The County does not use written exams as frequently as in the past because of claims that unvalidated exams can be culturally biased. When a written exam is used, it must have been standardized and validated by professionals outside the County. A board consisting of male and female management and non-management employees conducts oral exams. For a promotional opportunity, the board cannot include anyone from the requesting department. Employees of neighboring counties routinely serve on Placer County oral boards if qualified interviewers are not available internally.
Every candidate is asked the same questions, read exactly the same way.
The department choice can be appealed to the Civil Service Commission if there is a claim of discrimination. The Grand Jury found these procedures adequately documented by Chapter 14, which is available to all employees. The Grand Jury feels that these procedures insulate the requesting department from all but the last stage of the selection process, and that it is not unreasonable to allow the department to select at will from the list of top candidates developed by Personnel. The Grand Jury has received no other complaints regarding the process. Finding 1 Placer County's hiring and promotion policies are adequately documented in Chapter 14 of the County Code, and there is no evidence of widespread unfairness in its implementation.