This manual provides direction, guidance, and general statements of policy and procedure to employees of the Trial Court.
Table of Contents
Section 1: Philosophy
- 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 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
- 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: Affirmative Action
- 5.100 Status and Effectiveness Report
- 5.200 Recruiting and Hiring
- 5.300 Pre-Employment Consideration
- 5.400 Applicant Interview and Hiring Record
- 5.500 Post-Employment Profile
- 5.600 Training and Technical Assistance
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 Return to Work
8.606 Extraordinary Circumstances
8.700 Holidays
8.701 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 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: Insurance and Health Benefits
Section 13: Retirement Benefits
Section 14: Employee Benefits
Section 15: Unemployment Benefits
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 and Procedure for the Elimination of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
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 – A Plan for Fair and Equal Employment
Appendix C – Standard Forms
- F1 Revision Check Sheet
- F2 Application for Employment
- F3 Job Posting Request Form
- 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
- F13 Request for New Position
- 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
Appendix D – Administrative Order No. 4
Appendix E – Massachusetts Trial Court Policy and Procedures for the Elimination of Sexual and Gender Harassment in the Workplace
Appendix F – Guidelines Regarding Employees who are Victims of Domestic Violence
Appendix G – The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)