Downgrading and upgrading assignments shall be limited to filling vacancies due
to absence of incumbents or when it is necessary because of agreements which require
a supervisory employee for a special work assignment or project. The employee
so assigned shall be able to perform all the duties and to assume all of the responsibilities
of the assignment. Upgrading is not required when the employee performs only certain
duties and/or assumes only partial responsibility for the overall duties of the
position to which assigned.
Downgrading and upgrading assignments do not affect seniority rights and benefits
given by the Employer to the status employee who is on leave from a Status Appointment
while serving the Employer in a position of higher or lower level responsibility.