(a) In order to insure that all employees are treated fairly, the following standard procedure for imposing disciplinary action on employees guilty of minor infractions shall be followed.
This procedure shall apply to all disciplinary infractions except theft, embezzlement of public funds, being under the influence of alcoholic beverages or abusive drugs during work hours, the use of alcoholic beverages or abusive drugs during work hours, physical violence, offenses involving gross misconduct, or gross insubordination.
Step 1: Verbal Discussion:
When an employee commits a minor infraction for the first time, the matter shall be privately discussed between the employee and appropriate supervisor. The Union Steward shall be informed and may be present so that the Union can be afforded an opportunity to discuss the matter with the employee. A record of the infraction shall be maintained, subject to the provisions of Section 2121.27 herein.
Issuance of a verbal warning under this section is a prerequisite to imposing later disciplinary action under the Progressive Disciplinary procedure.
Step 2: Reprimand:
An employee who commits a minor infraction after having received a verbal warning for an earlier infraction shall be given a written reprimand and placed in Step 2 of this procedure. Reprimands shall be discussed with the employee privately. The Union Steward shall be present and informed so that the Union can be afforded an opportunity to discuss the matter with the employee.
A copy of the reprimand will be furnished to the Department of Human Resources, the Union Steward and the Union office.
Step 3: Suspension 1 - 10 Days.
An employee found guilty of a minor infraction within twelve (12) months of issuance of a reprimand shall be suspended without pay for up to ten (10) workdays depending upon the investigation of the cause of the rule infraction, the employee's work record and the seriousness of the infraction.
Step 4: Suspension 11 - 20 Days.
An employee found guilty of another minor infraction within twelve (12) months thereafter shall be suspended without pay for from eleven (11) to twenty (20) workdays, depending upon the investigation of the cause of the rule infraction, the employee's work record and the seriousness of the infraction.
Step 5: Discharge.
An employee found guilty of another minor infraction within twelve (12) months thereafter shall be discharged.
Major Infractions:
With regard to the major offenses of theft, embezzlement of public funds, being under the influence of alcoholic beverages or abusive drugs during working hours, the use of alcoholic beverages or abusive drugs during working hours, physical violence, offenses involving gross misconduct, or gross insubordination, the employee is subject to advanced disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by management, rather than the progressive disciplinary procedure established under this section. The disciplinary action shall also place the employee at the equivalent level in the Progressive Disciplinary Procedure. With regard to subsequent discipline the designated Hearing Officer will have the discretion to only award an appropriate penalty for the subsequent infraction rather than automatically imposing the next step in the P.D.P.