August 06, 2013

Termination and reinstatement to a lower grade position prior to completion of the required probationary period

Termination and reinstatement to a lower grade position prior to completion of the required probationary period
31 AD3d 456

The Appellate Division, Second Department affirmed the termination on an employee prior to the end of his probationary period in a higher level position and his reinstatement to his former, lower grade position.

In response to the employee’s challenging his termination during his probationary period the Appellate Division said that "A probationary employee may be discharged without a hearing and without a statement of reason in the absence of any demonstration that the dismissal was for a constitutionally-impermissible purpose or in violation of statutory or decisional law" citing such decisions as Walsh v New York State Thruway Auth., 24 AD3d 755; Matter of York v McGuire, 63 NY2d 760; and Matter of Rossetti-Boerner v Hampton Bays Union Free School Dist., 1 AD3d 367.

Accordingly, the Appellate Division rejected the employee’s contention that he was entitled to the procedural protections of Civil Service Law §75 as he was removed from his appointed position prior to his satisfactory completion of a one-year probationary period.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/3dseries/2006/2006_05375.htm