Employee Handbook

GENERAL SERVICE REGULATIONS

Any officer or employee who violates any of the provisions of this section will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including immediate dismissal from his/her office or position. The General Service Regulations are as follows:

a. All employees are representatives of the City of Athens, and as such, are expected and encouraged to conduct themselves in a courteous manner at all times. Every employee shall, at all times, endeavor to conduct him or herself in a manner that reflects credit upon his or her department and the City of Athens.

b. No official or employee shall, without the approval of his or her supervisor, disclose confidential information concerning the property, government, or affairs of the City. Nor shall he or she under any circumstances use such information to advance the personal, financial, or other private interests of themselves or others.

c. No employee shall take for his or her personal use any City-owned equipment. All employees shall use City-owned equipment only in the manner authorized by the City Manager. An employee who is on call may be authorized to take a vehicle to his residence by his or her Department Head, after approval has been granted by the City Manager. Personal use of City vehicles and use of City gasoline in privately owned vehicles is strictly prohibited.

d. An employee who voluntarily resigns, is suspended or discharged from employment, shall return all items of equipment, including uniforms, keys, badges, and ID cards owned by the City. The employee shall be responsible for reimbursing the City of Athens for any lost or damaged equipment and/or uniforms.

e. No employee shall purchase any equipment or supplies through City purchase accounts for personal use.

f. Generally, the City regards the off-duty activities of employees to be their own personal matter rather than that of the City. However, certain types of off-duty activities represent potential concern and liability to the City. For that reason, employees who engage in or are associated with illegal or immoral conduct, the nature of which adversely affects the public trust and confidence in the City of Athens, or their own ability or credibility to carry out their assigned responsibilities, may be subject to dismissal or other disciplinary action.

g. No person shall seek or attempt to use any political endorsement in connection with any appointment to a position, or demotion, or dismissal from a position in the classified service.

h. No person shall use or promise to use, directly or indirectly, any official authority or influence, whether possessed or anticipated, to secure or to attempt to secure for any person an appointment to a position in the classified service, or any increase in wages or other advantage in employment in such position, for the purpose of influencing the vote or political action of any other person, or for any other consideration.

i. No person shall make any false statement, certificate, mark, rating, or report with regard to any test, certification or appointment made under any provision of the charter, ordinances, and these rules, or in any manner commit any fraudulent act thus preventing the impartial execution of the provisions of the charter, ordinances, these rules, or administrative policies.

j. No person shall, directly or indirectly, give, render, pay, offer, solicit, or accept any money, service or other valuable consideration for or on account of any appointment, proposed appointment, promotion or proposed promotion, or any advantage in a position in the classified service.

k. No employee, examiner, or any other person shall defeat, deceive, or obstruct any person in his/her right to examination, eligibility, certification, or appointment under the charter, ordinances, and these rules, or furnish to any person any special or secret information for the purpose of affecting the rights or prospects of any person with respect to employment in the classified service.