R477-6-9. Employee Converting from Career Service to Schedule AC, AD, AR, or AS

  (1) A career service employee in a position meeting the criteria for career service exempt schedule AC, AD, AR, or AS shall have 60 days from the date of offer to elect to convert from career service to career service exempt. As an incentive to convert, an employee shall be provided the following:

  (a) an administrative salary increase of at least 1/2% or up to the current salary range maximum. An employee at or above the current salary range maximum shall receive, in lieu of the salary adjustment, a one time bonus, as determined by the agency head or designee, not to exceed limits in Subsection R477-6-7(1)(b);

  (b) state paid term life insurance coverage if determined eligible by the Group Insurance Office to participate in the Term Life Program, Public Employees Health Plan, as provided in Section R477-6-10.

  (2) An employee electing to convert to career service exempt after the 60 day election period may not be eligible for the wage increase, but shall be entitled to apply for the insurance coverage through the Group Insurance Office.

  (3) An employee electing not to convert to career service exemption shall retain career service status even though the position shall be designated as schedule AC, AD, AR or AS. When these career service employees vacate these positions, subsequent appointments shall be career service exempt.

  (4) An agency head may reorganize so that a current career service exempt position no longer meets the criteria for exemption. In this case, the employee shall be designated as career service if the employee had previously earned career service. However, the employee may not be eligible for a severance package, increased annual leave accrual, or exempt life insurance. In this situation, the agency and employee shall make arrangements through the Group Insurance Office to discontinue the exempt life insurance coverage.

  (5) A career service exempt employee without prior career service status shall remain exempt. When the employee leaves the position, subsequent appointments shall be consistent with R477-4.

  (6) Agencies shall communicate to all impacted and future eligible employees the conditions and limitations of this incentive program.