H. Drug Free Workplace policy

1. Policy

In accordance with the requirements of the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, Georgetown University, as a employer receiving Federal grants and contracts, is expressly required to maintain a drug free workplace environment. Therefore, it is the policy of Georgetown University that the entire working environment of the University shall be free of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession and/or use of illegal and controlled drugs. It shall be a condition of continued employment that all employees must be drug free in the workplace, thus making it possible for Georgetown University, as an employer, to certify in good faith that it maintains a drug free work environment.

In order to enforce the requirements of the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, the University will periodically provide notification of this policy to all employees and, as appropriate, provide assistance or administer discipline to violators.

2. Procedure

Notification to all employees
On an annual basis, Georgetown University will notify employees in writing that the University shall be free of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession and/or use of illegal and controlled drugs, that the employees of the University must maintain a drug free environment as a condition of continued employment, and that violators shall be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to the appropriate Academic or Staff procedures.
Drug awareness program
The University will provide annually a Drug Free Awareness Program and/or literature designed to educate employees about dangers of drug abuse.

The University’s Employee Assistance Program will be available to provide “assessment and referral” for employees who seek this confidential service, or who are referred to this service by their supervisors.
Notification to the employer by the employee of a drug statute conviction
An employee of the University who is convicted of a drug statute violation occurring in the workplace during his/her period of employment, is obligated to report such conviction to his/her department head not later than five (5) days after the conviction. Failure to satisfy this requirement of the policy will be considered grounds for termination.
Employer notification to federal contracting agency
When an employee who is employed to work directly on a government grant or contract is convicted of a drug statute violation occurring within the workplace, the department head must then immediately, through appropriate administrative channels, inform his/her executive vice president or vice president, in writing, of the conviction. The executive vice president or vice president will promptly report the conviction to the Office of Sponsored Programs and other affected offices. The Office of Sponsored Programs is required to report the incident to the federal government in accordance with applicable guidelines. The notification to the federal government must occur ten (10) days of receiving such notice from the employee or otherwise receiving actual notice of such conviction. A copy of this notification will be given to the employee.
Discipline resulting from violation of drug statute identified in paragraph 3 above
1. When the University learns, either through the employee’s report under Paragraph 3 or otherwise, that an employee has been convicted of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, and/or possession with intent to distribute or dispense, of an illegal and controlled drug at the workplace, and if no direct appeal from the conviction is pending or any longer permitted, such employee will be terminated. If such direct appeal remains possible or is pending, such employee will be suspended without pay until such time as the appeal finally fails. If upon final appeal the conviction is reversed on the merits (i.e., not for procedural irregularity), the suspended employee will be reinstated unless the University determines to impose a sanction following an inquiry under procedures described in Paragraph 5.c below.
2. Where a conviction under this section has been reversed for procedural irregularity, the University remains free to make inquiry and take appropriate disciplinary action under procedures described below in Paragraph c. Where such an inquiry is into misconduct by faculty, the faculty member’s campus executive vice president will establish an ad hoc committee to conduct the investigation and to make a recommendation to the appropriate University authority. Any sanction then imposed can be no more severe than that recommended by the ad hoc committee.
3. When the University learns, either through the employee’s report under Paragraph 3 or otherwise, that an employee has been convicted of the use of or possession with intent to use an illegal and controlled drug at the workplace, and if no direct appeal from the conviction is pending or any longer permitted, the University will take appropriate disciplinary action up to an including termination. Sanctions less than termination may require that the employee participate satisfactorily in an approved drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program. If such direct appeal remains possible or pending, the University may take any appropriate steps short of termination, including suspending the employee without pay until such time as the appeal finally fails. If upon final appeal the conviction is reversed on the merits (i.e., not merely for procedural irregularity), the University will terminate any suspension or other disciplinary action.
4. In any case under the foregoing paragraphs where the University determines to reinstate a suspended employee, the University shall give due consideration to the employee’s request to be given back salary for the period during which the salary was suspended. Repeated offenses will substantially increase the likelihood that the employee will be terminated.
5. In cases of drug-related activity by an employee in the workplace which is not or not yet the subject of criminal conviction, the University procedures governing faculty and staff misconduct up to and including termination. In any such inquiry the employee shall be given notice of the inquiry, a statement of the reason(s) therefore, and an opportunity to respond.
Review of procedures followed and decisions made under paragraph 5 above
If an employee feels that a personnel action that is taken in conjunction with the administration of this policy is inappropriate, the employee may pursue relief through the appropriate grievance procedure.

3. Supervisory Training Programs

The employer will periodically conduct programs for supervisors on the subject of drug usage and treatment.