Four Pine Haven Nursing Home workers who had been unilaterally suspended by the Administration over alleged violations of various Pine Haven policies were recently restored to their positions with full back pay and were spared suspension, thanks to the efforts of UPSEU Labor Relations Representative Shawn Morse.

Once UPSEU was contacted by the employees and advised of the suspensions, Columbia County and Pine Haven Administration were contacted immediately and discussions commenced to try and short curcuit the suspensions and the lengthy formal disciplinary process.

The formal disciplinary process in Columbia County is pursuant to the provisions of the New York State Civil Service Law Section 75. Under Section 75, the County can, and usually does, suspend employees without pay for a period of 30 calendar days and during that period, serves them with formal disciplinary charges. Employees have the right to a hearing of the charges and to present proof of their innocence or mitigating factors , and the process can be extremely lengthy.

Fortunately in this case, settlements were reached on each of the cases and the four workers were restored to their positions with full back pay and no formal discipline.