13.11.4 Upward Mobility and Training (Unit 4)

1. It is the policy of the State to assure quality service to the public by developing the skills and abilities of State employees through training and education activities. These interests are served by having competent employees capable of maintaining productivity, able to adjust to changes in service requirements, and prepared to assume increased responsibilities.
2. The State shall provide to all employees, two days per fiscal year (without loss of compensation) for activities such as, professional association activities, professional and/or personal development seminars, etc., to promote professional and/or personal growth and to enhance professional and/or personal goals. These activities are at the employee's expense and therefore the choice of activity is at the employee's discretion. This time shall be requested and approved in the same manner as vacation/annual leave. Such time shall not be accumulated.
3. The State agrees to reimburse Unit 4 employees for expenses incurred as a result of satisfactorily completing training or education courses required by the department to assure adequate performance or increase job proficiency. Such reimbursement shall be limited to:
1. Tuition and/or registration fees;
2. Cost of course-required books;
3. Transportation or mileage expenses;
4. Toll and parking fees;
5. Lodging and subsistence expenses.
4. Reimbursement for the above expenses shall be in accordance with the Business and Travel Expense provision of this Contract. When training occurs during normal working hours, the employee shall receive the employee's regular salary. When required training occurs outside of normal working hours, Unit 4 employees shall be reimbursed in cash or CTO, in accordance with the employee's Work Week Group, or the work hours shall be adjusted on an hour-by-hour basis for the hours of classroom instruction.
5. If the State agrees with a Unit 4 employee's participation in non-required career-related training, the State may reimburse the employee for up to fifty percent (50%) of tuition, fees, and course-required books, not to exceed department limits after the employee has satisfactorily completed the course. Travel, per diem, and miscellaneous expenses are not reimbursable. Normally, attendance will be on the employee's own time.
6. An employee may receive reimbursement only if application is made prior to enrollment in non-required career-related training.
7. With prior authorization by a department head or designee, the State may reimburse Unit 4 employees up to one hundred percent (100%) of the cost for course-required books, tuition, and/or provide an amount of time off without loss of compensation for attendance at upward mobility and career-related training. Release time without loss of compensation may be for up to one hundred percent (100%) of the time required for course attendance. Both parties agree and understand that a different amount of reimbursement and release time may be provided to employees with the same or similar situations.
8. An employee who does not satisfactorily complete a non-required career-related training course shall not be eligible for reimbursement of expenses and shall agree to return any advance payment received. The employee or the employee's estate shall receive reimbursement for authorized expenses if the training is terminated prior to completion either:
1. At the convenience of the State, provided that the training facility reports satisfactory performance by the employee during the training; or
2. Because of death, prolonged illness, disability, or other eventuality beyond the control of the employee.
9. To ensure equitable treatment among employees, each department shall make available to interested employees its training policy. Unit 4 employees may make application for scheduled training courses. Each department shall give consideration to all requests for training. If denied, the reason for the denial shall be provided in writing to the employee.
10. To the extent practicable and within available training resources, the department shall arrange for such counseling, education, and training of employees as may be reasonably needed to prepare them for placement in other State civil service positions when the employee's positions have been and are about to be changed substantially or eliminated by automation, technological changes, or other management initiated changes.
11. The parties agree that training on rape prevention, sexual harassment awareness, managing assaultive behavior, and stress management are appropriate subjects for high priority consideration by Joint Union Management Health and Safety Committees.
12. Each department shall develop and maintain a written upward mobility plan as specified in the SPB's guidelines for Administering Departmental Upward Mobility Employment Programs (Guidelines) revised March 2000. Government Code section 19401 requires each State department to have an effective upward mobility program. As used in this section, upward mobility is the planned development and advancement of employees in low-paying occupations to entry level technical, professional, and administrative positions in State departments.
13. Upon Union request, each department shall provide the Union with a copy of its upward mobility plan. If the department makes revisions to the plan, the State shall provide the Union with a copy.
14. Upon employee request, each department agrees to make available its plan and/or information regarding Upward Mobility Training for its Unit 4 employees. Departments with internal websites will post the upward mobility plans on the department's internal website.
15. Each department shall appoint an upward mobility program coordinator to coordinate, monitor and report the department's upward mobility program efforts. At work sites with twenty-five (25) or more Unit 4 employees, at least one manager or supervisor will be assigned the responsibility of assisting Unit 4 employees in obtaining information on the department's upward mobility program(s) and related services.