Chapter ER 44

ER 44.04(2)(b) (b) A person may be appointed to serve as an understudy in a position having duties in addition to the understudy functions or in a position specified solely for understudy, but in no case shall a position specified solely for understudy be filled for more than one year before the objective position vacancy is anticipated.

ER 44.04(3) (3) Basis of understudy pay. Persons serving in positions having solely understudy functions may be paid on the same basis as provided for trainees under ch. ER 29 and the compensation plan. Persons serving in positions having duties in addition to the understudy function shall continue to be paid on the basis provided for the non-understudy functions.

ER 44.04 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1984, No. 338, eff. 3-1-84; cr. (3), Register, May, 1988, No. 389, eff. 6-1-88; correction in (1), (2) (a) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register September 2015 No. 717.

ER 44.05 ER 44.05 In-service training internship program.

ER 44.05(1) (1) Purpose. In order to implement the state’s commitment to a responsible, highly qualified staff, a training internship program for positions shall be established by the administrator to give training in public service administration, to improve opportunities for career progression, or to meet agencies’ affirmative action goals.

ER 44.05(2) (2) Establishment.

ER 44.05(2)(a) (a) In-service training internships may be established by agencies for a period not to exceed 3 years under the direct supervision of an experienced employee in a managerial position.

ER 44.05(2)(b) (b) Each training internship shall be approved by the administrator.

ER 44.05(2)(c) (c) A comprehensive training plan shall be developed for each training internship. The plan shall include provisions for:

ER 44.05(2)(c)1. 1. Establishing development objectives against which the intern will be evaluated by the supervisor at least every 6 months during the internship; and

ER 44.05(2)(c)2. 2. Ensuring that there is a managerial employee responsible for overseeing the intern’s progress during the training internship.

ER 44.05(3) (3) Reporting. Agencies shall provide progress and status reports on each internship as required by the administrator.

ER 44.05 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1984, No. 338, eff. 3-1-84; correction in (1), (2) (b), (3) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register September 2015 No. 717.

ER 44.06 ER 44.06 Tuition and fees refund program. When an employee participates in employee training and educational activities with the prior approval of the appointing authority, the following minimum standards for refund of tuition, necessary fees and time off from work shall apply:

ER 44.06(1) (1) Job-related training and educational activities. Attendance of employees at job-related training and educational activities shall be without loss of pay and shall be at the employer’s expense.

ER 44.06(2) (2) Career-related training and educational activities. Upon successful completion of career-related training and educational activities, the employer may reimburse the employee for tuition, registration fees, laboratory costs, books and required student fees, except those fees paid for student activity, health or athletic events. The reimbursement level shall be agreed upon prior to attendance at the activity. Time off for career-related training and educational activities may be granted without loss of pay or taken as authorized accrued leave or compensatory time off, or may be accommodated through the use of alternative work patterns.

ER 44.06(3) (3) Personal development training and educational activities. When an employee’s objectives are to engage in training or education related to personal development training and educational activities, the employer shall not reimburse the employee for any cost associated with these activities. Time off for personal development training and educational activities may be granted by the appointing authority. If granted, such time off shall be without pay, taken as authorized accrued leave or compensatory time off, or may be accommodated through the use of alternative work patterns.

ER 44.06 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1984, No. 338, eff. 3-1-84.

ER 44.07 ER 44.07 Records of training program participation.

ER 44.07(1) (1) Purpose. To establish a centralized overview of training activities, each agency is required under s. 230.046 (4), Stats., to adopt a standardized system for measuring, recording, reporting, and recognizing employee participation in employee development and formal training programs.

ER 44.07(2) (2) Agency responsibility.

ER 44.07(2)(a) (a) Each agency shall maintain training records according to guidelines established by the administrator.

ER 44.07(2)(b) (b) Each agency shall provide information on training activities as requested by the administrator.

ER 44.07 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1984, No. 338, eff. 3-1-84; CR 04-139: r. (2) (a) Register June 2005 No. 594, eff. 7-1-05; correction in (2) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register September 2015 No. 717.

ER 44.09 ER 44.09 Trainee.

ER 44.09(1) (1) Use of trainees. The administrator may authorize the use of trainees, except for career executives, when the special funding requirements of a position require that the position be filled by a trainee, or when the administrator determines that a sufficient number of qualified promotional candidates for the objective level, including women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities, are not available within the agency or employing unit; and:

ER 44.09(1)(a) (a) Filling the position as a trainee will be more appropriate than appointment at the objective level because ability to satisfactorily perform the job tasks is normally acquired as a result of a structured program of job related training and on-the-job experience is required; or

ER 44.09(1)(b) (b) Qualified candidates at the objective level are not readily available in the labor market; or

ER 44.09(1)(c) (c) Filling the position as a trainee will increase the agency’s ability to comply with an approved affirmative action plan or program.

ER 44.09(2) (2) Appointment transaction. The type of appointment transaction shall be based on the objective classification level for the position when filling a position with a trainee.

ER 44.09 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1988, No. 389, eff. 6-1-88; correction in (1) (intro.) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register September 2015 No. 717; CR 21-110: am. (1) (intro.) Register June 2022 No. 798, eff. 7-1-22.

ER 44.09 Note Note: See s. ER-MRS 13.03 for an explanation of the requirements of the probationary period for trainees and understudies.