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Osage County

Posted: May 02, 2016 2:59 PMUpdated: May 02, 2016 3:25 PM

County Reviews Drug Enforcement Policy

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Bill Lynch

After a County employee failed a random drug screening, a lengthy discussion arose during the meeting of the Osage County Board of County Commissioners Monday.

 

According to the County's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy, and Employee Handbook an employee who has tested positive will be terminated. However, the same employee may undergo Drug Rehabilitation and reapply for their position; but the duration of time from termination to reemployment was the question Commissioner Bob Jackson brought before the board.

 

The Osage County Employee Handbook does not specify a specific duration the County must wait before the terminated employee can reapply for their position. The employee in question had completed the required rehabilitation and was, in the opinion of the Rehabilitation Counselor, able to return to work.

 

After the lengthy discussion the Commissioners came to the conclusion to modify the Employee Handbook to specify that is to the discretion of the Elected Official to determine when a terminated employee may reapply.

 

They also  amended the Handbook to state that if an employee was terminated due to drug usage, the employee would need to complete a drug rehabilitation and pay for their own drug testing for a period of two years. The Commissioners anticipate that besides termination, the additional financial cost would dissuade employees from using drugs upon reemployment.

 

The Osage County Board of County Commissioners will meet again next Monday at 10am at the Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska.


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