Who?

Does What?

VR Supervisor

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Probationary periods may be extended to allow for adequate observation opportunities in cases where employees have been absent for significant periods of time.

• 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.

• Review Bargaining Agreement (non-exempt) or NDE Personnel Rules (exempt)

https://insidende.education.ne.gov/humanresources/RE-DESIGN/Policies_Procedures.html

VR Assistant Director

Office Director I and Program Director I

1. Emails supervisor during the employee’s 11^th month and before the employee reaches their 12^th month anniversary date:

• Probation end date

Service Specialist and Rehabilitation Specialist

2. Emails supervisor during the employee’s 10^th month and before the employee reaches their 12^th month anniversary date:

• Probation end date

• Reminder to review Year 1 Training Plan and determine if required activities have been completed. http://webforms.vr.ne.gov/assets/vr_forms/321/original/TrainingPlan.pdf

• Reminder to contact VR Director, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, or VR Assistant Director, victoria.rasmussen@nebraska.gov if required acitivities have not been completed.

VR Supervisor

3. Assesses the employee’s performance and, if appropriate, 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)
4. Required to consult and discuss the Service Specialist’s or Rehabilitation Specialist’s performance with the appropriate VR Program Director:

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

VR Supervisor

APPOINTMENT TO PERMANENT STATUS

5. Reviews NDE Probationary Review Process and Guidance, https://insidende.education.ne.gov/humanresources/RE-DESIGN/pdf/Performance_Mgmt/NDE_Probationary_Performance_Review_Process_and_Guidance_7-1-16.pdf
6. Launches and completes the Probationary Performance Review to determine if the employee meets the performance expectations given the amount of time in the position.
7. Informs the employee prior to the 12^th month anniversary date the employee is being recommended for appointment to permanent status in a face-to-face meeting.
8. Emails Assistant Director, victoria.rasmussen@nebraska.gov, the employee is being appointed to permanent status including a paragraph of support.
9. Follows #10-#13 below.

VR Assistant Director

10.  Forwards the email from the VR Supervisor and includes the following to the VR Director, lindy.foley@nebraska.gov, and Executive Office Assistant, cinda.wacker@nebraska.gov:

 • Name of employee

• Date of appointment

• Paragraph of support (If appropriate, include a statement that all required activities in Year 1 Training Plan have been completed)

VR Director 

     11.Emails approval of appointment to permanent status to Assistant Director and VR Executive Office      Assistant.

VR Executive Office Assistant

12. Types appointment of permanent status letter for VR Director’s signature.

13.  Sends appointment of permanent status letter to:

    • Employee (original letter)

    • VR Supervisor

    • NDE HR

VR Supervisor

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.

• Review #1,  #2,  #3,  #4 (above).

4.  Discusses findings, extension of original probation, and seeks approval from the VR Director or VR Assistant Director if the employee has not met the performance expectations and, if appropriate, Year 1 Training Plan.

5.  Develops a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) to define expectations, remedial activities, and expected dates of achievement in consultation with and receives approval from NDE HR, amy.spellmann@nebraska.gov, VR Director lindy.foley@nebraska.gov and VR Assistant Director, victoria.rasmussen@nebraska.gov. Must contact Amy Spellman for a copy of the Instructions For Establishing A Performance Improvement Plan, the Performance Improvement Plan Form, and the Extension Memo. Follow the instructions.

6.  Launches and completes the Probationary Performance Review after approval of Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).

7.  Meets in person with employee to share the PIP prior to the 12^th month anniversary date.

8.  Emails a copy of the PIP to the VR Assistant Director and NDE HR recommending the extension of original probation. (Any time spent under a PIP will delay the promotion by an equivalent amount of time.)

9.  Retains the PIP for the duration. At the end of the PIP period, the Supervisor determines if the PIP was satisfactorily completed or if further action is required. If further action is required contact VR Assistant Director and NDE HR.

10. Completes Page 3 if PIP was completed successfully and gathers all required signatures and sends a copy to NDE HR.

VR Supervisor

TERMINATION

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

• Review #1, #2,  #3,  #4 (above).

3.  Discusses findings, requests termination, and seeks approval from the VR Director if the employee has not met the performance expectations and, if appropriate, did not complete the required activities in the Year 1 Training Plan.

4.  Emails VR Assistant Director and NDE HR with the decision to terminate.

NDE Legal Counsel

5.  Prepares the termination letter for VR Director’s signature.

6.  Sends copy of termination letter to VR Director, VR Assistant Director, NDE HR, and VR Supervisor.

VR Supervisor

7. Emails NDE Legal Counsel, VR Director, NDE HR, VR Assistant Director, and VR Data Center, vr.networkadmins@nebraska.gov of date and time of meeting.

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

9. Meets with staff member and presents termination letter.

10. Emails NDE Legal Counsel, NDE HR, VR Director and VR Assistant Director when termination is completed.

NDE HR

11. Emails all NDE staff of the employee’s last day.