Seniority Vs. Service Credits

Q: How is a seniority credit determined?

A: Each full-time employee receives one credit per pay period of continuous service. Part-time employees receive credits on a pro-rated basis.

Q: My seniority credits do not match my service time -- why?

A: State service is time worked in any public entity in which one would qualify for PRS retirement. As an example, a member who worked for the State for five years -- but prior to that held a county job for another five years -- would then have five years of seniority credits but ten years of service credits. State seniority starts on the day that one enters a State of Ohio job that's within the bargaining unit. Service credits count towards PRS time and increased vacation accrual.

Q: If an employee has service time with a county job, then does any of this time count as a seniority credit?

A: No, that time does not count towards seniority credits. However, if one works for the ODJFS, that agency allows for accrued vacation time to be carried over for employees who transfer directly from an Ohio county DJFS job to a job with the state DJFS.

Q: If I took another job with a classification not covered by the 1199 contract for less than one year and then came back to an 1199 position, do my service credits start over or continue with what I already had? What happens if my separation was for more than one year?

A: Your service credits would carry over, and the length of the break of service doesn't matter. If one entered the bargaining unit after June 12, 1986, then any breaks would restart seniority credits, however.

Q: If I was hired prior to June 1986 in a position not in 1199, but a position that contributed to OPERS, is this time counted as seniority time?

A: Yes, it would count, as long as one was in an 1199 position by June 12, 1986.

Q: Explain what this Contract language means:

1. Persons employed with the State of Ohio in a classification not covered by the 1199 Agreement, who prior to June 1, 2000, entered a classification in bargaining unit eleven (11) or bargaining unit twelve (12) are eligible to carry over their previous seniority as that seniority was determined by the terms of the Agreement covering that previous classification.

2. Effective June 1, 2000, persons employed with the State of Ohio in a classification not covered by the 1199 agreement, who enter a classification in bargaining unit eleven (11) or bargaining unit twelve (12) shall not carry-over any seniority.

A: The previous rule was intended for new 1199 members who transferred from positions represented by other Unions -- allowing them to be credited for their time as Union workers, regardless of which Unions represented them.

However, because this courtesy was not being extended to 1199 members transferring into other Unions, 1199 members decided in the 2000 Agreement that any State employee -- including managers -- entering the 1199 bargaining unit would see their seniority credits begin at zero.

Q: Why did OJDFS put out the seniority list now? Does this mean I am in line to be laid off?

A: Getting the list is not a guarantee of layoffs. Any agency facing even potential layoffs -- including ODJFS -- is putting out their seniority list to enable employees to check the accuracy of their seniority, merely in the event that layoffs would later be decided upon.