Carmen Hernandez and Leola Singletary, CSC Docket No. 2021-1986, 2021-1987

Carmen Hernandez and Leola Singletary request make-up examinations for the promotional examination for Human Services Specialist 2 (PC2215B), Passaic County.

BackgroundBy way of background, the petitioners were scheduled to take the subject examination on June 24, 2021. However, they were found to be late for the examination and were not allowed entry to the exam center.

Appellant's argumentOn appeal, Singletary explains that she arrived at 9:15 am and went to the door at 10:33 am, whereupon a security guard said the exam would start in 15 minutes or so. She was not asked to come in and she returned to her car. She believed that there must be protocols for prevention of Covid-19 in place, and thought she would be alerted as to when to come in. At 11:30 a.m., she went to the door again and was told the examination already started. She called customer support and while on the phone entered into a quarrel with the security guard, and she states that he called her a liar. Singletary states that she was discriminated against by the security guard who she no longer feels safe being around. Hernandez states that she arrived at 8:30 am in order to allow herself some study time and noticed Singletary park her car next to hers at 9:15 am. She saw Singletary walk to the car at 10:30 am and believes that the security guard told her to wait 15 minutes. After not being called in, Hernandez states that “after a while” she knocked at the door and was told by the Center Supervisor that she had missed the start of the examination. She states that the security guard said not to say it was his fault. She saw Singletary and the guard quarrel and heard him call her a liar.

She then had the Center Supervisor write down her name as proof she was there, and she left.

CONCLUSION

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2-9(a)7, make-up examinations for promotional testing may be authorized for other valid reasons.

These are unprecedented times, as businesses and government alike struggle with containing the Covid-19 pandemic. Each entity has different protocols to which they require members of the public to adhere. One common procedure is for individuals to wait in their vehicles until it is their turn. The circumstances appear to be a misunderstanding of the check-in procedures and a miscommunication with the security guard. Under these unique circumstances, the petitioners should be given make-up examinations.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that these requests be granted.

ClosingThis is the final administrative determination in this matter. Any further review is to be pursued in a judicial forum.