(1) The administration of all grievances under Subsection 67-19a-202(1) occurs on the following four levels:
(a) Level 1 - the supervisor;
(b) Level 2 - the division director or the director's designee;
(c) Level 3 - the agency director or the director's designee; and
(d) Level 4 - the office.
(2)
(a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), Section 67-19a-402.5">67-19a-402.5, and Section 67-19a-501, and subject to applicable time limits as provided in this chapter, an employee:
(i) shall file a grievance at the lowest level described in Subsection (1) that has not already issued a decision, taken action, or declined to address the subject of the grievance; and
(ii) may proceed for further review of a grievance in accordance with Section 67-19a-402.
(b) If a supervisor or division director is a subject of a grievance or complaint, the employee may proceed directly to Level 2 or Level 3, respectively.
(c) An employee may not file a grievance that asks the same manager or a lower-level manager to reconsider a previously made decision.
(3) A career service employee may advance all grievances to Level 3.
(4) In accordance with Section 67-19a-402.5">67-19a-402.5 and subject to Section 67-21-4, a reporting employee may file a grievance alleging retaliatory action directly at Level 4.