8.10 Release Time for State Civil Service Examinations

1. Employees who are participating in a State civil service examination shall be granted reasonable time off without loss of compensation to participate in an examination if the examination has been scheduled during the employee's normal work hours and the employee has provided reasonable (normally two (2) working days) notice to the employee's supervisor. For the purposes of this section, hiring interviews for individuals certified from employment lists, individuals on State Restriction of Appointment (SROA) lists seeking transfers, or individuals seeking transfers in departments where the department head or designee determines the department is in a layoff mode shall be considered part of the examination process. The State shall attempt to accommodate a shift change or shift modification request from an employee when an exam is outside of the employee's normal work schedule.
2. Authorized release time for reasonable travel time to and from the examination site shall be granted by the department. In cases where the examination site is in another city, necessary travel time will be limited to include only that which would be necessary by the most expeditious mode of travel (e.g. airplane versus ground transportation) and that results in the least disruption to the employer.
3. This sub-section applies to Unit 14, 15, 17 (level of care), and 20 (level of care) only. Reasonable time off shall include time to wash up or shower, and change clothes at or within close proximity of the worksite.
4. Costs associated with travel will not be paid by the State.
5. If the examination is provided electronically, the employee, upon receiving approval from the employee's supervisor, shall be allowed a reasonable amount of time to use state owned property to register for and complete the examination during the employee's normal working hours with no loss of compensation.