When revising this, also make
revisions to file in Orientation Manual.
Last Update: 2/06
STATE OF IOWA
SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY
For
Executive
Branch Employees
All executive
branch employees (herein “employees”) are required to read this revised
Substance Abuse Policy, and will be expected to sign an Acknowledgement
indicating that the Policy was read and fully understood by the employee. This revised Policy shall become effective on
December 13, 1999.
PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
Employees
who conduct state business under the influence of alcohol or an unauthorized
controlled substance (herein “controlled substance”) present a threat to the
health, safety, and welfare of their own persons, their fellow employees, and
the public at large. The State of Iowa
is committed to ensuring that its employees remain free from the effects of
alcohol or controlled substances while conducting state business. Therefore,
employees are prohibited from:
1. possessing, consuming, purchasing/selling, or
manufacturing alcoholic beverages or controlled substances, while they are
conducting state business or are on state property;
2. reporting to work for the State of Iowa under
the influence of an alcoholic beverage or a controlled substance;
3. the unauthorized use or abuse of a
prescription medication while they are conducting state business or are on
state property; and/or
4. driving a state
vehicle or a personal vehicle when the employee is engaged in state business,
within an eight (8) hour period after consuming an alcoholic beverage, using a
controlled substance, or engaging in the unauthorized use/abuse of a
prescription medicine.
Absent
mitigating circumstances, an employee’s involvement in one or more of the
prohibited acts listed above may result in summary discharge. “Summary discharge” shall mean a discharge
from employment with the State of Iowa after the state substantiates the alleged
offense through a fair and thorough investigation. It is unnecessary for the State of Iowa to
implement other forms of discipline (e.g. verbal warnings, reprimands, or
suspensions) before issuing a summary discharge.
OTHER ACTIVITIES INVOLVING
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND WARRANTING
REPRIMAND, SUSPENSION, OR
TERMINATION
Absent
mitigating circumstances, any of the following shall result in a reprimand,
suspension, or a summary discharge:
1) The suspension or revocation of an employee’s
driver’s license, chauffeur’s license, or commercial driver’s license, if an
employee’s job duties require the employee to possess the license, and the loss
of his/her driving privileges results in the employee’s failure to meet the
minimum qualifications for his/her job.
2) The employee engages in off-duty misconduct
that either: (1) impairs the employee’s ability to perform his/her job
function; (2) substantially effects the public’s perception of the employee’s
ability to perform his/her job function; or (3) causes substantial damage to
the reputation of the employer. The
employee may be subject to reprimand, suspension, or termination even if no
arrest or conviction results from the off-duty misconduct.
3. The employee reports to work displaying
symptoms that the employee has consumed an alcoholic beverage or a controlled
substance.
4. The employee
demonstrates below standard job performance or on-the-job misconduct,
including, but not limited to, excessive absenteeism or tardiness.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The
State of Iowa recognizes that a dependency on alcohol or a controlled substance
is a treatable illness. Such
dependencies can cause major health, safety, and security problems for the
employee, fellow employees, and the public at large. Employees who need assistance to address
these problems are encouraged to take advantage of the confidential Employee
Assistance Program (EAP). For EAP
information, call 244-6090 from Des Moines or 1-800-EAP-IOWA (327-4692) from
elsewhere in Iowa.