This policy was last updated on November 6, 2023. See a list of updates below.
Policy
What You Will Learn
Text
Accend Services promotes healthy living by encouraging responsible use of alcohol, avoidance of illegal drugs, and safe, appropriate use of medications. Engaging in any of the following behaviors is strictly forbidden and may result in immediate termination:
- Use or possession of illegal drugs while on duty or reporting to work under the influence of illegal drugs;
- Use of alcohol while on duty or reporting to work under the influence of alcohol
- Use of cannabis in any form while on duty or reporting to work under the influence of cannabis
- Misuse of prescription or over-the-counter medications while on duty
- Reporting to work under the influence of medications when doing so may endanger safety of one's self, coworkers or clients
- Transporting a client of Accend Services in one's car, while on or off-duty, under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- In any other way endangering the safety of clients or coworkers through the use or misuse of drugs or alcohol
Accend Services policy regarding tobacco use is a follows:
- No personnel shall use tobacco in any form while on duty indoors on Accend Services property, in a client's home, workplace or other location with a client.
- Smoking in the presence of clients (regardless of their smoking preference) is strongly discouraged
- No personnel shall smoke within 25 feet of a client outdoors who does not smoke.
Guidelines for Responsible Alcohol Use
Generally speaking, alcohol is metabolized by the average person at a rate of one drink per hour (One drink = one shot of liquor, one 4-oz glass of wine, or 12-oz bottle of beer). By metabolizing, we mean the rate that the body is able to eliminate or neutralize the effect of the alcohol on the system. However, this is a general rule only and can be affected by many factors, including the size of the drinker, what else the drinker eats or drinks, and the specific ingredients of a mixed drink.
Drinking any alcohol on the day of a scheduled shift prior to work is prohibited. Drinking heavily late at night before work the following may result in residual alcohol remaining in the system the following day.
Some medicines contain alcohol. If you are using cold or cough medicines, read and follow the instructions, and if you are concerned, tell your supervisor what medications you are taking.
Procedures When Taking Prescription Medications
You may be prescribed medications by your physician that impact your safety and judgment due to side effects. When accepting prescriptions that you suspect might impact your safety at work, ask your physician for special instructions in writing regarding safety measures or work restrictions to which you need to adhere.
Cannabis Policy
Cannabis and cannabis products are now legal for personal use in Minnesota. This section describes Accend Services policies regarding cannabis.
Accend will not implement a testing policy for marijuana/cannabis use as no valid test exists. Rather we will implement an impairment policy.
Impairment may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Changes in speech and demeanor
- Impaired dexterity, agility and coordination
- Irrational or unusual behavior
- Negligence or carelessness when operating equipment or machinery
- Disregard for the safety of the employee or others
- Carelessness that results in any injury to the employee or to others
- Involvement in any accident that results in serious damage to equipment or property
We recognize that these symptoms/behaviors may also result from other causes such as fatigue, extreme stress, reactions to prescribed medications, and others. Regardless of cause, an employee may be asked to leave work if showing these or other signs of impairment that cause disruption, safety concerns, or and ability to perform job functions.
Use of marijuana/cannabis during work hours is prohibited
Possession of marijuana/cannabis at work (on grounds or in client homes) is prohibited, including in your car when traveling with clients unless it is in a locked compartment or trunk, inaccessible to the client.
If You Suspect a Coworker is Impaired
If you suspect that the employee is impaired by and subtance and at risk of harm to himself or others, do not let him or her remain at work or drive a vehicle.
- Call your supervisor, or the on-call supervisor for further instructions. You may be asked to:
- Drive the coworker to a local clinic or hospital for a test
- Drive the coworker home
- Help the coworker make other arrangements for a ride home or to the clinic
- Stay with the coworker until other help arrives.
- If no supervisor is present or available, immediately address the concern with your coworker, asking if he or she maybe under the influence
- Ask him or her to remove from direct contact with clients and go to a safe place
- Do not let the individual drive a car if you suspect that they cannot do so safely.
Employee Drug Testing
Policy
Accend Services has a reasonable suspicion policy for testing employees for the presence of drugs or alcohol in their blood or urine. Reasonable Suspicion means that we will ask employees to submit to a test when evidence indicates that they may be impaired by drugs or alcohol. As described above, no reliable tests exist for recent marijuana use. However, if the test results return the presence of THC and no other substances, it might be assumed that this is the source of the impairment.
Positive, definitive tests for the presence of illegal drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications not prescribed for the employee by a physician at levels that indicate possible influence while at work, may be grounds for immediate termination or suspension.
Employees who are chemically dependent, whether they have received treatment, are currently being treated, or have not sought treatment are subject to the same rules, expectations and consequences as any other employee.
Procedures
When an employee is suspected of being under the influence, procedures are:
- Whenever possible, a supervisor will drive the individual to the testing site. When this is not possible, a coworker may be asked to do so. The employee may be sent by taxi under certain conditions. He or she shall never drive him or herself to the test.
- The employee must sign a release to Accend Services for the results.
- The employee may refuse to submit to the test, but shall be subject to the same possible consequences as a test confirming the presence of drugs or alcohol.
- The employee should report any reasons why the test results may show positive results for drugs or alcohol.
- The employee who receives a test confirming the presence of alcohol or drugs to levels that indicate possibly being under the influence may face immediate termination or suspension.
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November 6, 2023: Cannabis Policy added. Testing policy modified and clarified.
