New Jersey Lawyers BlogNew Jersey Civil Service Resignations and Job Abandonment Appeals
How a New Jersey Civil Service employee’s separation from service is characterized, either “in good standing” or “not in good standing,” has significant consequences, particularly on the employee’s ability to obtain future government employment, and may even effect her employment in the private sector. Moreover, if the employee is
found to have abandoned her position she may be involuntarily terminated. Thus, the right to appeal these characterizations is important.
When a Resignation is Considered to be in Good Standing
Obviously, civil service employees want their separations to be considered in good standing, which will allow them to be reemployed. This will also allow them to answer that they resigned in good standing when asked at job interviews even for private sector jobs. For a resignation to be considered “in good standing” the requirements under New Jersey civil service law are that the employee actually was in good standing when she resigned and that she gave her employer at least 14 days notice, either verbally or in writing (the employer may consent to shorter notice which would allow the resignation to be in good standing despite a shorter notice period). The resignation is considered accepted when the notice is received by the employer. The employer may allow an employee to rescind her resignation prior to the employee’s last day.