Section 45-42-162.21
Employees.
(a) All permanent full-time and permanent part-time employees of the city or county including employees of any department, board, commission, authority, or agency shall become employees of the metropolitan-government and shall be assigned duties as similar in nature as may be practicable within the metropolitan-government upon the effective date of this part. Employees of boards, commissions, or authorities, which have been established in response to federal or state legislation who are not employees of the city or county governments at the time of the adoption of this part shall not be employees of the metropolitan-government. In no case shall any permanent full-time or permanent part-time employee receive salary, wage, or benefits lower than that received immediately prior to the effective date of this part. Nor shall any permanent full-time employee be subject to any civil service examination or certification requirements except those pertaining to promotion or change of classification after initial entry into the classified civil service. Employees not previously covered by civil service status six months after the effective date of the metropolitan implementation.
(b) All of the permanent full-time employees shall continue as appointees of the unit to which the power and duties of the unified unit are transferred and shall continue to perform their usual duties until otherwise directed. When employees from two or more units are combined in a single department, office, or division, particular attention shall be paid to the level of training and experience of the employee who is being assigned in relation to others within the unit. The holding of a specific title within either of the units to be combined shall not guarantee the maintenance of that title within the new unified unit. In no case should job qualifications or specifications be lowered simply to provide placement of an employee of the present governmental unit. Any employees aggrieved by their assignment shall be entitled to appeal.
(c) All questions and problems arising under this section shall be resolved by the mayor until personnel policies and rules have been established and adopted by the commission; provided no actions shall impair or diminish the salary and benefits of employees.
(Act 87324, p. 442, § 22.)