Dealing with the Impaired Employee: Employee Relations Bulletin 5

COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

DATE: April 2015
TO: All Management Employees
FROM: Nicole McKay, Employee & Labor Relations Manager
SUBJECT: Employee Relations Bulletin 5
Dealing with the Impaired Employee

We have received a number of questions asking what to do when you suspect that an employee is under the influence of alcohol or drugs while at work. Listed below are recommended steps to follow:

  1. First, you should annotate your observations. The attached checklist is an excellent document to use for this purpose.

Next, you should ask another manager to observe the employee and complete a checklist without reviewing the checklist you have completed. In this way, you have two independent observations of the employee.

  1. If the other manager concurs that the employee is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and impaired from performing his/her duties, you should send the employee home. Do not allow the employee to drive. You should call a friend or family member or call and pay a taxi to take them home. Do not drive the employee, nor allow any other county employee (other than a family member) to drive them home.
  1. When the employee returns to work, conduct an investigative interview. Ask the employee if he/she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If he/she acknowledges that he/she was under the influence, ask why he/she came to work in that condition. If the employee denies being under the influence, show him/her the checklist and ask for an explanation of the appearance/behavior you observed. Since this interview may lead to disciplinary action, the employee is entitled to union representation if he/she requests it.
  1. Once you have completed your investigation, call Employee Relations for guidance on the appropriate action to take.

Note: For employees covered under the Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing Program, follow the steps outlined in the Policies and Procedures for Supervisors and Managers provided in the Drug and Alcohol Testing Program training.

OBJECTIVE SIGNS OF IMPAIRMENT