Section 2.000
Policies and Procedures Manual
Human Resources Department

2.000 DEFINITIONS

The following words and phrases have the meanings stated when they are used in this Manual:

Administrative Office -- any of the following work units within the Trial Court: Administrative Office of the Trial Court, Departmental Administrative Offices, Office of the Commissioner of Probation, Office of the Jury Commissioner.

Affirmative Action Officer -- a staff member of the Administrative Office of the Trial Court who is responsible for providing support and technical assistance on affirmative action and equal employment opportunity matters to the Chief Justice for Administration and Management and other department heads.

Appointing Authority -- an individual with the authority to make appointments and promotions, subject to review by the Chief Justice for Administration and Management pursuant to the provisions of G.L. c. 211B.

Classification and Wage Compensation Plan -- the system of position descriptions and classifications issued by the Chief Justice for Administration and Management. The Plan is administered pursuant to section 4.600 of this Manual.

Confidential Employee -- an employee who the Administrative Office of the Trial Court has determined meets the definition of "Confidential Employee" in GL c. 150E.

Department Head -- the Chief Justice for Administration and Management, Chief Justices of Trial Court Departments, First Justices, appointed and elected Clerks/ Magistrates, the Recorder of the Land Court, Registers of Probate, the Jury Commissioner, the Commissioner of Probation, the Executive Director and department Directors within the Administrative Office of the Trial Court, and Chief Probation Officers. For the purpose of this Manual, any other appointing authority shall be considered a department head with respect to persons over whom he/she has appointment authority. Chief Court Officers, at the discretion of the Director of Security, may be designated department heads for the purpose of this Manual. Such designations shall be in writing with a copy forwarded to the Human Resources Department.

Full-Time Employee -- an employee who is scheduled to work 37.5 hours per week.

Human Resources/Compensation Management System (HR/CMS) -- the automated human resources and payroll system for all state employees, including those of the Trial Court.

Human Resources Department -- the department within the Administrative Office of the Trial Court responsible for negotiating and administering collective bargaining agreements, administering personnel policies and procedures, and administering the affirmative action program.

Immediate Family -- the employee's spouse and the parents, children, brothers and sisters of the employee and his/her spouse.

Managerial Employees -- for purposes of this Manual, include all Court Administrators, Clerk-Magistrates, First Assistant Clerks, Assistant Clerks, Registers of Probate, First Assistant Registers, Assistant Registers, Recorder of the Land Court Department, Deputy Recorder of the Land Court, Chief Probation Officers, Chief Court Officers and Assistant Chief Court Officers in Middlesex and Suffolk Counties, and those employees who the Administrative Office of the Trial Court has determined meet the definition of "Managerial Employee" in GL c. 150E, such as employees in positions which are classified in level 18 or higher in the Classification and Wage Compensation Plan.

New Hire -- an individual appointed to a position pursuant to the provisions of section 4.000 - 4.500 of this Manual and who is not employed within the judiciary at the time of his/her appointment.

Part-Time Employee -- an employee who is scheduled to work less than 37.5 hours per week.

Permanent Employee -- an employee who is appointed to a position pursuant to the provisions of sections 4.000 - 4.400 of this Manual or other statutory authority.

Probation Officer -- a Chief Probation Officer, First Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Probation Officer in Charge, and Probation Officer.

Promotion -- the advancement of a permanent employee pursuant to the provisions of section 6.000 of this Manual to a position with a higher salary range and a higher level of skill and responsibility.

Temporary Employee -- an employee who is appointed for a limited period of time pursuant to section 4.700 of this Manual, including summer employees, student interns, and employees who are temporarily hired to replace another employee who is on an unpaid leave of absence.

Trial Court Department -- one of the seven departments of the Trial Court which are as follows: the Boston Municipal Court Department, District Court Department, Housing Court Department, Juvenile Court Department, Land Court Department, Probate and Family Court Department, and Superior Court Department.

Trial Court Division -- a principal place within a Trial Court Department for the holding of court (e.g., the Cambridge Division of the District Court Department).

Union Employee -- an employee whose position is included in a bargaining unit under GL c. 150E.

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