A beefed-up drug testing policy and a few other updates to Pulaski County’s employee handbook will soon be able to take effect. The updated policies were approved by the county council Monday, following the county commissioners’ approval last week.
County Attorney Kevin Tankersley explained that department heads and the county commissioners may now demand that an employee take a drug test, if they have probable cause. “If they have a reason to give a test and they can articulate a reason – they smelled it, you’re staggering, you’re slurring your speech, or another employee reported you, something like that – then they can demand a drug or alcohol test,” he said.
The other policy changes have to do with overtime pay for the sheriff’s department’s administrative staff and making sure the highway department’s holiday schedule corresponds with its 10-hour work days. The county plans to order some hard copies of the updated policy handbook and hold a training session for department heads.
