Opinion ID: 1567336
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Whether McNeel should be compensated for continuing professional education expenses incurred by virtue of her wrongful termination.

Text: ¶ 27. The back pay which McNeel received from the MDHS did not include continuing professional education expenses incurred by McNeel during the period of her termination. McNeel testified that prior to her termination she was reimbursed for such expenses, including tuition, mileage, hotels, and meals. She added that since her reinstatement, the MDHS has reimbursed her for mileage associated with attending conferences and [t]he State actually took care of the hotel expenses.... McNeel presented evidence that the continuing professional education expenses she incurred during the period of her termination totaled $2,031. ¶ 28. Conversely, according to Mangold, [i]f it's duties and responsibilities that they're required to know or to improve their skills in order to perform their job, then [the MDHS will] reimburse them for those expenses. However, as to expenses incurred by MDHS social workers to meet licensing requirements, Mangold testified that the MDHS does not reimburse. Occasionally, limited scholarship opportunities were available to MDHS social workers. However, in the absence of such scholarships, multiple MDHS employees testified that continuing professional education expenses, including tuition, mileage, and hotel expenses, were the responsibility of the employee. As O'Bryant testified, [t]hey're allowed time away from their job, but they get no compensation or reimbursement. ¶ 29. The EAB found that [c]ontinuing professional education is neither a part of back pay or a benefit, and this request is denied. ... The circuit court affirmed, finding substantial evidence in the record to support this denial. ¶ 30. Absent exemption, social workers are required to maintain their own licenses. See Miss.Code Ann. § 73-53-7 (Rev. 2008). The original order of the hearing officer, affirmed by this Court, provided that McNeel is reinstated to her position, with back pay and benefits . ... (Emphasis added.) Reimbursement for continuing professional education expenses is not among the benefits listed in Mississippi Employee Appeals Board Administrative Rule 24(A) or the Mississippi State Employee Handbook. Additionally, the hearing officer was presented with conflicting testimony regarding the provision of continuing professional education expenses by the MDHS. Accordingly, this Court cannot find that the EAB's denial of McNeel's request for continuing professional education expenses was unsupported by substantial evidence, arbitrary or capricious, or in violation of McNeel's statutory or constitutional rights. See Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-132(2) (Rev.2006). Therefore, this Court concludes that this issue is without merit.