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EGC EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK Section 6: WORKING CONDITIONS 6.4 Telephone, Equipment and Software Utilization 6.5 Confidentiality in the Workplace 6.6 Georgia's Open Records Act 6.7 Public Employee Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right to Know 6.12 Purchase of Goods and Services: Use of College Property 6.16 Outside Occupational Activities |
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In addition to being on time and observing safety rules, the following are some other suggestions for making employment at East Georgia College pleasant. One of the most important parts of a job is to be courteous at all times to everyone whether in face-to-face contact, by telephone, by letter, or any other electronic media. Proper behavior includes promptness, efficiency, cooperation, and impartial treatment of faculty, students, the public, and fellow employees. It also includes recognition of lines of authority and a friendly attitude toward co-workers. Most employees of East Georgia College interact with visitors to campus and the general public both in the performance of their job responsibilities and also during their off-duty hours. Actions and appearance of our employees may influence other people’s perception of the college. Employees should dress appropriately for their position. Be neat, clean and well-groomed at all times. By having these qualities, employees will make a favorable impression on those they meet and serve in the performance of their duties. Social events and personal business should be planned or discussed at times other than during working hours. 6.4 Telephone, Equipment, and Software Utilization Prompt, courteous answers to telephone calls and voice mail messages are very important. Telephone manners should always reflect a professional demeanor. College telephone lines must be kept clear for business use. Incoming and outgoing personal calls are to be brief and limited in quantity. Personal long distance calls may not be charged to the college, as this constitutes a misuse of state funds. Other college equipment, such as fax machines and e-mail are also for college business only. Employees are reminded to use their college assigned electronic mail account responsibly and in compliance with state and federal laws. All employees shall use software only in accordance with EGC’s license agreements. Any duplication of copyrighted software is a violation of federal law and EGC policy. Questions regarding software policies for the college may be directed to the Office of Computer Services and Instructional Technology. 6.5 Confidentiality in the Workplace In the performance of their duties, some employees must deal with confidential information. Such information should not be discussed or made available to anyone until it has been approved for release by the proper authority. Certain college records are strictly confidential. 6.6 Georgia’s Open Records Act As an employee of East Georgia College, you should know that certain information maintained by the institution about you and your employment record is considered to be a matter of public record and is subject to the Open Records Act of the State of Georgia. This means that any citizen of Georgia may request access to certain information contained in your personnel file without your knowledge or consent. Open records requests are filed with the Custodian of Open Records. Although some information is excluded by law and cannot be accessed under provisions of the Open Records Act, your employment and salary history and performance evaluations are among the material that may be available for review. 6.7 Public Employee Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right To Know The State of Georgia has enacted legislation to protect employees from the dangers of hazardous chemicals which may be encountered in the workplace. East Georgia College has developed a plan to assure that employees receive training and information about hazardous chemicals present in their workplace. The college offers basic training to all new employees whose jobs involve the handling of such materials. This training includes the safe use, storage and disposal of any chemicals that will be used by the employees. The Director of Plant Operations serves as the environmental services and safety coordinator to assist in compliance with this policy. East Georgia College values family life and has employment policies and benefits that are supportive of families. While the college seeks to focus on providing an environment open to work and family issues, the workplace should not be used in lieu of a child care provider. East Georgia College believes that it is inappropriate for minor children or other minor relatives of an employee to be in work areas during work hours for several reasons: the potential liability to the college, risk of harm to the children, and decreased employee productivity due to distractions and disruptions. Therefore, it is the policy of the college that minor children or other minor relatives of employees not be present at the employee’s workplace – for example, office, classroom or shop area – in lieu of other child care arrangements during the employee’s work hours. This policy is not intended to prohibit children or other family from the campus when the purpose of their visit is to attend classes or to participate in activities specifically scheduled for their benefit, such as Lifelong Education programs. East Georgia College is a tobacco-free campus. The use of tobacco products is not permitted within twenty-five feet of any campus building nor inside any of the buildings. Designated smoking areas include: (a) two gazebos, (b) to the right under the overhang in the middle of the walkway leaving the rear of the Luck Gambrell Building; (c) to the left of the door of the Math/Science entrance of the Academic Building in the area toward the greenhouse, and (d) in the far corner away from the doors on the lower level of the Academic Building. Smokers are expected to use the receptacles provided and to refrain from smoking in any other campus locations. Employees of East Georgia College have a responsibility to be effective stewards of the state’s resources. Such stewardship includes prudent and efficient purchasing of supplies and materials, as well as careful use of supplies and equipment. Supplies should not be wasted and office equipment should be given proper care and kept covered when not in use. Employees are not permitted to use college supplies and equipment for personal reasons. While supporting freedom of expression and peaceful dissent, the college, in the interest of orderly operation and preservation of an environment favorable to productive study, has adopted a policy prohibiting disruptive behavior on the part of any student, faculty member, administrator, or employee. In addition to following the published rules and regulations of the college, it is also expected that accepted customs and standards of courtesy, conduct, and cooperation be maintained. The following are examples of actions that can result in disciplinary action or discharge:
6.12 Purchase of Goods and Services: Use of College Property Employees of East Georgia College are not allowed to purchase goods or services for personal use through college channels. Nor shall any employee permit any college property to be removed from the campus for private or personal use. The business office will handle all purchasing and receiving of merchandise for the college. Requisitions (departmental requests) for supplies and equipment should be submitted well in advance of need. The vice president for fiscal affairs is the only authorized purchasing agent for the college. Unauthorized purchases or unauthorized receipt of items for the college may result in individual employee liability for the goods. Disciplinary action may result for any employee who fails to abide by these regulations. Keys to buildings or offices are issued by the Human Resources Office. Each employee must sign for the key(s) received and the keys become the responsibility of the employee. Keys may not be duplicated, loaned, or transferred to another individual or another employee. All keys must be turned in to the Human Resources Office upon termination of employment. Failure to do so may result in a delay of final payment of wages. The college considers personnel records as privileged and confidential information. No information concerning the rate of compensation of any employee will be revealed to third parties without the written authorization of the employee. No official or employee of East Georgia College may accept gratuities, courtesies, or gifts in any form whatsoever from any person or persons, corporations, or associations that directly or indirectly, may seek to use the connection thus formed for securing favorable comment or consideration on any commercial commodity, process or undertaking. A violation of this policy may subject an employee to disciplinary action, including termination of employment. 6.16 Outside Occupational Activities An employee of East Georgia College shall not engage in any occupation, pursuit, or endeavor which will interfere with the regular and punctual discharge of their official duties. Professional employees are encouraged to participate in any professional activity that does not interfere with the regular and punctual discharge of official duties provided the activity meets one of the following criteria: (1) is a means of personal professional development; (2) serves the community, state or nation; or (3) is consistent with the objectives of the institution. For all activities, except single occasion activities, the employee shall report in writing through official channels the proposed arrangements and secure the approval of the president of the college, prior to engaging in the activities. Such activities include consulting, teaching, speaking, and participating in business or service enterprises. As responsible and interested citizens in a democratic society, employees of East Georgia College are encouraged to fulfill their civic obligations and otherwise engage in the normal political processes of society. Nevertheless, it is inappropriate for East Georgia College personnel to manage or enter political campaigns while on duty to perform services for the college or to hold elective office at the state or federal level while in the employment of East Georgia College. Therefore, the following policies governing political activities have been adopted.
Employees of East Georgia College should avoid actual or apparent conflicts of interest between their college obligations and their outside activities. All employees of the college shall cooperate to the fullest extent possible in any internal investigation when directed to do so by their immediate supervisor or other persons given investigative authority by the president. Such cooperation may involve the use of polygraph tests. Failure to cooperate shall be grounds for adverse personnel action, including possible termination of employment. 6.20 Random Drug Testing of High-Risk Employees Employees working in high-risk jobs on a regular basis are subject to random drug testing for evidence of illegal drug use. This includes campus law enforcement officers who regularly perform high-risk work where inattention to duty or errors in judgment while on duty will have a potential for significant risk of harm to the employee, other employees, or the general public. Random testing means a process by which the names of high-risk law enforcement officers to be tested are chosen purely by lot. Testing will be performed in accordance with the same regulations and procedures as those prescribed by the State Merit System. Such testing shall not, at any one time, be given to more than one officer of each work shift who has been previously classified as a high-risk employee. 6.21 Use of Campus-Owned Vehicles An employee of East Georgia College must have a valid drivers license in order to operate a college owned vehicle. Employees who lose their license as a result of court action are prohibited from use of college vehicles, even for business related purposes, for the period of time as they are without a valid drivers license. |
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EGC Home Copyright© 2010 East Georgia College For technical issues concerning this web site send email to Webmaster This page was last edited:
11/19/2010 |
