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Appeal Process
About appeal process
The university's appeal process is designed to provide prompt and orderly resolution of issues arising in the course of employment. It consists of three steps, starting with the supervisor in most cases, then moving to the department head or designee, and then to a university-wide committee that makes a recommendation to the vice president for human resources who renders the final decision.
An appeal can be presented on the Johns Hopkins University appeal process form which can be found on the Forms page of this site; it is also available from the divisional human resources office. However, the unresolved issue also can be presented in a letter that includes the nature of the issue (including dates) and the proposed resolution to the issue. If you have any concerns before filing a formal appeal and you would feel more comfortable discussing the matter with someone other than your supervisor, you can contact staff from your divisional human resources office, your human resources manager, appeal advisor, or a member of the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.
Your appeal must be in writing, and presented within ten (10) working days of an occurrence and/or within ten (10) working days of your having reasonable knowledge of the occurrence in order for it to be considered on its merits.
An appeal involving a disciplinary suspension or termination must be submitted in writing directly to the department head within five (5) working days following the receipt of notice of suspension or termination.
Within five (5) working days of receiving the appeal, the supervisor is to provide a written response. The department head is to provide a written response within ten (10) working days after receipt of the appeal. If additional time is needed to investigate the appeal, either the supervisor or the department head will notify you in writing. The written notice is to include the date the decision will be provided.
If you are not satisfied with your supervisor's response to your appeal, or do not receive a response from your supervisor, it can be presented to the department head or designee within five (5) working days of receiving the supervisor's response (or within five (5) working days from the date on which the decision was due). If you are not satisfied with the department head's response, the appeal can be presented in writing to the vice president for human resources, within five (5) working days of receiving the department head's response.
When an appeal is submitted to the vice president for human resources, it is investigated by a committee of three individuals, including a committee chairperson and two individuals from the university community. The committee members will make a recommendation, and the vice president will render the final decision of the university.
Please remember that no one, including a supervisor, manager, or staff member, is permitted to engage in retaliation or any form of harassment directed against a staff member who files an appeal.
About appeal advisors
The university provides trained human resources staff to serve as appeal advisors. The role of the advisor is to provide information to staff members who may be considering filing an appeal, and to supervisors/managers who receive an appeal. An appeal advisor listens and helps the involved parties understand the appeal process and procedures.
An appeal advisor is not an advocate, does not offer advice for resolution of the appeal, neither encourages nor discourages the filing of an appeal, and does not accompany the staff member or supervisor to any meeting or serve as a spokesperson.
A list of appeal advisers can be found in the A-Z HR Staff directory.
Disputes not processed through the appeal process
If the complaint pertains to the general level of wages, wage patterns, fringe benefits, or other broad areas of financial management and staffing, it is not permitted to be pursued in the appeal process. An appeal alleging discrimination based upon race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, marital status or any occupationally irrelevant condition is to be presented to the Office of Institutional Equity for consideration and will not be processed under the appeal process. Visit the Office of Institutional Equity for more information on discrimination complaints.
