Database Search Result Details

First Name Christopher
Last Name Young
Decision Date 4/9/2025
Docket Number 2024-0431-DHHR 
ALJ LKB
Respondent Department of Health and Human Resources/ Bureau for Public Health
Employment Type State
Job Title Health and Human Resources Specialist Senior
Topics Compensation/Classification
Primary Issues Whether Grievant can prove that Respondent, DOP acted arbitrarily or capriciously in rejecting Grievant's temporary pay upgrade agreement? Whether Grievant proved that he worked outside of his classification?
Outcome DENIED in part and GRANTED in part
Statutes W. VA. CODE ST. R. § 156-1-3, West Virginia Code § 29-6-5(b), W. VA. CODE § 29-6-10, W. VA. CODE ST. R. § 143-1-4.4(b), W. VA. CODE ST. R. § 143-1-4.4(d), W. VA. CODE § 51-11-4(b)(4), W. VA. CODE § 6C-2-5(b), W. VA. CODE § 29A-5-4(b).
Related Cases Leichliter v. Dep't of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 92-HHR-486 (May 17, 1993), aff'd, Pleasants Cnty. Cir. Ct. Civil Action No. 93-APC-1 (Dec. 2, 1994). Harvey-Gallup v. Dep't of Health and Human Res., Docket No. 04-HHR-149(J) (Feb. 21, 2008); Moore v. W. Va. Dep't of Health & Human Res./Div. of Personnel, Docket No. 94-HHR-126 (Aug. 26, 1994); see also Syl. Pt. 4, Callaghan v. W. Va. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 273 S.E.2d 72 (W. Va. 1980), State ex rel. Eads v. Duncil, 196 W. Va. 604, 474 S.E.2d 534 (1996) (citing Arlington Hosp. v. Schweiker, 547 F. Supp. 670 (E.D. Va. 1982)).Bedford County Memorial Hosp. v. Health and Human Serv., 769 F.2d 1017 (4th Cir. 1985); Yokum v. W. Va. Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Docket No. 96-DOE- 081 (Oct. 16, 1996)." Trimboli v. Dep't of Health and Human Res., Docket No. 93-HHR- 322 (June 27, 1997), aff'd Mercer Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 97-CV-374-K (Oct. 16, 1998). Syllabus Point 3, In re Queen, 196 W.Va. 442, 473 S.E.2d 483 (1996)." Syl. Pt. 1, Adkins v. W. Va. Dep't of Educ., 210 W. Va. 105, 556 S.E.2d 72 (2001) (per curiam). Blake v. Kanawha County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 01-20-470 (Oct. 29, 2001), aff'd Kanawha Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 01-AA-161 (July 2, 2002), appeal refused, W. Va. Sup. Ct. App. Docket No. 022387 (Apr. 10, 2003); Trimboli v. Dep't of Health and Human Res., Docket No. 93-HHR-322 (June 27, 1997), aff'd Mercer Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 97-CV-374-K (Oct. 16, 1998). Walker v. Pub. Serv. Comm'n and Div. of Personnel, Docket No. 2017- 2006-DEP (Jan. 4, 2019); Hayes v. W. Va. Dep't of Natural Res., Docket No. NR-88-038 (Mar. 28, 1989); Oliver v. W. Va. Dep't of Health & Human Res./Bureau for Child Enforcement, Docket No. 00-HHR-361 (Apr. 5, 2001). Captain v. W. Va. Div. of Health, Docket No. 90-H-471 (Apr. 4, 1991), Dollison v. W. Va. Dep't of Empl. Security, Docket No. 89-ES-101 (Nov. 3, 1989), aff'd, Kan. Co. Cir Ct. Docket No. 89-AA-220 (Jan. 10, 1991). Carroll v. Dep't of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 04- HHR-245 (Nov. 24, 2004) (citing Broaddus v. W. Va. Div. of Human Serv., Docket Nos. 89-DHS-606, 607, 608, 609 (Aug. 31, 1990); Lemley v. Dep't of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 04-HHR-159 (Aug. 27, 2004)), Wilkins v. Dep't of Envtl. Prot. and Div. of Personnel, Docket No. 2011-1333-DEP (Aug. 2, 2013). Syl. Pt. 2, Am. Fed'n of State v. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 174 W. Va. 221, 324 S.E.2d 363 (1984).
Keywords temporary upgrade, arbitrarily or capriciously, duties, compensation, pay grade, capacity, salary increase, qualifying experience,eligible, Rule 4.3.3 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board, pay plan structure, misclassification and reallocation, duties and responsibilities, nature of work, DOP Policy Number DOP-P13 ("Policy P13").
Intermediate Court of Appeals
Circuit Court
Supreme Court
Synopsis Grievant is employed as a Health and Human Resources Specialist Senior by Respondent Department of Health and Human Resources through the Bureau of Public Health. Grievant filed this grievance asserting that he was denied compensation for work he performed pursuant to a temporary upgrade agreement. At the level three hearing, Grievant failed to prove that Respondent DOP acted arbitrarily or capriciously in rejecting the proposed temporary upgrade agreement. However, he did prove that he worked outside of his classification for 32 days, which is two more days than DOP Policy allows. Accordingly, the grievance is DENIED IN PART and GRANTED IN PART, and Respondent DHHR is ordered to pay Grievant back wages for two days.

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