Policies & Procedures Manual

368

Policy No: 739

Policy Contact: Vice President for Business Operations

Policy Title: EMPLOYEE POLICIES RELATIVE TO A DRUG FREE WORKPLACE

It is the intention of East Central Community College (ECCC) to maintain a safe, healthy, and efficient drug-free workplace for all employees and students through adherence to federal, state, and local laws addressing the unlawful production, distribution, dispensation, possession or consumption of a controlled substance in the workplace. As such, the College strictly prohibits the manufacture, use, sale, purchase, transfer, or possession of alcohol or any illegal or non-prescription drugs, as defined below, by any employee on College property, in a College vehicle, and/or at any other time or activity at which an employee is representing ECCC in an official capacity. Employees are also strictly prohibited from being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal and/or non-prescription drugs on College property, in a College vehicle, and/or at any other time or activity at which an employee is representing ECCC in an official capacity. The College also prohibits the misuse of any legal drug on College premises or while on College business. For the purpose of this policy, “illegal drugs” are defined as any drug that is not legally obtainable such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, etc. It also includes any drug that is legally obtainable but has not been legally obtained by the employee. The term may also include prescribed drugs not legally obtained, prescribed drugs not being used for prescribed purposes, and prescribed drugs being used by a person other than the prescription holder. The policy will not apply if a drug is prescribed or authorized for the employee using or possessing it by a medical practitioner while acting in the course of his/her professional practice and such drug is used by the employee at the prescribed or authorized dosage level, and such level is consistent with the safe performance or the employee’s duties. Legally prescribed medications are permitted to the extent that their use does not adversely affect the employee’s work ability, job performance, or the safety of others in the workplace. All candidates who have received an offer of employment will be required to undergo testing for commonly abused controlled substances in accordance with this policy. Upon receipt of an offer of employment, candidates must complete required drug testing. ECCC will pay for the cost of the testing, including the confirmation of any positive test results. Candidates who refuse to submit to a drug test or who fail to show up for a drug test will no longer be considered for employment, and any offer of employment will be rescinded. If a candidate tests positive on an initial screening test, the test will be confirmed. On receipt of the second positive confirmation test, the employment offer will be formally withdrawn, and the candidate will be provided with a copy of the test results and the reason why he/she is no longer being considered for employment. All ECCC employees will be subject to a random drug test throughout each school year. ECCC reserves the right to request a drug and/or alcohol test on the basis of suspicion that any employee is under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drug while on the job or is otherwise in violation of this policy. The College will also request a drug and/or alcohol test for an employee in the event of a work-related accident. Any employee who refuses to submit to a drug and/or alcohol test as requested by the College will be subject to disciplinary action. One’s employment at ECCC is contingent on the acceptance of the Drug and/or Alcohol Testing for Random Testing, Work-Related Injury, or Based on Suspicion Pre-employment Screening