The University reserves the right in any given instance, to determine if an employee possesses the relevant qualifications such as ability, training, and skill to fill the position. Executive and managerial employees are excluded from these provisions. When ability, skill, training, and other relevant qualifications are considered equivalent, job security shall be commensurate with an employee's seniority. For regular staff, other than Service and Maintenance personnel, seniority consists of continuous service in the same department. If relative service among employees is equal, the employee with the greatest University service is the most senior employee.
Seniority accrues from the first day of regular employment.
Seniority should not impact employment decisions for regular employees until the completion of six months of continuous service. During a work-related injury or military leave of absence, an employee continues to accrue seniority. Layoff is defined as the cessation of regular employment due to a permanent or temporary reduction in force. Employees laid off due to a reduction in force retain seniority accumulated to the date of layoff, for a period not to exceed one year. All things being equal, job security shall be commensurate with an employee's seniority.