The following are highlights of policies covered in the Town of Wellesley Employee Guidebook. For complete policy information, please refer to the Guidebook.
Drug and Alcohol Policy
The Selectmen of the Town of Wellesley reaffirm their policy prohibiting the use or possession of alcoholic beverages, illicit drugs and/or controlled substances by employees while performing their job. The Drug Free Work Place Act of 1988 recognizes the impact substance abuse has in the workforce and the Town of Wellesley firmly supports the intention behind this Act. Further, the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 requires alcohol and drug testing of safety sensitive transportation employees, i.e., employees who are required to have a commercial drivers’ license. This law requires employers “to conduct pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, random and post-accident testing of operators of commercial motor vehicles for use of alcohol or a controlled substance.”
Unlawful Harassment
It is the goal of the Town of Wellesley to promote a workplace that is free of unlawful harassment. Harassment of employees because of their race, color, gender, age, disability, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or genetic information occurring in the workplace, or in other settings in which employees may find themselves in connection with their employment, is unlawful and will not be tolerated. The Town’s complete policy on unlawful harassment, Personnel Policy #15, is available on request.
Employee Standard of Conduct
The Town of Wellesley Employee Standards of Conduct are designed to ensure a high standard of conduct, performance and integrity among employees and to establish a disciplinary procedure for the fair and impartial enforcement of regulations governing conduct. Details of the Employee Standards of Conduct are found in Personnel Policy #8, available on request.
Right to Know Law
The Right to Know Law, Chapter 111F of the Massachusetts General Laws, provides rights to employees regarding the communication of information on toxic and hazardous substances. These rights include workplace posting of rights under this law, annual training for employees who work with toxic or hazardous substances, maintenance of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), proper labeling of toxic and hazardous substances and non-discrimination against employees for exercising rights under this law. For more information, please contact Human Resources.
Electronic Communications Policy
The Town of Wellesley Electronic and Network and Information Systems (NIS) policies ensure the security, integrity and performance of all information technology hardware, software, data, and transaction processes on the Town’s campus network. The policies are detailed in the NIS Security Policy and Personnel Policy #16, available upon request.
Below are the highlights of those policies:
All passwords on NIS hardware and software must be made known to the NIS Network Manager and/or Director.
All unapproved software and executable programs are strictly prohibited.
Electronic systems should be used for Town business only. This includes the use of e-mail, instant messenger and downloading music and/or graphics from the Internet.
The telecommunications systems should not be used to create any offensive or disruptive messages or images.
The Town reserves the right to retrieve and read any electronic communication messages or other data stored on Town owned equipment.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
The policy of the Town of Wellesley is to achieve equal opportunity in employment and selection:
By the recruitment and consideration of applicants without regard to factors unrelated to the ability to perform the requirements of the job such as race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, veterans status, or sexual orientation.
By the employment of individuals who meet the physical and mental requirements, with reasonable accommodation, and who have the education, training, and experience, established and necessary for the performance of the job, without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, veterans status, sexual orientation, or other factors unrelated to the ability to perform the requirements of the job.
By taking such affirmative action as may be necessary to identify any conditions of employment practices which may have contributed to under representation of protected classes in the workforce and to correct any such conditions including, but not limited to, the pursuit of the hiring goals established in the Affirmative Action Plan.
By the retention, promotion, and termination of employees on a non-discriminatory basis, and by non-discrimination in compensation and in terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.
Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPPA)
According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), the Town of Wellesley may use health information about you for treatment, to obtain payment for treatment, for administrative purposes, and to evaluate the quality of care that you receive. Subject to certain requirements, the Town may give out health information without your authorization for public health purposes, for auditing purposes, for research studies, and for emergencies. The Town provides information when otherwise required by law, such as for law enforcement in specific circumstances. In any other situation, the Town will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing any identifiable health information about you. The Town’s policy on Privacy Practices is outlined in detail in the Town of Wellesley’s
Notice of Privacy Practices (effective 5/5/03).
Workplace Smoking Prohibition
Mass. General Laws Chapter 270, section 22 prohibits smoking in all workplaces, including all public buildings owned, leased or otherwise operated by municipal governments such as the Town of Wellesley, as well as in municipal vehicles. Smoking is generally allowed in outdoor areas if the outdoor space is physically separated from the enclosed workplace and smoke does not migrate into the enclosed workplace. However, School Department employees should note that smoking is not allowed anywhere on school grounds. Complaints concerning violations may be made to the Wellesley Board of Health or to the state Department of Public Health (1-800-992-1852). Violations of the law are punishable by a fine of $100.
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