2.8 Promotions, Demotions, Reinstatements and Transfers

The promotion of personnel in merit system positions will be based on qualifications, success in past assignments and potential for success in the new position. Promotions not made by reclassification or interim appointment will be made through the posting and application process (see section 2.7.1.)

An employee who is promoted will enter the higher classification as follows:

1. Current NKY Health employees who are promoted to a position assigned to one band higher than their current band remain at the same relative point in the pay range associated with the new band.

2. Current NKY Health employees who are promoted to a position assigned to two bands higher than their current band move to one point lower in the pay range associated with the new band.

3. Current employees who are promoted to a position assigned more than two bands higher than their current band will be compensated at the entry level rate associated with the new band.

A demotion is a change to a merit system position assigned to a lower band. Voluntary demotions not made through reclassification or interim appointment will be made through the application process or by mutual agreement when an employee who has been recently promoted requests to return to her/his old position provided the position is still vacant.

An employee who is voluntarily demoted to a position that she/he has not held within the past twelve (12) months but who has completed her/his first introductory period (see section 2.9) will be evaluated the same as new employees plus will be given credit for institutional knowledge. (Credit will not be given prior to completion of the first introductory period (see section 2.9.))

An employee who is demoted to a classification that she/he held within the past twelve (12) months will return to the classification at the same rate she/he would have been making had a promotion not occurred under the following circumstances:

1. When the demotion is due to the end of an interim assignment

2. When the demotion occurs during the introductory period for the promotion

Pay for an involuntary demotion is determined by the District Director of Health.

A reinstatement is a return of a former employee to the same merit system position she/he held within the past twelve (12) months. Reinstatement is at the discretion of NKY Health and may be made through the application process or when an employee requests in writing to return to the exact same position she/he held within the past twelve (12) months, provided that the position is active but vacant.

A reinstated employee shall be offered the rate she/he was paid upon separation, provided that said rate is still aligned with the current pay plan.

NKY Health’s job posting program offers employees the opportunity to apply for transfers to the same position at a different location before positions are posted to the general public.

At her/his discretion, the District Director of Health and/or her/his designee may transfer an employee into a vacant position.

Current employees who transfer to a different program or location but continue to be assigned to the same classification will retain the same pay. When a transfer is made to a different position within the same grade, the employee will be paid the same rate of pay as a new hire with similar qualifications.

A lateral move is defined as a current NKY Health employee moving from one position to a different position assigned to the same pay band.

Current employees who voluntarily move to a classification assigned to the same band after completing their first introductory period (see section 2.9) will be evaluated the same as new employees plus will be given credit for institutional knowledge. (Credit will not be given prior to completion of the first introductory period (see section 2.9.))

Pay for involuntary lateral moves will be determined by the District Director of Health.