Summary
As a supervisor your role in the Plan's success is critical. You will be initiating testing, answering questions, assisting in the reintegration of rehabilitated employees, and reassuring employees who have concerns.
It is important to note that though there are a few new responsibilities under the Plan, all previous responsibilities remain the same.
The following is a brief review of new responsibilities under the Department of the Interior Drug-Free Workplace Plan:
- Become familiar with the requirements of the Plan
- Notify employees selected for random testing, including: inform what to bring; where to report; answer questions
- Initiate a Reasonable Suspicion or Accident/Unsafe Practice testing when deemed appropriate, including: document appropriate observations; obtain approval from Bureau Head or designee and Servicing Personnel Officer
- Initiate administrative and/or disciplinary actions against any employee who has a confirmed positive test for illegal drug use or voluntary admission of a drug problem
- In the case of an individual in a Testing Designated Position: restrict employees access to sensitive information; remove TDP employee from the duties of that position and reassign to non-TDP duty
- Meet with employee to discuss and initiate proposed administrative actions
- Interact with EAP as per employee's Treatment Plan
- Assist in job-related aspects of rehabilitation and reintegration
- Safeguard confidentiality of all information concerning an employee under the Drug-Free Workplace Plan and EAP.
It is important to remember that you are not being asked to identify illegal drug users. You are supervisors, not diagnosticians. You do need to identify those employees who are working at an unsatisfactory level of performance - for whatever reason - and to assist these employees in improving their performance.