Article 19: Training

Section 1

A. Training and development of employees is a matter of significant importance in carrying out the mission of the Agency. Training is intended to enable employees to perform their official duties at the maximum level of proficiency and prepare for advancement. In recognition of this, the Employer will, within budgetary constraints and workload considerations, make training available in accordance with merit systems principles and applicable laws, rules, regulations, and the provisions of this Article.

B. The Employer is responsible for determining the training needs for employees, determining the kinds of training to be provided and facilities to be used, and selecting and assigning employees for training. The Employer will determine how training funds and opportunities can best be utilized to maximize the usefulness of such training for the Agency, consistent with the goal of providing appropriate training to employees.

C. In accordance with 5 C.F.R. § 410.306, the Employer will maintain criteria for the fair and equitable selection and assignment of employees to training consistent with merit system principles specified in 5 U.S.C. § 2301(b)(1) and (2). The Employer will notify the Union within ten (10) business days of the establishment of any new criteria under this section.

D. All training must be approved in advance. The Employer will reasonably consider an employee’s requests for training that supports the Employer’s goals by improving organizational performance at any level of the agency, including training that:

• Supports the agency’s strategic plan and performance objectives;
• Improves an employee’s current job performance;
• Allows for expansion or enhancement of an employee’s current job;
• Enables the employee to perform needed or potentially needed duties outside the current job at the same level of responsibility (and grade); or
• Meets organizational needs in response to human resource plans regarding organizational and/or program changes.

E. To request approval to attend such training, an employee will complete a Request for Training Form SEC-182.

Section 2

Employees are encouraged to participate in professional activities of their occupation. The Employer will approve an employee’s written request for annual leave, leave without pay, earned credit hours and/or earned compensatory time to participate in training, professional meetings, professional development, conferences, or continuing education courses unless the employee’s absence would have an adverse effect on staffing, workload or mission requirements. The Employer will reasonably consider, and may approve, an employee’s request for duty time in appropriate circumstances for the activities described above, and will give serious consideration to requests where the training is directly related to the employee’s official duties.

Section 3

A. The Employer will provide information about SEC-sponsored training or educational programs to employees. When a particular training opportunity is only offered to a particular office or group of employees, the Employer will provide the information about such opportunity to all employees in that group or office, consistent with the provisions of this Article. To the extent practicable, this information will be posted on the Employer’s Intranet or via e-mail to the employees.

B. To the extent practicable, the Employer also will provide information to employees about training and conferences from other sources that the Employer makes widely available to bargaining unit employees. This information normally will be posted on the Employer’s Intranet.

Section 4

A. Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this Agreement, the Employer and the Union will establish a joint committee for the purpose of expanding the Upward Mobility Program for employees. The committee will discuss relevant issues and make recommendations to the Employer regarding those issues.

B. The Employer will develop its Expanded Upward Mobility Program within twelve (12) months of the establishment of the committee. The Employer is not required to add additional headcount (slots) in the expansion of the Upward Mobility Program. Upward Mobility opportunities will be created using existing slots.

C. Under the Upward Mobility Program, the Employer will post five (5) Upward Mobility opportunities for existing employees in lower-graded positions (SK-7 and below).

D. All qualified lower-graded employees (SK-7 and below) not already in a career ladder position will be permitted to apply for these Upward Mobility opportunities and participants will be selected by the Employer in accordance with merit system principles. The Employer will select participants without regard to the candidates’ race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or union membership. The Employer shall endeavor to distribute the opportunities in a fashion that promotes diversity within the Upward Mobility Program.

E. The Upward Mobility Program will be designed to provide current SEC employees with the opportunity to expand their career and promotion potential through a systematic, planned approach to career progression to one grade higher.

F. After implementation of the Upward Mobility Program, the Labor-Management Relations Committee (LMRC) shall monitor the Upward Mobility Program and make recommendations to the Employer regarding any modifications to the program.