NYC General Information 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following statements about probationary periods for NYC civil service employees is correct?
- Probationary employees cannot be terminated without a hearing
- Probationary employees may be terminated without a formal disciplinary hearing (Correct answer)
- All probationary periods last exactly six months
- Probationary status only applies to managerial employees
Correct answer: Probationary employees may be terminated without a formal disciplinary hearing
During the probationary period, employees can be terminated without a formal disciplinary hearing because they have not yet achieved full civil service protections.
Question 2: What is the primary responsibility of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)?
- Managing city hospitals and health clinics
- Administering civil service exams and managing city property and procurement (Correct answer)
- Operating the city's public transit system
- Handling welfare and social service benefits
Correct answer: Administering civil service exams and managing city property and procurement
DCAS administers civil service exams, manages city-owned property, and handles procurement of goods and services for agencies.
Question 3: Under the NYC Human Rights Law, which of the following is a protected characteristic?
- Political party affiliation is not protected
- Credit history alone
- Criminal conviction history used to discriminate in employment (Correct answer)
- Place of birth outside the United States
Correct answer: Criminal conviction history used to discriminate in employment
The NYC Human Rights Law bans using criminal conviction history to discriminate in employment unless directly related to job duties.
Question 4: What does 'seniority' typically determine in NYC municipal employment?
- An employee's eligibility for promotion exams
- Priority in layoffs, transfers, and certain scheduling matters (Correct answer)
- The rate at which annual leave accrues only
- Whether an employee can join a union
Correct answer: Priority in layoffs, transfers, and certain scheduling matters
Seniority — length of continuous service — governs layoff order (last hired, first laid off) and often transfer and scheduling rights.
Question 5: Which of the five NYC boroughs has the largest population?
- Manhattan
- The Bronx
- Brooklyn (Correct answer)
- Queens
Correct answer: Brooklyn
Brooklyn (Kings County) is the most populous borough in New York City.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of an environmental impact statement (EIS) in NYC?
- To set property tax rates for new developments
- To assess the potential effects of a proposed project on the environment (Correct answer)
- To determine zoning changes for commercial properties
- To calculate construction permit fees
Correct answer: To assess the potential effects of a proposed project on the environment
An EIS analyzes how a proposed major action may affect air, water, noise, traffic, and other environmental factors.
Question 7: Which statement best describes the role of a union shop steward in a city agency?
- The steward supervises other employees on behalf of management
- The steward represents union members in grievances and communications with management (Correct answer)
- The steward negotiates the overall labor contract for the union
- The steward approves overtime for employees in the unit
Correct answer: The steward represents union members in grievances and communications with management
A shop steward is a union member elected or appointed to represent coworkers in grievance procedures and day-to-day union matters.
NYC General Information 4
Which of the following statements about probationary periods for NYC civil service employees is correct?