has been approved.
• If approved, Human Resources places you on a transfer/voluntary demotion list for the approved classification(s) for 6 months.
• When 6 months expires, it is the employee's responsibility to contact Human Resources to request an extension; Human Resources will NOT automatically renew.
• Human Resources does not notify candidates when six months expires.
• If you wish to extend your eligibility for another six months, you must contact Human Resources to make the request.
• As vacancies occur, Human Resources refers your application materials as requested by departments and/or in conjunction with regular employment certifications for the classification in which you have submitted your application for.
• Human Resources does NOT notify you if you have been referred to a department.
• Departments have the discretion to interview candidates referred to them who are transfer/voluntary demotion candidates unless otherwise required by County policy or Civil Service Rules.
• Once referred to departments, the departments will be responsible for communicating with and coordinating candidates directly.

FREENAME

Freename Opportunities

The Civil Service Rules provides regular (allocated) employees who were either laid off or resigned in good standing or are current regular employees, within five (5) years after the date of layoff or resignation, the opportunity to be placed on a "Freename" list to be considered for reappointment in a class the individual formerly occupied or in a lower-level class in the same series.

Additionally, regular employees who have received official layoff notice may request to be considered for appointment to closely related* classes that have the same or lower salary range from the date they receive their layoff notice for as long as 90 days beyond their layoff effective date, and a regular employee who has voluntarily demoted within two (2) years from the demotion may request reappointment to the class from which the employee demoted.

Eligible employees may submit applications at any time with or without a current vacancy, job announcement, or solicitation.

Employees:

• submit an application to this announcement and complete the supplemental questions; and
• must meet the criteria of freename eligibility in accordance with Civil Service Rules.

Free Name Process

• Employees submit application materials for EACH job class they wish to be on a freename list for.
• Human Resources staff reviews the application and the classification(s) in which you have submitted your request and determines your eligibility.
• Human Resources notifies you if your request for freename status has been approved.
• If approved, Human Resources places you on a freename list for the approved classification(s) for 6 months.
• When 6 months expires, it is the employee's responsibility to contact Human Resources to request an extension; Human Resources will NOT automatically renew.
• Human Resources does not notify candidates when six months expires.
• If you wish to extend your eligibility for another six months, you must contact Human Resources to make the request.
• As vacancies occur, Human Resources refers your application materials as requested by departments and/or in conjunction with regular employment certifications for the classification in which you have submitted your application for.
• Human Resources will notify you if you have been referred to a department.
• Departments must interview freename candidates.
• Once referred to departments, the departments will be responsible for communicating with and coordinating candidates directly.

RETIREE EXTRA-HELP

Retiree Extra-Help Opportunities

Many Sonoma County retirees are uniquely qualified to step right into extra-help positions with little or no training and bring valuable knowledge and experience. Departments frequently ask if there are retirees interested in working vacation and leave relief coverage, part-time hours, and specific projects.

Government Code 7522.56 limits retiree extra-help to 960 hours per fiscal year. The extra-help employment must begin no later than five (5) years after the retirement date. Sonoma County retirees may be re-employed as extra help in the same class, a previously held class, or a lower-level class in the same series.

Government code prohibits the County of Sonoma from hiring retirees as extra-help if, during the 12-month period prior to the appointment, the retiree received unemployment insurance payments arising out of prior County of Sonoma employment.

PLEASE NOTE: Effective January 1, 2013, new legislation has set new parameters for individuals returning to County employment on a temporary basis which applies to "retiree extra-help." Prior to submitting your "retiree extra-help" application, please review the "Returning to work after retirement" section of the Sonoma County Employee Retirement Association website found at: https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/retired/working-after-retirement

Retiree Extra-Help Process

• Retirees submit application materials for EACH job class they wish to be on a retiree extra-help list for.
• Human Resources staff reviews the application and the classification(s) in which you have submitted your request and determines your eligibility.
• Human Resources notifies you if your request for retiree extra-help status has been approved.
• If approved, Human Resources places you on a retiree extra-help list for the approved classification(s) for 6 months.
• When 6 months expires, it is the retiree's responsibility to contact Human Resources to request an extension; Human Resources will NOT automatically renew.
• Human Resources does not notify retirees when six months expires.
• If you wish to extend your eligibility for another six months, you must contact Human Resources to make the request.
• As retiree extra-help positions become available, Human Resources refers your application materials as requested by departments for the classification in which you have submitted your application for.
• Human Resources will not notify you if you have been referred to a department.
• Once referred to departments, the departments will be responsible for communicating with and coordinating with retirees directly.

Hard Copy (Paper) Application Submittal

Human Resources encourages employees to use the online process, but if that is not available or desirable, employees may submit paper applications, but must also submit a cover letter describing their desire to be considered for transfer, voluntary demotion, freename, or retiree extra-help including the list of classifications they desire to be considered for. Employees can contact Human Resources to request the application materials.

To begin the process of applying for a transfer, voluntary demotion, freename, or as retiree extra-help, please click on the "Apply" link located at the top of this announcement.

Human Resources Department

575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

(707)565-2331

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

*Closely Related Class Definition

"Closely related class" means any class which has been designated by the Human Resources Director to have sufficiently similar duties and minimum qualifications to make a change of status compatible with Merit Systems Standards.