Postdoctoral employees, like all other employees of North Carolina State University, need to be aware of university policies related to their rights and responsibilities.  The following information provides links to these various policies.  Note that postdoctoral employees are classified as EPA (Exempt from the State Personnel Act) employees and are required to follow the guidelines outlined in the university’s policies, rules and regulations pertaining to EPA employees.

Research

First and foremost, for many postdoctoral employees, is research.  The university has a policy on research which outlines the development and process of scholarly inquiry:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/research/POL10.00.2.php

Conflicts of Interests and Conflicts of Commitment

This policy implements the Board of Governors' (BOG) Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Affecting Faculty and Non-Faculty EPA Employees and federal law and regulations applicable to all NC State employees or any individuals involved in the design, conduct or reporting of research at NC State: http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/governance_admin/gov_gen/REG01.25.1.php

In addition, all EPA employees (including postdocs) are required to file a Conflict of Interest disclosure on an annual basis:  http://www.ncsu.edu/sparcs/coi/

Inventions, Patents and Copyrights

There may be times when research produced by a postdoctoral employee results in an invention that is patentable.  This policy outlines the policy and procedures overseeing this process: http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/research/POL10.00.1.php

Employment (General)

Postdoctoral employees are classified as EPA (Exempt from the State Personnel Act) Employees.  The following policy provides important information about employment, discontinuation of employment, leave and other employment-related issues:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/employment/epa/POL05.15.1.php

Mediation

There may be times when postdoctoral employees experience conflict within their working environment.  One avenue for resolving these concerns is to utilize the university’s Mediation Program.  Information about the Mediation Program can be viewed at:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/employment/mediation/REG05.35.1.php

Grievance Procedures

The university has an internal process by which employment grievances are resolved.  Information about the grievance procedure is available at:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/employment/grievance/POL05.25.1.php

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

It is the policy of the State of North Carolina to provide equality of opportunity in education and employment for all students and employees. The university complies with this policy through its regulations regarding non-discrimination:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/campus_environ/non-discrimination/REG04.25.1.php.

The university also has a policy regarding unlawful harassment, which is a form of discrimination:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/campus_environ/non-discrimination/REG04.25.4.php.

Should an employee experience unlawful harassment or discrimination, the university has the following procedures for resolving these complaints:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/campus_environ/non-discrimination/REG04.25.2.php.  

In addition, all university employees are required to complete an approved training program designed to help employees understand their rights and responsibilities as to NC State's policies regarding discrimination and harassment: http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/campus_environ/non-discrimination/REG04.25.6.php .  Employees may take advantage of the university’s online unlawful harassment training as a way to fulfill this mandatory requirement:  http://www.ncsu.edu/project/oeo-training/harassment/