4.32 Service Continuity (Bridging)
The purpose of this policy is to establish clear and consistent guidelines for Bucks County Community College employees who have had their employment at the college interrupted through restructuring or downsizing. Employees who leave voluntarily or are not terminated are not covered by this policy.
This policy applies to all full time and part-time employees. Faculty are excluded per terms of contract.
At times, due to business need and/or economic conditions, College leadership may decide to restructure departments and/or individual positions within them, or otherwise reduce the workforce. This may result in the elimination of a position(s) and the termination of employment for the incumbent(s).
In the event this occurs, and a regular full or part-time employee in good standing suffers the loss of his/her employment as a result of the conditions mentioned above, the employee who is rehired into a regular full or part-time position after a break in employment will be eligible for a continuation of service as outlined below:
Break-in-Service Up To 12 Months:
The employee will return to College employment with his/her service bridged from the effective termination date to the effective new hire date.
All benefits currently in place for the job classification that are based on service years will be reinstated at the appropriate level, in accordance with College policies and/or collective bargaining agreements in effect at time of rehire.
The employee’s unused sick carryover hours will be reinstated in accordance with College policies and/or collective bargaining agreements in effect at time of rehire.
The employee will be treated as a new hire for the purpose of placement and compensation.
The rehired employee will be subject to a background check and any other conditions of employment in effect at time of rehire.
If an employee returns to a new position, the employee will be on probation for the period of time dictated by College policy.
Break–in-Service Greater than 12 Months:
If an employee is rehired after a break in service greater than 12 months from the effective termination date, the employee will be treated as a new hire for conditions of employment, job placement, compensation, benefits and service purposes.
Service bridging will not be available for employees who are terminated for cause or unsatisfactory performance, who voluntarily resign their position, or whose employment ends due to long term disability or due to disability for a work-related injury.