This manual provides direction, guidance, and general statements of policy and procedure to employees of the Trial Court.
- This page, Trial Court Personnel Policies & Procedures Manual , is offered by
- Trial Court Human Resources Department
- Executive Office of the Trial Court
- Massachusetts Court System
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Section 1: Philosophy and Mission Statement
1.000 Philosophy and Mission Statement
- 1.100 Purpose of the Manual
- 1.200 Coverage of the Manual
- 1.300 Trial Court Mission Statement
- 1.301 Human Resources Mission Statement
Section 2: Definitions
Section 3: Maintenance and Distribution of the Manual
Section 4: Appointment Policies and Procedures
4.000 Appointment Policies and Procedures
- 4.100 General Requirements
- 4.200 Recruitment and Referral
- 4.201 Job Posting
- 4.300 Screening of Applicants
- 4.301 Initial Review of Applicants
- 4.302 Interviews, Exams, Assessments of Applicants
- 4.303 Recommendations and References
- 4.304 Nepotism and Favoritism
- 4.305 Verification of Eligibility to Work in the United States
- 4.306 Court Activity Record Information (CORI) CHECK
- 4.400 Approval Process
- 4.401 Appointment Package
- 4.402 New Hires
- 4.403 Promotions
- 4.404 Employees Appointed by Another Department, Division, or Administrative Office of the Trial Court
- 4.405 Final Approval
- 4.500 Record Retention
- 4.600 Classification and Wage Compensation System
- 4.700 Temporary Employment
- 4.701 Unpaid Volunteers and Interns
Section 5: Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, and Complaint Resolution Procedure
5.000 Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, and Complaint Resolution Procedure
- 5.100 Policy Statement Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
- 5.200 Requests for Reasonable Accommodation
- 5.300 Responsibilities of Employees, Supervisors, and Managers
- 5.400 Responsibilities of Judges, Clerks, Registers, and the Recorder
- 5.500 Corrective Action for Policy Violations
- 5.600 Complaint and Investigation Procedures Overview
- 5.601 Making a Complaint
- 5.602 Intake, Initial Screening, Interim Measures and Informal Resolution
- 5.603 Preliminary Inquiry
- 5.604 Investigation
- 5.605 Confidential Investigative Report
- 5.606 Review of Investigator’s Recommended Conclusions
- 5.607 Grievances and Appeals for Employees and Managers
- 5.608 Required Action by Supervisors and Managers
- 5.609 Provisions for Investigation of Complaints Against Judges, Clerks, Registers, and the Recorder
Section 6: Status Changes
- 6.100 Reclassification Procedure
- 6.200 Temporary Assignment of Employees
- 6.201 Temporary Service in a Higher Grade
- 6.202 Temporary Service in a Lower Grade
- 6.300 Transfer
- 6.400 Statutory Designations
- 6.500 HR/CMS Status Changes
Section 7: Attendance Records
- 7.100 Department Head Responsibility
- 7.200 Time and Attendance Policies and Procedures
Section 8: Conditions of Employment and Other Policies for Managerial Employees
8.000 Conditions of Employment and Other Policies for Managerial Employees
- 8.100 Hours of Work
- 8.200 Outside Employment and Business Activity
- 8.300 Compensation
- 8.301 Compensation Rate for New Employees
- 8.302 Position Classification
- 8.303 Credit for Prior Service
- 8.304 Step Rate Increases
- 8.305 Salary upon Promotion
- 8.400 Probationary Period
- 8.500 Vacation
- 8.600 Sick Leave
- 8.601 Accrual of Sick Leave
- 8.602 Notifications
- 8.603 Use of Sick Leave
- 8.604 Abuse of Sick Leave
- 8.605 Fitness for Duty upon Return to Work
- 8.606 Extraordinary Circumstances
- 8.700 Holidays
- 8.701 Official Holidays
- 8.702 Working on Holidays
- 8.703 Eligibility for Holiday Pay
- 8.704 Religious Holidays
- 8.705 Pro-Rated Holidays for Part-Time Employees
- 8.800 Leave of Absence
- 8.801 Leave of Absence Procedure
- 8.802 Types of Leave
- 8.803 Failure to Return from Leave
- 8.804 Extension of Leave
- 8.900 Paid Personal Leave
Section 9: Confidential Information
Section 10: Travel
Section 11: Workers' Compensation
Section 12: Employee Benefits
Section 13: Reserved for future use
Reserved for future use
Section 14: Policy Prohibiting Abusive Behavior and Providing Leave for Victims and Family Members of Abusive Behavior
- 14.100 Definitions and Examples
- 14.200 Assistance Available to Employees Affected by Abusive Behavior
- 14.300 Leave of Absence for Employees Affected by Abusive Behavior
- 14.400 Qualifying Purpose
- 14.500 Notice
- 14.600 Documentation to Support Request for Abuse/Violence Leave
- 14.700 Employees Who Have Obtained an Abuse Prevention (Restraining) Order or Harassment Prevention Order
- 14.800 Action Against Employees Engaging in Abusive Behavior
- 14.900 Additional Guidance for Managers
- 14.1000 Employment Protections
Section 15: Reserved for future use
Reserved for future use
Section 16: Rules and Discipline
- 16.100 Standards of Employee Conduct and Performance
- 16.200 Investigating Employee Misconduct
- 16.300 Disciplinary Policy
- 16.400 Progressive Disciplinary Policy for Union and Confidential Employees
- 16.401 Procedure for Imposing Progressive Discipline
- 16.500 Discipline or Removal of Management Employees
- 16.600 Exceptions to Disciplinary Policy for All Employees
- 16.700 Appeal and Review of Disciplinary Action for Non-union Employees
- 16.800 Appeal to the Advisory Committee on Personnel Standards for non-Union Employees
Section 17: Employee Training and Professional Development
17.000 Employee Training and Professional Development
- 17.100 Trial Court Training
- 17.200 Departmental Training and Professional Development
- 17.300 Division Level Training and Orientation
Section 18: Personnel Records
- 18.100 Definition and Documents to be Copied to Office of Court Management
- 18.200 Notification to Employee of Documents Placed in Personnel Record
- 18.300 Maintenance and Security Personnel Records
- 18.400 Employee Rights to Correct or Explain Personnel Material
Section 19: Termination
- 19.100 Resignation
- 19.200 Discharge
- 19.300 Exit Interview
- 19.400 Death of an Employee
- 19.500 Retirement
Section 20: Notice of Litigation
- 20.100 Allegations of Criminal Conduct
- 20.200 Litigation Involving Court Personnel
Section 21: Paid Leave Bank
Section 22: Policy to Promote Fair and Equitable Opportunity
Section 22: Policy to Promote Fair and Equitable Opportunity
- 22.100 Goals
- 22.200 Coordination with Other Policies and Procedures
- 22.300 Monitoring Progress toward Policy Goals
- 22.400 Assistance to Appointing Authorities and Department Heads
- 22.500 Policy Awareness and Dissemination
Section 23: Policy and Procedure for Emergency Cancellation of Court
Section 24: Statement of Policy and Procedures on Aids
Section 25: Smoking Policy
Section 26: Compensatory Time and Record Keeping – Fair Labor Standards Act
26.000 Compensatory Time and Record Keeping – Fair Labor Standards Act
- 26.100 Covered Employees and Exemptions
- 26.200 Overtime
- 26.300 Computation of Overtime Pay
- 26.400 Record Keeping
- 26.500 Enforcement
- 26.600 Accrued Compensatory Time Earned Prior to April 15, 1986
- 26.700 General
- 26.800 List of Positions
Section 27: Trial Court Policy on Substance Abuse and the Workplace
27.000 Trial Court Policy on Substance Abuse and the Workplace
- 27.100 Policy
- 27.200 Identifying Substance Abuse: Observation of Behavior and Performance
- 27.300 Supervisor Action
- 27.400 Follow Up by the Supervisor
- 27.500 Deferral of Disciplinary Action
- 27.600 Substance Abuse Among Attorneys
- 27.700 Substance Abuse Among Judges
Section 28: Performance Review in the Trial Court
28.000 Performance Review in the Trial Court
- 28.100 Purpose of Performance Review
- 28.200 Preparing for the Annual Performance Review Meeting
- 28.300 Conducting the Annual Review
- 28.400 Finalizing the Annual Performance Review Form
- 28.500 Providing Ongoing Effective Feedback
- 28.600 Recognizing and Motivating Employees
Appendices
Appendix A – Job Descriptions-Contact HR
Appendix B – Moved to Section 22
Appendix C – Standard Forms
- F1 Revision Check Sheet
- F2 Application for Employment
- F4 Applicant Interview and Hiring Record*
- F5 Appointment Documentation Form*
- F6V Volunteer or Unpaid Intern Notification Form
- F8 Attendance Calendar
- F9 Travel Voucher Input Form
- F10 Employee Checkout List
- F11 Exit Interview
- F12 Employee Conference Report
- F14 Request for Review of Classification Form
- F15 Department Head Comments Form
- F15A Classification Appeal Form
- F16 Form I-9 - Employment Eligibility Verification Form
- F17 Applicant Flow Record*
- F18 Employee Request for Unpaid Leave of Absence
- F19 Request for Vacation Leave Buy-Back
- F19A Request for Vacation Leave Buy-Back (Judges)
- F19B Request for Compensatory Leave Buy-Back
- F20 Request for Sick Leave Buy-Back
- F20A Request for Sick Leave Buy-Back (Judges)
- F21 How to File for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
- F22 Group Insurance Notice
- F23 Consent to Criminal Record Check
- F24 Paid Leave Bank Election and Open Enrollment Form
- F25 Paid Leave Bank Withdrawal Form
- F26 Application for Allied Service Credit (PO's only)
- F27 Certificate of Eligibility for Tuition Remission
- F28 Time Reporting Form
- F29 Management Performance Review
- F30 Statement Concerning Your Employment in a Job Not Covered by Social Security
- F31 Trial Court Policy Acknowledgement Form
- F32 New Hire Form
* These forms are being archived and only used for jobs posted prior to 7/6/2021. Information previously obtained on these forms is now located in the applicant tracking system PageUp.
Appendix D – Administrative Order No. 4
Appendix F – Guidelines Regarding Employees who are Victims of Domestic Violence
Appendix G – The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)