(a) The City of Uhrichsville, Ohio strives to provide a safe work environment and encourages personal health for City employees. Concerning this, Council considers the use or abuse of drugs or alcohol on the job to be an unsafe and counter-productive work practice. It is therefore City policy that an employee found with alcohol, illegal drugs, or controlled substances in his/her system, or in possession of, using, selling, trading, or offering for sale illegal drugs, controlled substances, or alcohol during working hours, will be subject to disciplinary action, including immediate discharge from employment. Conduct prohibited by this Policy includes possession, use, purchase or sale of drugs or alcohol on City property and anywhere the City employee is located while on City time and City business.
(b) This Policy specifically prohibits the possession, distribution, sale, transfer, or use of any form of marijuana, cannabinoid, or cannabidiol (even if legally obtained) in the workplace by a City employee, while on duty, or while operating any City machinery, equipment or vehicle, and will subject an employee to disciplinary action including immediate discharge from employment. A positive urine, blood or hair follicle screen for any form of marijuana, cannabinoid or cannabidiol shall be considered a violation of this Policy and grounds for disciplinary action.
(c) Conduct prohibited by this Policy also includes reporting to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. An employee reporting for work visibly impaired is unable to properly perform required duties and will not be allowed to work. If possible, the impaired employee's supervisor should first seek another supervisor's opinion of the employee's status. Then the supervisor should consult privately with the employee, to rule out any problems that may have been caused by prescription drugs. If, in the opinion of the supervisor, the employee is considered impaired, the employee should be sent home, depending on the determination of the observed impairment, accompanied by the supervisor or another employee, if necessary. An impaired employee should not be allowed to drive.
(d) Other than marijuana, cannabinoid or cannabidiol prohibited by this Policy above, prescription medication prescribed by a City employee's physician may be taken during work hours, in a manner consistent with the physician's instructions, if the medication does not impair the employee's ability to perform the essential functions of his/her job without endangering the employee or others. The City employee should notify his/her supervisor if the proper use of prescription medication will impact the employee's work performance. Use of medications prescribed for another person, or abuse of prescription medications will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of a City employee's supervisor to consult with the employee whenever the supervisor observes a change in performance that suggests the employee has a problem with performing his/her essential job duties due to that employee's use of prescription medications.
(e) A City employee may be required to submit to a drug or alcohol screening in the event the employee's supervisor suspects that the employee is under the influence of drugs (including prescription medication) and/or alcohol.
(Ord. 7-19. Passed 7-11-19.)