City Institutes Drug Test Policy for Employees

A tough new drug and alcohol policy will be used to discipline and fire city employees who engage in substance abuse on the job, San Diego city officials said Thursday.

According to the policy, which takes effect today, a worker will be required to undergo a “compulsory” drug and alcohol test when a supervisor has “reasonable suspicion” that the employee is abusing either substance.

Robert Ferrier, the city’s labor relations manager, insisted that the compulsory tests will be voluntary. “But, if they refuse to take the test, it will be treated as insubordination, and we will take disciplinary action,” Ferrier said.

The written policy states that it is not the city’s intention “of intruding into the private lives of its employees,” but the plan also calls for disciplinary action to be taken against employees who drink after work while wearing a city worker’s uniform.

Spokesmen for unions that represent some of the city’s estimated 8,000 employees could not be reached for comment late Thursday.

White-Collar Workers

Safety personnel such as police officers, firefighters and blue-collar workers are prohibited from drinking alcohol at work or during lunch breaks. However, the rules are not as stringent for some white-collar employees, who were told in the 14-page written policy that they are “strongly discouraged” from drinking during lunch breaks and not at all at work.

The plan also has a nine-step procedure for urine testing, which does not give employees the option of taking blood or breath tests. City employees who are ordered to take urine tests will do so while being observed by “medical assistants” under contract to the city.

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the policy deals with a supervisor’s “reasonable suspicion,” which will be enough to trigger an investigation of an employee suspected of drug use. The policy does not require employees to be caught in the act before they take a drug test. Instead, the policy says that reasonable suspicion could be raised solely on “reliable information” that may be given to a supervisor.

The policy does not say whether employees accused of drug abuse will be allowed to question their accuser.

“Supervisors will be trained to recognize individuals under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances,” read the policy. They will be taught to be on the lookout for symptoms that suggest drug or alcohol abuse such as “watery eyes, unsteady gait and inattention to personal hygiene.”

Another feature of the policy calls for disciplinary action to be taken against employees who fail to inform their supervisors that they are taking medication--whether it be a prescription or over-the-counter medicine--that might impair their ability to do a job safely.

The new policy also calls for mandatory drug tests for any employee involved in an accident while operating a city-owned vehicle or power equipment.

Employees who have substance-abuse problems are also encouraged to seek voluntary treatment through the city’s Employee Assistance Program.