Employee Handbook

STRIKES AND WORK STOPPAGES

No employee may authorize, instigate, attempt to instigate, participate in, or give leadership to any strike, work stoppage, or other concerted effort to slow down, stop, or disrupt the normal work of any City department or division of any group of City employees.

CODE OF ETHICS

The City of Athens Code of Ethics applies to all full-time and part-time elected or appointed officials and employees, whether compensated or not. An official or employee may not accept, directly or indirectly, any money, gift, gratuity, or other consideration or favor of any kind from anyone other than the municipality except for reasons specifically addressed in Section 1-505 of the Code of Ethics Ordinance. Any employee who has a personal interest in any financial, ownership, or employment matters for the City must file a Personal Disclosure Form with the Human Resources Department. In addition, an official or employee may not:

a. Disclose any confidential information or information obtained in an official capacity with the intent to result in financial gain.

b. Use or authorize the use of municipal time, facilities, equipment, information, or supplies for private gain or advantage to himself.

c. Use or authorize the use of municipal time, facilities, equipment, information, or supplies for private gain or advantage to any private person or entity, except as authorized by legitimate contract or lease that is determined by the governing body to be in the best interests of the municipality.

d. Make or attempt to make private purchases, for cash or otherwise, in the name of the municipality.

e. Use or attempt to use his or her position to secure any privilege or exemption for himself or herself or others that is not authorized by the charter, general law, or ordinance or policy of the municipality.

f. Accept or continue any outside employment if the work unreasonably inhibits the performance of any affirmative duty of the municipal position or conflicts with any provision of the municipality’s charter or any ordinance or policy.

The City Attorney is designated as the Ethics Officer and shall investigate any credible complaint against an elected official charged with violation of this code. When a violation of this Code of Ethics also constitutes a violation of the administrative policies and regulations, the violation shall be handled as provided in the administrative policies and regulations.

POLITICAL ACTIVITY

Every employee shall enjoy the same rights of other citizens of Tennessee to be a candidate for any state or local political office, except that a City of Athens employee shall not be qualified to run for elected office for the Athens City Council. Employees have the right to participate in political activities by supporting or opposing political parties, political candidates, and petitions to governmental entities. Any time off from work used by the employee for participation in political activities shall be limited to earned vacation days, or by any other arrangements worked out between the employee and the City Manager. In no circumstance will a City employee be paid for work not performed for the governmental entity. Further, no employee may campaign on municipal time or in municipal uniform or use municipal equipment or supplies in any campaign or election. Any violation of this section shall subject the employee to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. All employees must adhere to the requirements of the federal Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §1501-1508.) Any employee desiring to be a candidate for public office in a partisan election must notify the City Manager of his/her intention to run for office prior to picking up a petition.