Employee Handbook

SAFETY

Safety is the responsibility of both the City and employees. It is the policy of the City to establish a safe work environment for employees. The City shall establish a safety program including policies and procedures regarding safety practices and precautions and training in safety methods. Department Heads and supervisors are responsible for insuring the safe work procedures of all employees and providing necessary safety training programs. Employees shall follow the safety policies and procedures and attend safety training programs as a condition of employment. Employees who violate such policies and procedures shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

The City of Athens opposes sexual harassment by supervisors and co-workers in any form. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when 1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment; 2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual; or 3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Any employee, appointed or elected official, found guilty of committing sexual harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action by the Department Head, City Manager, or City Council as appropriate. Appropriate disciplinary action shall depend upon the seriousness of the misconduct which comprised the violation and may include any one or more of the following: a warning, written reprimand, demotion, suspension from employment, forfeiture of compensation, or termination of employment.

Any employee who believes that he or she may have a complaint of sexual harassment may follow the grievance procedure or may file a written complaint directly with the Human Resources Director or City Manager. The City Manager is to be notified of a sexual harassment complaint no later than the next workday following the filing of the complaint. The Human Resources Director will insure that an investigation is conducted into any allegation of sexual harassment and will advise the employee and appropriate management officials of the outcome of the investigation. The City of Athens Sexual Harassment Policy in its entirety can be found in the Administrative Policies and Regulations.

VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE

The City of Athens has a strong commitment to its employees to provide a safe, healthy, and secure work environment. The City also expects its employees to maintain a high level of productivity and efficiency. The presence of weapons and the occurrence of violence in the workplace during working hours or otherwise are inconsistent with these objectives. While the City has no intention of intruding into the private lives of its present or potential employees, it expects all employees to report on the worksite without possessing weapons and to perform their job without violence towards any other individual. The City expects all employees to work in a manner so that they can perform their duties in a safe and productive manner. The City of Athens Workplace Violence Policy in its entirety can be found in the Administrative Policies and Regulations.

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE AND DRUG TESTING

In compliance with the Drug Free Work Place Act, the City of Athens has a legal responsibility and management obligation to ensure a safe work environment, as well as paramount interest in protecting the public by ensuring that its employees have the physical stamina and emotional stability to perform