2255-6
Third Party Involvement In Employment Issues
Commissioner's Policy
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Should an employee of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) experience employment issues or concerns, the employee
is expected to personally attempt to resolve those issues or concerns with the appropriate level or levels of supervision or
with resources provided by the Department such as the Employee Management Relations Unit of the Office of Personnel.
It is the policy of the GDOT that there will be no recognition, express or implied, of any third party in any matter
pertaining to employment issues or management of the Department’s staff. Third parties include, but are not limited to, an
employee’s relatives, friends, acquaintances, attorneys, or representatives of professional associations or organizations.
Prohibitions
- Supervisors are prohibited from meeting, conferring, or negotiating with any third parties regarding employment issues
or management of staff. This prohibition applies whether the third party is a non-employee or an employee who is asked to,
or claims to represent another employee. Additionally, this prohibition applies to all forms of communication, including
personal meetings, telephone conversations, written communications, etc.
- Supervisors or other employees of the Department must report any contacts from third parties regarding employment issues
or management of staff to the District Engineer or Office Head, who will forward relevant information to the Office of
Personnel, Employee Management Relations Section.
Exceptions
The following exceptions to the prohibitions against third party involvement in employment matters are permitted:
- Officials representing the Department may discuss employment matters with attorneys or representatives from enforcement
agencies as required by the duties of their positions. Examples of such permissible discussions include those necessary for
the conduct of administrative hearings, internal investigations, equal employment opportunity reviews or investigations,
attorneys retained by employees for Workers’ Compensation claims, etc.
- In accordance with DOT grievance procedures, employees and supervisors may request the assistance of DOT third party
representatives in preparing grievances and/or representing them in grievance hearings. In such cases, the third party
representative must also be a DOT employee.
- Third party communications regarding employment matters are permissible with the express authorization of the
Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner.
Authored by the Office of Personnel, 404-656-5260
Document History:
- added to TOPPS: 04/04/05
- reviewed: 06/08/07
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