| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
| • |
|
- Acting Appointment
- The City Manager may appoint an incumbent to a vacant position for a period of time not to exceed
six months pending selection of a qualified person to fill a vacancy. Acting appointees may
receive additional temporary compensation if certain conditions are met.
- Administrative Employee
- This class of salaried exempt employees is defined in Section 310 of the Personnel Manual.
- Administrative Leave
- Paid leave approved at the discretion of the City Manager. Administrative Leave allows the
employee to be away from work without losing any work-related benefits.
- Allocation
- The assignment of a position as to class and specific pay grade.
- Anniversary
- The date on which an employee was appointed to a regular position.
- Annual Leave
- Leave with pay granted to employees at a specific rate to be used by an employee with prior a
pproval from management.
- Appeal
- Formal request that a decision on a formal grievance petition be reconsidered at a
further stage in the grievance procedure.
- Applicant
- Individual who has filed an application for a vacant position and desires to be considered for
appointment to a position in the City service.
- Appointing Authority
- Officials authorized to recommend appointment of individuals to positions in the City service. The City Manager is the ultimate appointing authority.
- Board
- Also known as "Personnel Appeals Board" consisting of three persons not employed by the
City who are empowered to hear employee grievances. The "Board" is established by
ordinance and is defined in Section 22-260 of the Personnel Ordinance.
- Call-Back
- Call-Back occurs when an employee is on scheduled time off (excluding lunch breaks) and is
unexpectedly notified to return to work. The order to return to work is due to an unexpected event beyond control of management and normally results in an increase to the scheduled number of
employees on duty. It is not one employee replacing another scheduled employee.
- Cause
- Means reason for discipline of regular employees, determined by the standards of job performance
and maintenance of the public interest.
- City
- The municipal government, composed of the City Council, the City Manager, all divisions,
departments, agencies, and employees which comprise the organization designed to provide service
to the citizenry.
- City Council
- The duly elected or appointed officials who comprise the legislative body of the municipal
government with powers defined by N.M. law and City Charter.
- City Manager
- The municipal government's chief executive officer charged with complete responsibility of
employees, facilities, and other resources as set forth by N.M. State Law and the City Charter.
- Class
- One or more positions which are sufficiently alike to warrant using the same (or similar) title,
qualification requirements, examination, and pay grade. Sometimes called "Classification.
"
- Classification Plan
- The sum total of all class specifications in the municipal service.
- Classified Employee
- A full or part-time employee holding a classified position who has completed the probationary
period. A classified employee is entitled to all of the rights and benefits of the City Personnel
Ordinance and Personnel Manual.
- Classified Position
- A position for which there is a job description, and a set salary range, is subject to recruitment
procedures, and for which all employment actions must be based solely on merit.
- Class Specification
- A written description of a class, which includes the position title, a general statement of duties and responsibilities, requirements, and definition of working conditions.
- Compensatory Time
- Those hours granted to employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act in lieu of overtime, on
the basis of one and one-half (1-1/2) hours compensatory time for each hour of overtime.
- Contract Employee
- A person who contracts with the City to perform a certain task for a set fee. Such a person is not a “regular” City employee. All duties, conditions, appointment duration, fees,
benefits, and other terms shall be specified by contract.
- Customarily and Regularly (FLSA)
- A frequency that must be greater than occasional but which may be less than constant. Work
normally and recurrently performed every workweek and does not include isolated or one-time tasks.
- Creditable Service
- Time on the City payroll constitutes creditable service. Creditable service does not include time
that an employee is on leave without pay, lay-off status, or the time the employee is on workers
compensation.
- Demotion
- The assignment of an employee from one class to another which has a lower pay grade and lower
maximum rate of pay (also called downgrade and reclassification).
- Department Director
- a City official designated with responsibility for operation and management of a major division of City government. Departments are comprised of several section and units with similar service
missions.
- Directly and Closely Related (FLSA)
- Tasks that are related to exempt duties and that contribute to or facilitate performance of exempt
work.
- Disability
- An employee or applicant who has: a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one
or more major life activities; or a record of having such an impairment; or is regarded as having
such an impairment.
- Discipline
- Action taken with regard to an employee, including reprimand, suspension, demotion, or dismissal.
- Discretion (FLSA)
- The comparison and evaluation of possible courses of conduct, and acting or making a decision after the various possibilities have been considered.
- Dismissal
- Involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than lack of funds or lack of work.
- Domestic partners
- Two individuals who are in a mutually exclusive, committed relationship for the last twelve (12)
months, who share a primary residence, who are jointly responsible for the common welfare of each
other, who share financial obligations and have executed an affidavit of domestic partnership with
the Human Resources Department and granted domestic partnership
status.
- Due Process
- The right granted to a full-time or part-time regular employee, who has completed the probationary
period, to pre- and post-disciplinary hearings, for actions of suspension, demotion, or
dismissal.
- Eligible
- A person whose name is included with a list of qualified candidates for a vacant position in
accordance with procedures described in Section 200.
- Eligible List
- A list of persons qualified to fill a vacancy in a particular class.
- Emergency Employee
- A full-time or part-time employee who is hired to ensure continuity of municipal services during
an emergency.
- Employee
- An individual who is legally employed by the City government and is paid through the City payroll, except for city Councillors, contracted persons, and consultants.
- Entry Level Rate
- The minimum base rate in any salary grade established for a class.
- Executive
- A salaried exempt official fully defined in Section 309 of this Manual.
- Essential Job Functions
- The fundamental job duties of the employee’s position.
- Exempt Employee
- All executive, administrative, and professional employees as defined in Department of Labor
regulations relating to the Fair Labor Standards Act, and whose compensation is based on a fixed
annual salary. Once an exempt employee uses all accrued annual and sick leave, the employee will
not be subject to a salary reduction for absences of less than eight (8) hours.
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Means the Federal law which sets minimum wage, overtime pay, equal pay, record keeping, and child
labor standards for employees who are covered by the Act.
- Family Medical Leave
- Leave granted under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
- Fee basis (FLSA)
- Paid an agreed sum for a single job regardless of the time required for its completion.
Field of Science or Learning (FLSA) – Law, medicine, theology, accounting, actuarial
computation, engineering, architecture, teaching, various types of physical, chemical and
biological sciences and other similar occupations that have a recognized professional status as
distinguished from the mechanical arts or skilled trades.
- Full-Time
- An employee working at 35 or more hours or more per seven day period.
- Grievance
- An employee complaint regarding alleged poor working conditions, unjust application of discipline, or unjust application, interpretation, or violation of the rules and regulations of the City or
the department for whom the employee works.
- Hearing
- A formal review of the facts and circumstances surrounding a personnel action.
- Immediate Family (Emergency)
- For purposes of emergency leave: spouse, domestic partner, child, stepchild, mother, father,
mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother, sister.
- Immediate Family (Sick)
- For purposes of sick leave: spouse, child or stepchild, or an individual for which the employee is a court appointed legal guardian or domestic partner and eligible dependent.
- Incumbent
- The current occupant of a position in the municipal service.
- Independent Judgment
- The comparison and evaluation of possible courses of conduct, and acting or making a decision
after the various possibilities have been considered.
- Insubordination
- Failure to obey a direct lawful order of a supervisor or someone higher in the chain of command
- Job Analysis
- Comprehensive analysis of the duties and responsibilities and essential functions of a position
and of the qualifications required of persons selected for the position.
- Job Description
- A written statement of duties, responsibilities and essential functions which characterizes a job
and includes the education, experience, knowledge, and ability required to perform the duties of
the job.
- Layoff
- The separation of an employee which occurs when a regular position has been abolished because of
material changes in duties, or shortage or stoppage of work or funds, or other reasons in the best interest of the city, as determined by the City Manager.
- Leave
- An authorized absence from regularly scheduled work hours for reasons specified in the personnel
rules (holidays, vacation, sickness, injury, disability, jury duty, etc.).
- Leave With Pay
- Authorized absence from work with pay.
- Leave Without Pay
- Authorized absence from work without pay.
- Limited Competition
- Competition for a vacancy which is available only for eligible City employees.
- Loudermill
- The informal “due process” or “pre-disciplinary” hearing given to an employee prior to termination, demotion, or suspension of any regular non-exempt employee for more than three (3) work days and five (5) days for exempt employee.
- Management & Supervision
- Persons designated as heads of a group of employees, a section, a major functional unit, or an
activity, with authority and responsibility to exercise independent judgment; who assign tasks,
set standards of job performance, recommend hires, transfers, suspensions, layoffs, recalls,
promotions, and terminations of subordinates. Further, they may assign, reward, or discipline
others, and direct or adjust employee grievances.
- Matters of Significance (FLSA)
- Level of importance or consequence of the work performed.
- Medical Standards
- Medical requirements established for selected classes of positions which are related to
performance and consistently applied.
- Merit System
- A personnel system designed to attract and hold employees by making individual employment
decisions based on qualifications, experience, and performance rather than on political
association.
- Military Leave
- Paid leave granted to an employee who is a member of the armed services or air national guard or a
military reservist not to exceed fifteen(15) working days per calendar year.
- Nepotism
- Patronage of one's relatives by providing them employment or position. Restrictions concerning
nepotism may be found in Section 22-185 of the Personnel Ordinance.
- New Hire
- A person not previously employed by the City.
- Nonexempt Employees
- All employees who are not exempt employees as defined in Department of Labor regulations relating
to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Open Competition
- Competition for a position which is available to all interested persons.
- Overtime
- Means time an employee is directed and authorized to work in excess of the 40 hours per week, or
fire personnel, 212 hours per 28-day period.
- Part-Time Employee
- One who is scheduled to work less than 35 hours per seven day period.
- Pay Period
- A two-week period, of which there are twenty-six (26) specified per year.
- Pay Plans
- The salary schedules for salaried exempt and non-exempt employees or any other class(es) of
positions in the municipal service.
- Pay Rate
- Also called base rate.
- Pay Range
- The minimum, midpoint, and maximum base rates established for each salary grade.
- Performance Review
- An assessment of an employee's work.
- Personal Leave
- One (1) paid day or equivalent hours per fiscal year to be used at the employee's discretion
subject to the supervisor’s approval.
- Post-Disciplinary Hearing
- A hearing conducted by the Personnel Appeals Board at the request of an employee who is grieving a
suspension or demotion, or a former employee who is grieving a dismissal and who has complied with the administrative process as set forth in the Rules and Regulations
- Primary Duty (FLSA)
- Principal, main, major or most important duty that the employee performs.
- Probation
- A one year (12 month) trial period of employment, during which an employee is required
to demonstrate fitness for regular employment. The probation period is another aspect of the
selection process.
- Probationary Employee
- A full-time or part-time employee hired to fill a position in the classified service who has not
yet completed the probationary period of employment during which time the employee may be
terminated at will.
- Professional Employee
- A salaried exempt person defined fully in Section 311 of this document.
- Promotion
- The assignment of an employee from one class to another, which has a higher maximum rate of pay,
and greater responsibility. Promotion requires that an employee be upgraded and reclassified.
- Provisional Appointment
- Appointment of a person from outside the City work force to fill a vacant position pending
selection of a qualified person.
- Reclassifiction
- Reassignment of a position from one class (grade) to a different class (grade) to correct an error in the original assignment or to recognize a change in the duties and responsibilities of a
position. Ideally, reallocation should occur when a position is vacant. Reclassification shall not
be used solely as a method of awarding an incumbent a salary increase or decrease.
- Reasonable Accommodation
- A reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or
the way in which the work is customarily done that makes it possible for a qualified individual
with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job and ensure equal employment
opportunity.
- Recruitment Process
- Procedures used by the Human Resources Department in attracting job applicants for city positions;
i.e., posting vacancies in the Human Resources Department , newspaper, and radio advertising,
mailings to employment agencies and community organizations or by other means.
- Regular Employee
- One who is an incumbent and has completed probation in a continuing, budgeted position within the
municipal service and who satisfies all requirements for the position.
- Re-Hire
- Re-employment of a former employee who left the municipal service in good standing.
- Reinstatement
- An action whereby an employee is restored to the municipal service after involuntary termination
or suspension. Reinstatement may be to a position with pay and benefits comparable to those
received at the time of termination or suspension.
- Resignation
- Voluntary separation from City employment prior to retirement.
- Retirement Date
- The date on which a regular City employee retires and begins drawing PERA retirement.
- Reviewer
- The rater's immediate supervisor who is required to review and approve each performance review
within his/her purview before it is included as part of the reviewed employee's permanent record.
- Rules
- Means the Personnel Rules and Regulations of the Personnel Manual promulgated in accordance with
the provisions of the Personnel Ordinance.
- Salary
- Payment for work performed that is pre-determined and uniform from one payday to the next and does
not depend on the number of hours worked.
- Salary Schedules
- (Refer to "Pay Plans") matrices of base rate salaries ranging from minimum, midpoint and
maximum, depicting approved pay ranges for employees in the municipal service.
- Seasonal Employee
- An employee hired for an established seasonal programas allowed by FLSA, for example, certain
ballfield workers for softball or swimming pool employees.
- Selection
- Means the choosing of a candidate for employment.
- Selection Device
- Devices used separately or in combination, as appropriate, to obtain the best qualified candidates
for vacant positions. Such devices may include, but are not limited to, work sample and
performance tests, practical written tests, oral examinations, rating of training and experience,
interview, skill tests, and others.
- Separation
- Removal of an employee from the municipal payroll for voluntary or involuntary reasons; to include
dismissal, resignation, layoff, retirement, abandonment of the job, death, and other reasons.
- Sick Leave
- Leave with pay, granted to a classified or qualified unclassified employee, after accrual at a
specific rate for illnesses.
- Standby Duty
- An employee is on standby duty when the employee is required to be available for call to duty. The
employee may move about within range of a pager, but must remain fit for duty.
- Temporary Appointment
- Appointment of an individual who meets minimum qualification requirements for a period of time not
to exceed 12 months.
- Temporary Employee
- Means an employee who has been appointed to a temporary position in accordance with the personnel
rules, who is not eligible to receive leave and benefits, and who is not entitled to rights of
grievance and appeal. A temporary employee may be full-time or part-time.
- Temporary Pay Upgrade
- Employee compensation for temporarily performing assigned duties or responsibilities of a higher
pay grade, provided the temporary upgrade in assignment exceeds more than 28 calendar days.
- Termination
- The resignation, retirement, dismissal, or death of an employee.
- Transfer
- Assignment of an employee from one position to another in the same salary schedule. May also be
assignment of an employee from one work site to another, from one agency to another, to more or
less responsible or skilled occupations, or from one operational assignment to another in
accordance with existing municipal policy. Transfers may be voluntary or involuntary.
- Unauthorized Absence
- Absence from duty without supervisory approval.
- Unclassified Employees
- At will employees who may be terminated for any or no reason and who have no layoff rights or
recourse to the grievance procedure.
- Vacancy
- An authorized position not occupied by an incumbent which has been approved by the appropriate
designated authority for filling.
- Wage
- Payment that is calculated according to the number of hours worked and which may fluctuate from
one pay day to the next as the number of hours worked varies.
- Work Requiring Advanced Knowledge
- Work which is predominantly intellectual in nature, and which includes work requiring the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment.
|
Back