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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: May 29, 2021  Amends – GO 4.4.5 ( January 29, 2021 ) Number: 4.4.5 Distribution: All Person nel Review Month: October Reviewing Authority: HRD / Employee Labor Relations Subject: Reemployment of Separated Agency Personnel This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines and time limitations to reemploy former employees with dev eloped skills and to alleviate processing and training expenses. Forme r employees not meeting the criteria shall be considered the same as any other newly hired employee and this policy will not apply. This policy also establishes rules for employees who wish to become an agency volunteer immediately after retirement. 2. Policy It is the policy of the Sheriff to consider employing former agency employees whose service was honorable. 3. Definitions A. Recall – reemployment of a former employee who was la id off. B. Rehire – reemployment of a former employee wh o separated from the agency in good standing. C. Reemployed Retiree - reemployment to a Florida Retirement System ( FRS) eligible position or reinstatement to a volunteer position of a former emplo yee who honorably separated from the agency . D. Volunteer after retirement – immediate change from full or part time agency employment to a retired agency member desi ring to continue to serve the agency in a volunteer capacity, within the first twelve months following FRS retirement. E. Honorable Separation - the employee is listed as eligible for rehire /neutral on the separation status form completed by Human Resources . 4. Procedures A. Rehire/ Recalled Employees 1. Rehired/recalled employees seeking reemployment within one year from separation of the agency must meet the following criteria to be eligible: a. Be physically re employed within one year of the original separation 4.4.5 , Page 2 of 4 date regardless of their status in the rehire process, or when they reapplied. b. Previously ha ve been employed full -time in the position applied for at least two (2) continuous years prior to their separation date. 2. At the discre tion of the Sheriff, rehired/ recalled employees who are reemployed within one year from their date of separation, when they left the agency in good standing, may be entitled to restoration of: a. Seniority (hire dates will be adjusted to reflect time separated) b. Pay grade and pay step c. Any unpaid sick leave accruals consistent wi th GO 4.1.3 d. Leave accrual rates based on combined years of total service e. Retirement benefits as specified in FS 121 f. Longevity pay (if ten (10) or more years of service) 3. Rehired/ recalled employees who are employed within one year from their date of separation and whose seniority and benefits have been reinstated may be eligible to compete in the promotional process if they satisfy the applicable eligibility requirements as defined under GO 4.4.3. A separation of one year or l ess will not be considered a break in “continuous service” for purposes of “time in service” requirements. B. Reemployed Retirees 1. To be eligible to be considered a reemployed retiree , a retiree shall be physically reemployed or reinstated within sixty (60) d ays following their FRS eligibility date for re employment into a position covered by the FRS or for reinstatement as an agency volunteer . The FRS pla ces restrictions on retirees returning to FRS employers within the first ye ar (12 months) after retirement - which includes , by FRS definition , the date of deposit of benefit payments, receipt date of DROP funds and/or investment plan distribut ions. An exception exists for sworn retirees who wish to become reemployed as a School Resource Officer after six months – retirees should review current FRS gu idance on eligibility for more information. Retirees interested in reemployment or reinstatement should contact the FRS if they have questions regarding eligibility . Failure to comply with FRS re employment rules may have significant financial consequences. 2. Reemployed retirees shall be placed in the pay grade and/or step equivalent to a newly hired employee based on their total years of experience. 3. For all other accruals, seniority , etc., r eemployed retirees shall b e treated equivalent to a newly hired employee. C. Rehired/ recalled employees and re employed retirees are not entitled to reinstatement of the rank or supervisory position held prior to departure. Deputy First Class and Master Deputy are not considered supervisory rank s and may be reinstated, if held at the time of departure, at the discretion of the Sheriff. D. All rehired/ recalled employees and re employed retirees shall success fully complete 4.4.5 , Page 3 of 4 all required pre -employment testing, to include a medical exam and an u pdated background investigation, and a psychological evaluation if required for a newly hired employee. All other testing will be determined based on the position applied for and dates of previous testing documented within the personnel file. Rehire d and recalled employees and re employed