The Shelby County school system has a responsibility to provide a safe working environment for all employees while providing safe and efficient services to the citizens, especially those who are in the Shelby County Schools' custody and care. To this end, the system will institute an Awareness Program that informs employees of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse in the work place, of the employer's policy concerning the use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace, of counseling programs available and of the penalties for any violation.
The system strongly supports the participation in it's Employees Assistance Program where drug and alcohol use or abuse is indicated by job conduct.
It is the policy of the Shelby County Schools to maintain a drug-free and safe work environment. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, purchase, sale, transfer, or use of drugs or alcohol when on the job or in the workplace are strictly prohibited. Employees should not be under the influence of drugs (as defined below) or alcohol during their working hours for Shelby County Schools regardless of whether those drugs or alcohol were consumed during working hours or prior thereto.
Drugs are defined for the purpose of this policy as: (a) drugs which are not legally obtainable, (b) drugs which are legally obtainable, but are being handled abusively or illegally, and (c) drugs which are legally obtainable, but have not been obtained legally.
When management has reasonable suspicion to believe that an employee is using or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at work, management may request that the employee participate in a drug and/or alcohol screening procedure to determine if the employee has evidence of alcohol or drugs in his or her blood or urine. The supervisor or managerial person shall relate to the employee the reason the test is being requested. A refusal to submit to the above procedure will be considered insubordination which is a major infraction and subject to major discipline, up to and including possible termination.
If the employee does submit to the said screening procedure and it is determined that there is evidence of drugs or alcohol present, disciplinary action up to and including termination may result.
All persons in jobs within the system requiring commercial driver's licenses will be subject to drug and alcohol testing as mandated by federal law and the Tennessee Code Annotated.
The violation of any provision of this policy is considered a major disciplinary infraction and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Under appropriate circumstances, management may require that the employee participate fully and satisfactorily in an approved drug or alcohol rehabilitation program coordinated by Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and such participation may be considered as part of the disciplinary process. The employee will be allowed to return to work only with a signed Return to Work Agreement.
As a condition of continued employment with Shelby County Schools, all employees must abide by Shelby County Schools System's policy on an alcohol and drug-free workplace.