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This document is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be binding on the State HR director or staff or on the Personnel Resources Board. This information is for unrepresented state employees; however, it may apply to represented employees as well. Represented employees are advised to contact their union representative to determine whether they have the right to file an appeal. For more information on the Board’s appeal process, refer to Chapter 357-52 WAC.
A permanent employee may appeal the following directly to the Board:
See section on Full Appeal Hearings for more information on hearings for these types of appeals.
An employee or employer may appeal the following to the Board on exception to a director’s review determination:
See section on Exception Appeal Hearings for more information on exception hearings.
The following are a few of the actions that cannot be appealed:
No. Allegations of discrimination or harassment are within the jurisdiction of the Washington State Human Rights Commission. For information on the Human Rights Commission, see Chapter 49.60 RCW.
Employees may file appeals, including appeals on exception to a director’s determination. In addition, employers may file appeals on exception to a director’s review determination.
Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the action appealed. Appeals must be filed in accordance with Chapter 357-52 WAC and must include the information required by WAC 357-52-020.
Yes. The form is available on-line at the Personnel Resources Board forms page. Or, you may contact the Human Resources Office at your place of employment or the State Human Resources Division within the Office of Financial Management for a printed copy of the form.
No. But you are required to provide the information listed in WAC 357-52-020.
Board staff reviews the appeal to assure that all the required information has been provided. If any information is missing, the basis for the appeal is not clear, or the appeal appears to be untimely, Board staff sends you a letter asking for additional information. If you don’t provide the information within the timeframe stated in the letter, your appeal may be dismissed.
Board staff sends a letter acknowledging receipt of the appeal.
Yes. For disciplinary appeals, you and the employer are asked to contact the Board if you wish to participate in mediation of the appeal. In addition, you may choose to have informal settlement discussions with your employer.
Mediation is a process used for settling an appeal. Mediation is conducted by a neutral third party called a mediator. The mediator helps you and the employer talk and reach an agreement to resolve the appeal.
Both parties must first agree to participate in mediation and notify the Board. Then, Board staff considers additional factors such as location of the parties, time remaining before the hearing, cost of the mediation, and the type of appeal. When possible, the appeal is assigned to a mediator.
Generally, exception appeals are not mediated.
Board staff sends you a letter assigning the case to a mediator. The mediator contacts the parties to schedule the mediation.
In order for mediation to be successful, both parties must attend the mediation and act in good faith. This means that you will listen to what the other party has to say, you will keep an open mind and consider all offers made, and you won't stick to a fixed position. If you are not willing to consider alternative remedies to resolve your appeal, mediation will not be successful.
The mediator helps you and the employer share information. The mediator may ask questions to clarify information or make suggestions, but the mediator will not tell either you or the employer what the settlement should be. The mediator will not decide who is right or wrong in any appeal.
Mediation does not delay scheduling your appeal for a hearing. If your case is assigned to a mediator, your appeal is still scheduled for a hearing. If your appeal is settled, you will be expected to withdraw your appeal and the hearing will be canceled.
No. The only information the Board receives from the mediator is whether or not the case settled.
The appeal is set for hearing.
You must send the Board a letter or notice stating that you wish to withdraw your appeal. A Withdrawal Notice is available on the Personnel Resources Board forms page.
The mediator tells the Board’s staff. However, the appeal will not be closed until you send notice to the Board withdrawing the appeal.
You must send the Board a letter or notice stating that you wish to withdraw your appeal. A Withdrawal Notice is available on the Personnel Resources Board forms page.
No. The parties maintain copies of the agreement.
No. The Board does not have jurisdiction to enforce or interpret settlement agreements
The mediator tells the Board’s staff and the appeal proceeds to hearing.
Board staff sends the parties a notice of a proposed hearing date. If you are unable to attend the hearing on that date, you must contact Board staff. When both parties agree to a hearing date, Board staff confirms the date by sending the parties a notice of hearing. The notice of hearing confirms the date, time and location of the hearing.
Within 30 days of the appeal being filed, Board staff contacts the parties with a proposed hearing date. For most cases, the hearing date is within 6 months of the case being filed. However, some cases may be scheduled farther out depending on the Board's caseload and the availability of the parties. NOTE: The Board is a part-time board and typically schedules hearings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Yes. Either party can request that a hearing be continued or rescheduled to a later date. When making such a request, the party making the request must show that there is a good reason for the request.
First, you must contact the opposing party to determine whether they agree with the continuance. The parties should also agree to a date for the new hearing in consultation with the Board’s hearing coordinator. Next, you must file a written request with the Board.
Your request must include the specific reason for the continuance, whether the opposing party agrees with the request, and the date the parties selected for the new hearing.
Requests for continuance should be filed with the Board as soon as possible or at least two weeks before the hearing. The Board considers last minute requests for continuances only when the reason for the continuance is unforeseeable and emergent.
Board staff calls the parties and tells them the Board’s decision. The Board may also issue a written order confirming their decision. For more information on continuances, see WAC 357-52-115.
A scheduling conference is a conversation between the parties and a member of the Board’s staff to discuss procedural matters in preparation for a hearing. Scheduling conferences are usually held by telephone several months prior to the scheduled hearing. The date and time for the conference is included in the notice of hearing.
Both parties or their representatives participate in the call. Board staff initiates the call and facilitates the conversation.
If neither you nor your representative participates in the call, your appeal may be dismissed.
During the call, discovery deadlines, the number and timing of witnesses, exhibits, a date for a status conference call, and other matters are discussed. The matters discussed contribute to an orderly and concise hearing before the Board. For more information, see WAC 357-52-080 through 357-52-095.
Yes. Board staff sends the parties a document entitled “Statement of Results of Scheduling Conference”. This document contains the agreements made during the call.
Discovery is a formal process for asking the opposing party for information. Parties may engage in discovery consistent with the civil rules for superior courts of the state of Washington. However, you may wish to contact the opposing party and request the information prior to engaging in the formal discovery process. Usually, the parties can agree on the exchange of information through a less formal process.
Either party may file a motion when they want the Board to make a decision on an issue prior to a hearing. There are many different reasons for motions. For example, a party may file a motion asking the Board to:
For more information on motions, see Chapter 357-52 WAC.
No. The Board conducts two types of hearings: full hearing and exception hearings. Full hearings are held for most disciplinary, layoff and rule violation appeals. Exception hearings are held for most appeals that have been reviewed by the director or designee or heard by a hearing examiner. More information on each type of hearing can be found in the two sections below titled, "Full Appeal Hearings" and "Exception Appeal Hearings."
Yes. As agreed to during the scheduling conference, approximately one week prior to the hearing, Board staff contacts the parties for a status conference. This conference assures there are no last minute issues or problems that will inhibit an orderly hearing.
The parties are directed to arrive at the hearing thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the hearing. During this time, they exchange and review exhibits, agree on the admission of exhibits, discuss any logistical matters, and resolve any other concerns that might prevent an orderly hearing. For more information about exhibits and witnesses, see WAC 357-52-235 through 357-52-250.
You should plan to make and provide seven (7) copies of all the exhibits you will offer into evidence. During the status conference, Board staff can confirm the number of copies you'll need to bring to the hearing.
Your exhibits should be compiled into complete sets and put in a three-ring binder or notebook. Each notebook or binder should include an index of the contents. And each exhibit should be tabbed and pre-numbered.
Each page of each exhibit should be marked with the exhibit number and the page number. The page numbers should be consecutive beginning with the first page of the first exhibit through the last page of the last exhibit.
The Board calls the hearing to order. Following introductions, the Board asks if there are any preliminary matters. This is when the parties should ask the Board to admit any stipulated facts or exhibits into the record.
When all the preliminary matters are dealt with, the Board asks the parties if they wish to make opening statements. Your opening statement should be a brief overview of your case and what you will be proving to the Board.
After opening statements, the parties present their cases to the Board starting with the party who has the burden of proof. Cases are presented through the testimony of witnesses.
If a witness talks about an exhibit that has not been entered into the record, whoever is questioning the witness should ask the Board to admit the exhibit. If an exhibit is not admitted into the record, it will not be considered by the Board.
After both parties have questioned all of their witnesses, the Board asks the parties if they wish to make closing statements. Your closing statement should be a brief summary of the evidence you presented and the facts you proved. After closing statements, the hearing is closed.
Yes, but it is important to remember that the rules of evidence do not apply to hearings before the Board except for the rules of privilege recognized by law (for example, doctor-patient, attorney-client, husband-wife). If you do make an objection, you must tell the Board why you object. The Board listens to arguments by both parties and then rules on the objection. You should not object during opening or closing statements.
When the director reviews an allocation, reallocation, or remedial action, the director’s review is the initial step of the appeal process. After the director issues a decision, either party may file written exceptions to the Board if they disagree with something in the director’s decision.
When the Board assigns an appeal for hearing before a hearing officer, the hearing officer issues either a final or a recommended decision. When the hearing officer issues a recommended decision, either party may file written exceptions to the Board if they disagree with something in the hearing officer’s decision.
Written exceptions should include the specific areas of the director’s or hearing officer’s decision with which you disagree. You should include why you disagree and you should reference the exhibits that support your position.
Exception appeals are decided based on the record created during the director’s review or by the hearing officer and
Generally, no new testimony or witnesses are allowed during exception hearings.
Board staff sends the parties either a cutoff schedule for written arguments or a proposed hearing date for oral argument. If a proposed hearing date is offered, once the date is agreed upon by the parties, Board staff sends a scheduling order confirming the date, time and location of the hearing.
Exception appeals are based on the record created during the director’s review or by the hearing officer. Usually, the Board does not accept additional information. However, if both parties agree that the information should be considered, they may ask the Board to accept it and the Board may grant the request.
The Board calls the hearing to order. Following introductions, the Board explains the process for the hearing.
Each party is given approximately 20 minutes to present argument to the Board. In addition, the Board may ask questions at any time during the hearing. If the Board asks questions, this time is not deducted from your 20 minutes.
You may wish to reserve a part of your 20 minutes for closing argument.
The party that filed the exception appeal has the burden of proof. This party will present their arguments first. Then the opposing party presents their arguments.
After each side has finished presenting their arguments, the Board will allow you an opportunity to take a 5 to 10 minute break before presenting a closing statement. This break is optional and if you don't feel the need for it, tell the Board that you are ready to present your closing without a break.
Your closing statement should be a brief summary of the evidence you presented and the facts you proved. After closing statements, the hearing is closed.
The Board reviews the evidence, deliberates the case and prepares a written order. The Board signs the written order and issues it to the parties and their representatives.
Board orders are issued by mail.
Decisions are issued within a reasonable amount of time after hearing record is closed.
Orders of the Board are final and are not subject to appeal.
Can I ask the Board to reconsider their decision?
Yes. WACs 357-52-221 through 357-52-224 address motions for reconsideration. A motion for reconsideration must be filed within 14 calendar days of the date on the Board's order and must be based on at least one of the following: