| THE LANGUAGE USED IN THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND THE AGENCY. THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE ANY CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS OR ENTITLEMENTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVISE THE CONTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART. NO PROMISES OR ASSURANCES, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, WHICH ARE CONTRARY TO OR INCONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THIS PARAGRAPH CREATE ANY CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT. |
19-716 | 19-716.01 | 19-716.02 | 19-716.03 | 19-716.04
19-716 STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING
SCOPE AND PURPOSE
This Regulation governs staff development and training programs for agencies but does not affect sabbatical leave for academic personnel.
19-716.01 STATEMENTS OF POLICY
An agency may sponsor
training for employees to improve or secure those skills necessary for the
efficient and effective operations of the agency and to ensure uniformity in
the administration of staff development and training programs throughout the
State service. (S.C. Code Ann. § 8-11-230)
The agency head or his designee shall be responsible for the administration of staff development and training within the agency. (S.C. Code Ann. § 8-11-230)
An employee is encouraged to schedule classes during off-duty hours, whenever possible. When a class cannot be scheduled during off-duty hours, the agency may adjust the employee's work schedule, if doing so will not interfere with normal efficient operations of the agency. When a class cannot be scheduled during off-duty hours, and the agency cannot feasibly adjust the work schedule of an employee, an employee may be allowed to take annual leave or be granted leave without pay in order to attend classes.
An agency may require an employee to take a specific course that will help improve the employee's performance in the present position or acquire skills necessary to perform additional job duties to meet agency needs. If required, the agency will then pay all costs of the course, including tuition, fees, books, and examinations. An agency shall not pay for courses required to attain nor to maintain a professional license unless related to the performance of the employee’s job duties. Attendance at required courses may constitute work time.
Agencies may provide
tuition assistance to employees based on the guidelines recommended by the
Office of Human Resources (OHR) and approved by the Budget and Control
Board.
When staff development and training needs cannot be accomplished within the Tuition Assistance Guidelines, the agency may submit a proposal to the Budget and Control Board for approval.
Approval of the proposal by the Budget and Control Board must precede the selection of employees for training. Each proposal shall include the following information:
Program justification based on agency needs;
Description of the courses;
All classes and the number of positions in each class in the requested program;
Fiscal year cost estimates for participation in the requested program; and
A service commitment and payback agreement. (S.C. Code Ann. § 8-11-240)
Except as provided above, any other forms of educational assistance for employees or non-employees may not be given by agencies unless authorized by statute or by the Budget and Control Board.