1. A. If a covered employee is not satisfied with the agency’s final decision concerning his grievance, he may appeal, after all administrative remedies to secure relief within the agency have been exhausted, to the State Human Resources Director who will determine whether to dismiss the appeal or remand or forward the appeal for further action.
2. B. A covered employee who wishes to appeal the final decision of the agency to the State Human Resources Director shall file an appeal within ten calendar days of receipt of the decision from the agency head or his designee or within 55 calendar days after the employee filed the grievance with the agency, whichever occurs later. The covered employee or the employee’s representative shall file the request in writing with the State Human Resources Director. Failure to file an appeal with the State Human Resources Director within ten calendar days of receipt of the agency’s final decision or 55 calendar days from the initial grievance, whichever occurs later, constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal. The time periods for an appeal to the State Human Resources Director may not be waived.
3. C. The Division of State Human Resources shall develop standard forms to be used in all appeal procedures.

4. D. Upon receipt of an appeal from a covered employee, the State Human Resources Director shall:

   1. 1. Acknowledge receipt of the appeal and require that the covered employee submit a standard appeal application form;
   2. 2. Upon receipt of the standard appeal application form, notify and request that the agency furnish the State Human Resources Director a copy of all records, reports, and documentation of the earlier proceedings on the grievance within 15 calendar days following the request. Extensions may be granted in extenuating circumstances; and
   3. 3. Determine whether the appeal is timely and complies with the jurisdictional requirements of the Act.
5. E. If the State Human Resources Director determines that the appeal is untimely or fails to comply with the requirements of the Act, he will notify the covered employee or his representative that the appeal is denied, and no further action will be taken concerning the appeal. As a result of the State Human Resources Director’s decision, the covered employee may request reconsideration within 30 calendar days from notification of the decision. A notice of appeal seeking appellate review of the decision may be made by the covered employee to the Administrative Law Court as provided in Sections 1-23-380 and 1-23-600 (D) of the South Carolina Code of Laws.
6. F. If the State Human Resources Director determines that additional action by the agency is necessary and appropriate, he may remand the appeal to the agency.
7. G. If the State Human Resources Director determines that the covered employee has pending related criminal charges against him, the appeal process may be held in abeyance pending the outcome of those charges at the request of the covered employee or the agency. If the appeal is held in abeyance, the covered employee or his representative must notify DSHR within 30 calendar days after the disposition of the charges has been determined in order to preserve the covered employee’s right to further pursue his appeal. Failure to contact DSHR within those 30 calendar days will be deemed a waiver and abandonment of the appeal. Evidence of the dismissal, acquittal, or non-prosecution of the related criminal charges shall be inadmissible in the employee’s appeal pursuant to applicable law.
8. H. At the request of the covered employee or the agency, the State Human Resources Director may place an appeal in abeyance in extenuating circumstances.
9. I. If the State Human Resources Director determines that the appeal is timely and complies with the requirements of the Act, he will forward the appeal either (1) to the mediator-arbitrator for mediation-arbitration or (2) after the mediation process has been completed, to the designated panel of the State Employee Grievance Committee [Committee] and Committee Attorney for a hearing, whichever is appropriate based on the type of adverse employment action.
10. J. When an appeal is forwarded to a designated Committee panel, the State Human Resources Director will notify the covered employee or their representative and the agency with a statement as to the issues which have been presented by the parties for presentation before the Committee for decision.
11. K. The official record on each appeal and all related correspondence and documents shall be maintained in a confidential file by DSHR.
12. L. The State Human Resources Director will send the notices and correspondence pertaining to an appeal directly to the parties or their representatives.

HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 26, Issue No. 1, eff January 25, 2002. Amended by State Register Volume 34, Issue No. 5, eff May 28, 2010; State Register Volume 40, Issue No. 10, eff October 28, 2016; SCSR 48-9, eff September 27, 2024.