Drug & Alcohol Policy/Drug-Free Workplace Act Notice

Federally-funded research grants require Bates to maintain a drug-free workplace, as do common-sense safety practices. The students conducting federally-funded research are held to the same standards as faculty and staff. The following drug-free workplace policy is copied from the Employee Handbook.

Bates College is committed to providing a safe work environment and to fostering the well-being and health of its faculty and staff, as well as compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act. That commitment is jeopardized when any member of the Bates community uses illegal drugs or alcohol on the job, comes to work with these substances present in his/her body or possesses, distributes or sells drugs in the workplace. Bates has established the following guidelines with regard to alcohol and other drugs to ensure that we can meet our obligations to faculty and staff, students, our community and the public.

The goal of these guidelines is to balance our respect for individuals with the need to maintain a safe, productive and Drug-Free environment. The intent of this policy is to offer a helping hand to those who need it, while sending a clear message that illegal drug use and alcohol abuse are incompatible with working at Bates.

1) It is a violation of our policy for any employee to possess, sell, trade, offer for sale or furnish illegal drugs or otherwise, engage in the use of illegal drugs or alcohol on the job.

2) It is a violation of our policy for anyone to report to work under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.

3) It is a violation of our policy for anyone to use prescription drugs illegally. (It is not a violation of our policy for an employee to use legally prescribed medications, but the employee should notify his/her supervisor if the prescribed medication may affect the employee’s ability to perform his/her job.)

4) Violations of this policy are subject to disciplinary action ranging from a letter of reprimand to suspension from work without pay, up to and including dismissal. If the supervisor has a reasonable belief that any employee may be abusing illegal substances, the supervisor should encourage such an employee to seek help.

One of the resources that are available is our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Because all employees are expected to be concerned about working in a safe environment, they should encourage their fellow employees who may have an alcohol or other drug problem to seek help.

5) In accordance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act, employees are required to report to the college any criminal drug statute conviction based on acts in the workplace within five days of conviction. The college, within ten days of such Report must in turn report the conviction to any Federal Agency funding any program in which the employee participates. Finally, the college must within thirty days of such report take appropriate personnel action, up to and including termination, or require the employee to participate satisfactorily in an approved substance abuse or rehabilitation program.

6) Employee violations of these policies will be reported to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, in the case of members of the Faculty, or to the Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer for all other employees, for review and action.

It is Bates College’s desire to provide a drug-free, healthful, and safe workplace. To promote this goal, employees are required to report to work in appropriate mental and physical condition to perform their jobs in a satisfactory manner.