Ending Library Employment
Departure Process = POLICY i.e. must be followed

POLICY:
An employee who desires to resign from University employment is expected to provide as much advance notice as possible and submit notice of resignation in writing to the supervisor. Separation from employment may take place for a variety of reasons. When employment termination becomes necessary, whether employee or employer initiated, established procedures must be followed.
Select one of the following Quicklinks for specific information:
- Resignation
- Nonrenewal OR Terminal Year
- Transfer within University of Arizona
- Discharge
- Layoff/Reduction in Force
- Retirement
- Policies/Guidelines/Resources/Forms
A Resignation is a voluntary termination by an employee. Employees are expected to notify their immediate supervisor in writing of their intent to resign their position (see Classified Staff Termination Policy #402.0 and UHAP Resignation Policy #4.19).
Expected Notice:
- Classified Staff are expected to provide two (2) weeks notice when resigning.
- Appointed Personnel are expected to provide four (4) weeks notice when resigning.
- All Staff are asked to provide their supervisors more than the minimum amount of notice whenever possible.
Procedures:
- Employee submits a written Resignation Letter to his/her team leader and copies the dean, team accountant and Library HR (HROE).
- Team leader provides employee with written Acknowledgement Letter and a copy of UA Libraries Termination Procedures and Pay Guidelines.
- Employee is encouraged to contact UA Benefits Dept. at 621-3662 to discuss how separation from the University will affect his/her benefits and retirement
- Employee reviews and completes Employee's Separation Checklist.
- Employee is encouraged to attend an Exit Interview with a member of Library HR (HROE) or at the employee’s request, with the dean. To schedule an exit interview, please contact HROE at 621-6429.
- Within one week of termination, employee schedules appointment with team accountant to sign Termination Report and to resolve travel and operational advances.
- Team leader completes Supervisor's Separation Checklist.
NONRENEWAL/TERMINAL YEAR:
An employee on a year-to-year appointment and whose position is state funded is entitled to no less than a 90-day notice, or 30 days when position is non-state and funding is no longer available; otherwise employee is entitled to a 90-day notice (see UHAP Notice of Nonrenewal Policy #4.15).
Procedures:
- Dean notifies employee in writing of nonrenewal decision.
- Employee reviews UA Libraries Termination Procedures and Pay Guidelines and seeks clarification from team leader or HROE.
- Employee is encouraged to contact UA Benefits Dept. at 621-3662 to discuss how separation from the University will affect his/her benefits and retirement.
- Employee is encouraged to attend an Exit Interview with a member of Library HR (HROE) or at the employee’s request, with the dean. To schedule an exit interview, please contact HROE at 621-6429.
- Employee reviews and completes Employee's Separation Checklist.
- Within one week of termination, employee schedules appointment with team accountant to sign Termination Report and to resolve travel and operational advances.
- Team leader completes Supervisor's Separation Checklist.
An employee who is denied continuing status is entitled to a terminal year appointment for the next appointment period (see UHAP Decisions on Nonrenewal and Continuing Status Policy #4.11.02).
Procedures:
- Provost notifies employee in writing of decision not to grant continuous status and provide terminal year.
- Employee is encouraged to contact UA Benefits Dept. at 621-3662 to discuss how separation from the University will affect your benefits and retirement.
- Employee is encouraged to attend an Exit Interview with a member of Library HR (HROE) or at the employee’s request, with the dean. To schedule an exit interview, please contact HROE at 621-6429.
- Employee reviews and completes Employee's Separation Checklist.
- Within one week of termination, employee schedules appointment with team accountant to sign Termination Report and to resolve travel and operational advances.
- Team leader completes Supervisor's Separation Checklist.
An employee who transfers to another University department retains all earned employee benefits including time in position, sick leave and vacation time.
An employee who changes employment from one Arizona university or board office to another and whose break in service is less than thirty (30) calendar days shall maintain all accrued sick leave hours and service credits for vacation computation reasons (see Classified Staff Paid Sick Time Policy #201.0 and Classified Staff Vacation Policy #200.0). Employee is expected to notify his/her immediate supervisor in writing of intent to resign, and must adhere to the following procedures:
Expected Notice:
- Classified Staff are expected to provide two (2) weeks notice when transferring.
- Appointed Personnel are expected to provide four (4) weeks notice when transferring.
- All Staff are asked to provide their supervisors more than the minimum amount of notice whenever possible.
Procedures:
- Employee submits a written Resignation Letter to their team leader and copies the dean, team accountant and Library HR.
- Team leader provides employee with written Acknowledgement Letter and discussed transition plan prior to employees last work day.
- Employee reviews and completes Employee's Separation Checklist.
- Employee is encouraged to attend an Exit Interview with a member of Library HR (HROE) or at the employee’s request, with the dean. To schedule an exit interview, please contact HROE at 621-6429.
- Team leader completes Supervisor's Separation Checklist.
During the initial probationary period a probationary employee may be discharged at any time for any reason that does not violate public policy; advance notice will be given when possible, but termination under this condition may be without notice. Policy requires that Sick Leave used during the probationary period be recovered from the employee’s final paycheck.
Discharge of a non-probationary employee is the last and final step of progressive discipline and causes termination of employment for the employee. Supervisors must work in advance with Library HR (HROE) on cases involving progressive disciplinary actions before taking action. Non-probationary employees are subject to the provisions of the Pre-discharge and Suspension Without Pay Hearing Policy #404.0 and the Disciplinary Action Policy #403.0.
Procedures:
If the supervisor is considering suspension without pay or discharge:
- Prior to pre-suspension, pre-discharge meeting or taking disciplinary actions, the supervisor consults with HROE representative.
- HROE representative consults with the HR Organizational Consultant regarding all disciplinary action cases and communicates input and/or next steps.
- Library supervisor notifies the affected employee in writing (HROE approves letter) of either a pre-suspension or pre-discharge meeting. The meeting is to either review the reasons and facts that led to consider action and give employee opportunity to present information.
- Once appropriate level of action is determined, a meeting with the employee should be scheduled to communicate decision and provide employee with a letter (HROE approves letter) that documents the action.
- If decision is to discharge, employee is provided with discharge notice, vacation leave policy and exiting instructions.
- Employee reviews and completes Employee's Separation Checklist.
- Team leader completes Supervisor's Separation Checklist.
- HROE completes Termination Report and forwards to Central Human Resources. Discharged employee will be paid all wages within three (3) working days following the termination date or on the payday following the end of the regular pay period or whichever is sooner.
It is the University Libraries commitment to minimize layoffs required by budget reductions and to consider staffing reductions only after creative solutions have been considered.
In the event that layoffs are required, the UA Libraries will follow established UA policy and UA Libraries Guidelines, as specified in the document: Layoff Policy and Procedures for UA Libraries & CCP (1/26/09).
As cited in Classified Staff Layoff/Reduction in Force Policy #405, a layoff may be the result of elimination of a position, reduction in funding, reduced or changed work requirements or department reorganization. An employee selected for layoff will have his/her employment terminated from the University upon the layoff/termination effective date. A non-probationary employee whose performance is at least satisfactory is eligible for recall rights and other layoff privileges for up to twelve (12) months following the layoff/termination effective date.
Information for Employees:
- Benefits Continuation (COBRA - HR)
- Job Search Resources (HR)
- Unemployment Insurance (AZ DES)
- Employee Assistance Services - Counseling (
)
Information for Supervisors :
- Layoff Policy and Procedures for UA Libraries & CCP (1/26/09)
- "A Manager's Guide for Having Nonrenewal and Layoff Discussions" (HR, pdf)
- "Delivering Difficult News" (HR, pdf)
- "Making Sound Staffing Decisions as Resources Diminish" (HR, pdf)
Forms:
- Employee's Separation Checklist (02/10/09)
- Supervisor's Separation Checklist (02/11/09)
Normal Retirement is the earliest you may retire with a full benefit, as determined by Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). A normal retirement occurs under the earliest of the following:
- At age 65
- At age 62 with ten (10) or more years of credited service.
- At any combination of year of credited service and age, totaling eight (80) points. For example, 20 years of credited service and you are 60 years of age; you will be eligible for normal retirement benefit because you have 80 points (20+60=80).
Early Retirement may occur if at least fifty (50) years of age and with five (5) or more years of credited service. A reduction determined by your age and credited service is applied to the benefit.
The decision to retire is an important one that requires good planning. The following resources are available to assist you in your transition:
Information for Employees:
- Retirement Planning (Info to get you started) (HR)
- Summary of Retirement Benefits (HR)
- Retirement Benefits Checklist (HR)
- Suggested Time Table (HR)
- Retiree Accumulated Sick Leave (RASL) (HR)
- Retirement Benefit Estimator (ASRS)
- Retiree Health Insurance Enrollment Form (ADOA, pdf)
- ADOA Retiree Benefits Guide (ADOA, pdf)
- Transitioning to a Successful Retirement (HR)
- Return to Work after Retirement (Guidelines for ASRS members)
- Resources for Transitioning Employees (HR)
- Payroll Information for Separating Employees (2/12/09)
- Retirement Manager, to support your participation in the Voluntary 403(b) Plan (3/16/09)
Information for Supervisors:
- Phased Retirement Program for Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) Participants (HR)
- Procedures for Non-Competitive Selection for Rehiring Retirees (HR, pdf)
Forms:
- Employee's Separation Checklist (02/10/09)
- Supervisor's Separation Checklist (02/11/09)
- Sample Resignation (Separation) Letter (02-09-09)
- Sample Supervisor's Acknowledgement Letter (02-09-09)
POLICIES/GUIDELINES/RESOURCES/FORMS
Classified Staff Policies:
- Vacation Leave Policy #200.0
- Paid Sick Time #201.0
- Accumulated Sick Leave Payment for Retiring Classified Staff #202.0
- Arizona State Retirement Program Policy #204.0
- Benefit & Retirement Programs Policy #222.0
- Termination Policy #402.0
- Disciplinary Action Policy #403.0
- Predischarge or Suspension Without Pay Meeting Policy #404.0
- Layoff/Reduction in Force Policy #405.0
Appointed Personnel Policies:
- Decisions on Nonrenewal and Continuing Status #4.11.02
- Notice of Nonrenewal #4.15
- Resignation Policy #4.19
- Annual Leave Policy #8.01.01
- Sick Leave Policy #8.02.01
- Retirement Programs Policy #10.02
- Arizona State Retirement System Policy #10.02.01
- Optional Retirement Plans Policy #10.02.02
LIBRARY GUIDELINES:
- Layoff Policy and Procedures for UA Libraries & CCP (01/26/09)
- UA Libraries Termination Procedures and Pay Guidelines (04/06/07)
RESOURCES:
- COBRA to Continue Insurance Benefits (HR)
- Leaving Employment Prior to Retirement (ASRS)
- NEW! UA Career Transition Website - including advising, professional development workshops, financial information, stress management resources and job separation information as well as hlep with creating a resume and interviewing.
- HR's Employee and Career Advising offers job search and career coaching to affected employees
- UA Financial Education Workshops
FORMS:
- Sample Resignation (Separation) Letter (02-09-09); (indicate reason for separation)
- Sample Supervisor's Acknowledgement Letter (02-09-09)
- Employee's Separation Checklist (02/10/09)
- Supervisor's Separation Checklist (02/11/09)
---
Please let us know what information is not as easy to find as you would like and if any problems occur in accessing or using the information. Send us your questions and comments via our new “Contact Us” link.
