City employees may be separated from City service through resignation, release, retirement, lay-off, incapacity, termination or death of the employee.
The categories of separation and their definitions are:
A. Resignation A voluntary separation, including:
1 . Resignation. To be separated in good standing, employees must give two weeks written notice including the reason for leaving. The two week notice shall be a working two weeks to provide good transition for coverage. The two weeks can be waived with mutual agreement.
2. An absence of two consecutive working days without authorization from superintendent. See Attendance #423.
3. Failure to return from leave of absence as arranged with the City.
B. Release A separation in which the employee is not qualified or adapted for the type of work assigned and no other assignment is available at the sole discretion of the City. Release usually results from no fault of the employee. Employees who are unable to perform satisfactorily during the new employee orientation period will be considered as released.
C. Deceased The death of an employee in active employment.
D. Retirement A voluntary separation which usually includes qualification for benefits under the Texas Municipal Retirement System.
E. Incapacity
1. An employee may be separated for incapacity due to medical reasons when the employee no longer meets the standards of fitness required for the position not withstanding the absence of a doctor's determination.
2. A finding of incapacity shall be made by the Department Head based on the employee being medically unable to work by a date which has exhausted the employee's benefit time and time on Leave Without Pay and under circumstances where the employee's continued absence creates a hardship to the effective operation of the City.
3. This decision may be appealed to the City Manager who is the final authority.
F. Termination A separation in which the employee is removed from the payroll at will or for violation of employee standards of conduct or safety regulations, unsatisfactory job performance, or any other reason deemed by the City to warrant termination.
A. Resignation An employee who resigns, with or without notice, will be asked immediately by the superintendent to complete a voluntary resignation form (copy following). The completed notice will be forwarded to the City Manager or his designee for filing in the employee's permanent record.
B. Return of Equipment and Keys Prior to the last day of work, the superintendent must obtain all equipment and keys from the separated employee.
C. Employment References for Separated Employees See Personnel Records and Privacy #040.
D. Final Paycheck Regular Check and Benefits Due (Hours worked + Vacation) The final paycheck will be issued with the next regular payroll after effective date of separation.
Generally, when an employee is separated, all benefits are lost (beyond those paid for at the time of termination), with these exceptions:
A. Vested Rights Under the Texas Municipal Retirement System General provisions of benefit credit are specified in the summary plan description available from the Finance Department.
B. Health Insurance Benefit Extended coverage and conversion privileges of the health insurance benefit plan is provided in accordance with conditions outlined through COBRA. Please see the Finance Department.
C. Retirement Insurance. Please refer to retirement insurance policy.
D. Vacation Employees will be paid in full for vacation earned - but not taken - at time of separation. See Vacations #311.