Who?

Does What?

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Permanent appointment of an employee willl begin on the day following the day ending the probationary period unless notice of extension has been given prior to such time.

Only for the Positions of Service Specialist and Rehabilitation Specialist

In the eleventh month of employment:

1. Reviews NAPE Article 5 and Article 6 (non-exempt).

2. Reviews Year 1 Training Plan and determines if required activities have been completed. http://webforms.vr.ne.gov/assets/vr_forms/321/original/TrainingPlan.pdf

3. Considers extending probationary periods to allow for adequate observation opportunities in cases where employees have been absent for significant periods of time.

4. Contacts VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, if required activities have not been completed and/or absent for significant periods of time. 

5. Assesses the employee's performance, attendance and Year 1 Training Plan and recommends one of the following:
• Appointment to Permanent Status (see below)
• Extension of Original Probation (see below)
• Termination (see below)

Requirement:
6. Discusses the Service Specialist’s or Rehabilitation Specialist’s performance with the appropriate VR Program Director:

• Acquired Brain Injury - Keri Bennett
• Correctional Services - vacant
• Counseling - Angela Fujan
• Evaluation – Paige Rose
• Community Services and Autism - Carla Lasley
• Employment and Business Services – Mary Matusiak
• Transition - Brigid Griffin

APPOINTMENT TO PERMANENT STATUS

8. Completes the Probationary Performance Review.

EXTENSION OF ORIGINAL PROBATION

• May be extended up to six (6) months not to exceed a total of eighteen (18) months upon written notification which includes reasons for extension.

1. Discusses findings, extension of original probation, and seeks approval from the VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, if the employee has not met the performance expectations.

2. Contacts NDE HR, Amy Spellman, amy.spellman@nebraska.gov, for a copy of the Instructions For Establishing A Performance Improvement Plan, the Performance Improvement Plan Form, and the Extension Memo. Follow the instructions.

3. Develops a Performance Improvement Plan to define expectations, remedial activities, and expected dates of achievement in consultation with and receives approval from NDE HR, Amy Spellman, amy.spellmann@nebraska.gov, and VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov.

4. Follows the steps outlined by NDE HR to complete the Probationary Performance Review after approval of Performance Improvement Plan.

TERMINATION

• Can occur any time during the original probation period when the services of the employee have not been acceptable.

1. Discusses findings, requests termination, and seeks approval from the VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, if the employee has not met the performance expectations.

2. Emails VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, and NDE HR, Amy Spellman, amy.spellman@nebraska.gov, with the decision to terminate.

3. Follows the steps outlined by NDE HR to complete the termination process.

4. See VRIS Chapter, Closing Employee’s Work Record — Termination before meeting with staff member.

ALL POSITIONS

EXCEPT SERVICE SPECIALIST AND REHABILITATION SPECIALIST

In the eleventh month of employment:

1. Reviews NAPE Article 5 and Article 6 (non-exempt) or NDE Personnel Rules (exempt).

2. Considers extending probationary periods to allow for adequate observation opportunities in cases where employees have been absent for significant periods of time.

3. Contacts VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, if there are performance concerns and/or absent for significant periods of time.

4. Assesses the employee’s performance, attendance and recommends one of the following:
• Appointment to Permanent Status (see below)
• Extension of Original Probation (see below)
• Termination (see below)

VR Supervisor

APPOINTMENT TO PERMANENT STATUS

6. Completes the Probationary Performance Review.

EXTENSION OF ORIGINAL PROBATION

• May be extended up to six (6) months not to exceed a total of eighteen (18) months upon written notification which includes reasons for extension.

1. Discusses findings, extension of original probation, and seeks approval from the VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, if the employee has not met the performance expectations.

2. Contacts NDE HR, Amy Spellman, amy.spellman@nebraska.gov, for a copy of the Instructions For Establishing A Performance Improvement Plan, the Performance Improvement Plan Form, and the Extension Memo. Follow the instructions.

3. Develops a Performance Improvement Plan to define expectations, remedial activities, and expected dates of achievement in consultation with and receives approval from NDE HR. Amy Spellman, amy.spellmann@nebraska.gov, and VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov.

4. Follows the steps outlined by NDE HR to complete the Probationary Performance Review after approval of Performance Improvement Plan.

TERMINATION

• Can occur any time during the original probation period when the services of the employee have not been acceptable.

1. Discusses findings, requests termination, and seeks approval from the VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, if the employee has not met the performance expectations.

2. Emails VR Director, Lindy Foley, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, and NDE HR, Amy Spellman, amy.spellman@nebraska.gov, with the decision to terminate.

3. Follows the steps outlined by NDE HR to complete the termination process.

4. See VRIS Chapter, Closing Employee’s Work Record — Termination before meeting with staff member.