HomeMy WebLinkAbout20110404 - VI-02
City Council Memorandum To: Mayor Hicks & City Councilmembers From: Melanie Mesko Lee, Assistant City Administrator Date: March 30, 2011 Item: Personnel Policy Amendment--Drug & Alcohol
Testing Policy Council Action Requested: Approve the attached amendment to Appendix I of the City's personnel policy, which would would clarify that employees may be suspended pending
the results of a confirmatory retest. Background Information: Periodically, the City reviews sections of the Personnel Policy for updates or changes. Currently, the City is planning
to conduct supervisory testing on the City's Drug & Alcohol Testing policy. In preparation, a review of the exisitng policy was conducted to determine if any updates were warranted.
The following change is recommended by our labor attorney; it permits the City to suspend (with or without pay) an employee while awaiting the results of a confirmatory test. This is
intended to clarify that employees with safety sensitive responsibilties may be removed from those until the confirmatory test results are received, as well as clarify compliance with
state statutory notification requirements. Please see the proposed language change below. i. The City shall also inform an employee or job applicant to the following rights pursuant
to Minn. Stat. 181.953: 5. The right to be reinstated with back pay if the outcome of the confirmatory test or requested confirmatory retest is negative. Employees may be temporarily
suspended pending the results of a confirmatory test This change was distributed to employees through email. A few comments regarding the intent of the change were received on this proposed
change, specifically whether the suspension would be paid or unpaid. Generally, if the City can reassign an employee to non safety sensitive responsibilities, that will occur. Financial
Impact: N/A Advisory Commission Discussion: N/A Council Committee Discussion: N/A Attachments: None