Transfers and Freenames

Regular, probationary, or former employee of the County of Sonoma may submit an application for transfer, voluntary demotion, or freename opportunities.

In accordance with Civil Service Rules, and other policy or programs as applicable, Human Resources maintains lists for job classes from which individuals who meet transfer, voluntary demotion, or freename criteria can be referred to hiring departments when they have vacancies. Individuals who meet criteria must submit an application for each type of opportunity and job classification they would like departments to consider them for.

Criteria for transfer, voluntary demotion, and freename opportunities are as follows: 

• Transfer & Voluntary Demotion
  • Transfer Criteria
  • Voluntary Demotion Criteria
  • Transfer & Voluntary Demotion Process
• Freename Criteria
  • Freename Process
  • Closely Related Class Definition

Contact your department’s Human Resources Recruitment and Classification Analyst regarding any question related to transfer, freename, and closely related classifications.

When Human Resources is recruiting for a position where you would like to be considered for transfer/voluntary demotion, or is soliciting transfer/voluntary demotion applications through some kind of communication channel, you may submit an application. Employees may also submit applications for these opportunities at any time with or without a current vacancy or solicitation. 

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• You must be a permanent or probationary County of Sonoma employee; and
• you may transfer to the same classification you currently hold;
• or you can transfer to a closely related* classification provided the A-step of the classification is within 4% (up or down) of the A-step of your current classification, AND you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.  (See definition below for closely related.)

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• You must be a permanent or probationary county employee; and
• you may voluntarily demote to a class in which you’ve previously held probationary or permanent status in;
• or to a closely related* class with a lower salary range AND in which you possess the minimum qualifications.

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• Employees submit application materials for EACH job class they wish to be on a list for.
• Human Resources staff reviews the application and the classification(s) in which you have submitted your request for transfer/voluntary demotion and determines your eligibility.
• Human Resources notifies you if your request for transfer/voluntary demotion has been approved.
• If approved, Human Resources places you on a transfer/voluntary demotion list for the approved classification(s) for 6 months.
  • When 6 months expires, it is the employees’ responsibility to contact Human Resources to request an extension; Human Resources will NOT automatically renew.
  • Human Resources does not notify candidates when six months expires.
  • If you wish to extend your eligibility for another six months, you must contact Human Resources to make the request.
• As vacancies occur, Human Resources refers your application materials as requested by departments and/or in conjunction with regular employment certifications for the classification in which you have submitted your application for.
• Human Resources does NOT notify you if you have been referred to a department.
• Departments have the discretion to interview candidates referred to them who are transfer/voluntary demotion candidates unless otherwise required by County policy or Civil Service Rules.
• Once referred to departments, the departments will be responsible for communicating with and coordinating candidates directly.

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The Civil Service Rules provide former regular employees who were either laid off or resigned in good standing, within five years after the separation date, or current regular employees, the opportunity to be placed on a “Freename” list to be considered for reappointment in a class the individual formerly occupied, or in a lower level class in the same series. Employees must meet the criteria of freename eligibility in accordance with Civil Service Rules.

Additionally, regular employees who have received official layoff notice may request to be considered for appointment to closely related* classes that have the same or lower salary range from the date they receive their layoff notice for as long as 90 days beyond their layoff effective date, and a regular employee who has voluntarily demoted within two years from the demotion may request reappointment to the class from which he/she demoted.

Eligible employees may submit applications at any time with or without a current vacancy, job announcement, or solicitation.

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• Employees submit application materials for EACH job class they wish to be on a freename list for.
• Human Resources staff reviews the application and the classification(s) in which you have submitted your request and determines your eligibility.
• Human Resources notifies you if your request for freename status has been approved.
• If approved, Human Resources places you on a freename list for the approved classification(s) for 6 months.
  • When 6 months expires, it is the employee’s responsibility to contact Human Resources to request an extension; Human Resources will NOT automatically renew.
  • Human Resources does not notify candidates when six months expires.
  • If you wish to extend your eligibility for another six months, you must contact Human Resources to make the request.
• As vacancies occur, Human Resources refers your application materials as requested by departments and/or in conjunction with regular employment certifications for the classification in which you have submitted your application for.
• Human Resources will notify you if you have been referred to a department.
• Departments must interview freename candidates.
• Once referred to departments, the departments will be responsible for communicating with and coordinating candidates directly.

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“Closely related class” means any class which has been designated by the Human Resources Director to have sufficiently similar duties and minimum qualifications to make a change of status compatible with Merit Systems Standards.

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