Anytime an employee is involved in an automobile accident with a Village automobile or in a personal automobile while on Village business, the employee shall notify his or her superintendent immediately with all pertinent information including whether personal injury is involved and whether any traffic citations were issued. All superintendents shall, within 24 hours, notify the Village Attorney if any traffic citations were issued to a Village employee and shall provide the Village Attorney with a copy of the citations. An employee is obligated to cooperate with the Village and any of the Village's legal representatives regarding the accident and any citations that may have been issued.
Neatness and good taste in dress, as well as care toward personal hygiene, are expected of all employees. For safety and hygienic purposes, employees may be required to comply with any appropriate dress code that is set forth by the superintendent or Village Board during the performance of their duties. Employees may be requested to change inappropriate dress, and work lost while doing so will not be compensated by the department. Employees may be evaluated on their dress and appearance. The superintendent is the only individual of each department who may make exceptions to the dress code.
All department property and equipment entrusted to any employee will be used in accordance with the property's prescribed function. All damage through recklessness, gross negligence, intentional act, deliberate misuse, or theft shall be replaced and paid for by the employee committing the violation. Such replacement of property by the employee shall not be considered the exclusive remedy against the employee, and the employee may still be subject to discipline. All department property, personal lockers, and personal offices are subject to search and seizure. All department property shall be inspected by the employee's immediate supervisor prior to issuance of the property. No department property shall be used for private or unauthorized purposes. All employees are required to return all department property or equipment in their possession upon separation, promotion, and/or transfer.
[Amended 2-18-2014 by Ord. No. 14-02-01]
Good telephone habits are an indication that the department is interested in serving the public. At all times, answer promptly and courteously. Identify yourself by name and section, be friendly and helpful. Write time and date of any message from the caller, transfer calls tactfully, give accurate information, do not keep the caller waiting and hang up carefully. Employees shall keep incoming and outgoing personal calls - including personal cell phone - to a minimum.
No employee shall use their official position, engage in official transactions or business to harass any individual or to secure a benefit for himself or other individuals. Courtesy should be given in all communications and correspondence, and all employees should refrain from unnecessarily criticizing any individuals or agencies concerning official transactions or business.
[Amended 2-18-2014 by Ord. No. 14-02-01]
Smoking by Village employees shall only be allowed designated areas, including smokeless tobacco.
Employees are encouraged to appear before civic organizations, fraternal organizations or any other group in an official capacity. Employees shall notify the superintendent prior to accepting such speaking engagements. Employees are cautioned against making statements or giving impressions regarding official agency policy or position without prior expressed authority being granted. Normally, the Village Board has the sole right to adopt and interpret the policies of the organization. If in doubt, it is always preferable to consult the superintendent before making any statements that might possibly be misinterpreted or misconstrued by the general public or press. The Superintendent shall make all news releases concerning the department. The Village shall comply with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, and employees are allowed to disseminate information pursuant to the Act. However, employees are not allowed to disclose any information that is exempted by Illinois Freedom of Information Act[1] or prevented from disclosure by any other state statutes.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.
The Village shall charge employees any authorized costs when making wage deduction pursuant to court order or state or federal statutes.
Unless authorized by the Mayor, and unless authorized by the appropriate superintendent, no employee of any department has legal authority to carry weapons while in the performance of their official duties, except the Police Department employees.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, Administration, Art. I, General Code Provisions, Div. I)]
Employees shall not recommend or promote the sale of any specific brand name product or equipment. Many employees in the course of their work have access to medical information about patients, clients, employees, or other individuals. This may be medical, legal or job related information. Such information is not to be repeated or discussed outside the department or with other personnel unless such information is a necessary part of the employee's assigned duty. Employees shall inform the superintendent or Mayor of any possible conflict of interest situations they may have. Employees are prohibited from accepting gifts, gratuities, or any item of value for work performed on behalf of the Village. Employees shall comply with the Gift Ban Act and the Village Ethics Code. See Chapter 1, Articles V and VII, of the Village Code.
Employees are prohibited from having conflicting employment while having a full-time position. An employee may not be paid by another employer for the same forty-hour period employee is being paid by the department. If a full-time employee performs outside services or employment, such services or employment shall be reported to the superintendent for prior approval, and advance notification shall be given by the employee to the Village Clerk. Fees earned by an employee for serving as an instructor for a class during other than normal working hours which is not sponsored by the Village in another Village agency shall be dealt with as follows:
(A) 
No overtime shall be earned and the fee retained; or
(B) 
Overtime shall be earned and the fee surrendered to the Village Clerk and recorded as miscellaneous income.
Employees who are injured while engaging in other employment shall notify the superintendent and the Village Clerk.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, Administration, Art. I, General Code Provisions, Div. I)]
Each applicant for employment may be required to successfully complete a post-offer physical examination by a doctor of the employer's choice, including a drug screen upon the request of the Village. At any time, employees may be required to submit to a physical examination. As a condition of their employment, the employees of the department shall authorize the release of medical testing information including drug screens to the Village for departmental use only. Each employee authorized to carry and use a gun while at work for the Village, and all employees engaging in heavy manual labor as their principal form of job activity for the Village may be required to submit to an annual physical exam and/or drug screens by a doctor of the employer's choice. Drug screens can be conducted on a random basis for any security personnel employed by the Village, except those under police personnel contract, for any employee authorized to carry and use a gun while performing work related activities for the Village and for any employee that is required to hold other than a Class A driver's license for work related purposes. For all other employees, drug screens shall be conducted upon probable cause.
If an employee leaves the department's employment before the completion of three years from the initial date of employment, that employee will be liable for all costs incurred in the employee's selection, background investigation, equipment issue and training, prorated over a three-year period. Incurred training costs will be deducted from any remaining paychecks.
Any employee who is taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs or medication which may impact on abilities to perform work shall report the use of the drugs or medications to the immediate supervisor, along with the name and address of any medical doctors prescribing the medication.
All employees, as a condition of employment, will comply with the Village's Drug Free Workplace Policy, attached to this chapter as Appendix A.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.