Neots Limited recognises that alcohol and drug abuse related problems are an area of health and social concern. The Company also recognises that alcohol and drug abuse problems can have a detrimental effect on work performance and behaviour.

It is therefore Neots Limited policy that staff may not bring to or consume alcohol or any unlawful drugs in the workplace during work time or during a period prior to work where the effects may carry over to the workplace. This includes business functions where the employee is representing the Company. Special rules may apply in relation to alcohol, where the Company sponsors an event for staff e.g. the Christmas party. In these circumstances any variation to the no-alcohol policy will be communicated in advance of the event.

Neots Limited recognises that a member of staff with alcohol or drug dependency problems needs help and support from his / her employer. However the Company also understands that it has a responsibility to all its employees and other stakeholders to ensure that any risks related to this are minimised.

Accordingly, Neots Limited policy involves two approaches

• Providing reasonable assistance to the member of staff with an alcohol or drug abuse problem who is willing to co-operate in treatment for that problem.
• Disciplinary rules, enforced through disciplinary procedures, where use of alcohol or drugs (other than on prescription) affects performance or behaviour at work, and where either (1) an alcohol or drug dependency problem is not recognised or (2) where treatment is not possible or has not succeeded.

The Company has no internal resources to provide or arrange treatment or other forms of specialist assistance. Such services are provided by GPs, hospitals and other agencies. Through this policy the Company will seek both to support a member of staff during such specialist help, and as far as possible, to protect his/her employment.

Assistance for a Member of Staff: The Company will, where possible, provide the following assistance to a member of staff:

• Support during a period of treatment. This may include a period of sick leave or approved other leave, continuation in post or transfer to other work, depending upon what is appropriate in terms of the staff member’s condition and needs of the Company.
• The opportunity to remain or return to work following the completion of a course of treatment, as far as is practicable, in either the employee’s own post or, where practicable, an alternative post.

The Company’s assistance will depend upon the following conditions being met:

• The Occupational Health Service / Company Approved Doctor (or where appropriate the individual’s GP or other appropriate professional) diagnoses an alcohol or drug dependency related problem.
• The member of staff recognises that he/she is suffering from an alcohol or drug dependency problem and is prepared to co-operate fully in referral and treatment from appropriate sources.

Neots Limited and its employees must recognise the following limits to the assistance the Company can provide:

• Where a member of staff fails to co-operate in referral or treatment arrangements, no special assistance will be given and any failure in work performance and behaviour will be dealt with through the Disciplinary Procedure.
• If the process of referral and treatment is completed but is not successful, and failure in work performance or behaviour occurs, these will be dealt with through the Disciplinary Procedure.
• A member of staff’s continuation in his/her post or an alternative post during or after treatment will depend upon the needs of the Company at that time.

Where Disciplinary Action Will Apply: In line with the Company’s disciplinary rules, the following will be regarded as serious misconduct:

• Attending work and/or carrying our duties under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Consumption of alcohol or drugs whilst on duty (other than where prescribed or approval has been given).

Breach of these rules will normally result in summary dismissal, and only in exceptional cases will either notice or the reduced disciplinary action of a final written warning be applied. Where a breach of these rules occurs, but it is established that an alcohol or drug dependency related problem exists, and the member of staff is willing to co-operate in referral to an appropriate service and subsequent treatment, the Company will suspend application of the Disciplinary Procedure and provide assistance as described above. Staff who do not comply with the treatment suggested or continue to abuse alcohol or drugs will be subjected to the application of the Disciplinary Policy.

Procedures Which Will Apply: Alcohol or drug dependency related problems can come to the notice of management through:

• Failures in work performance or behaviour necessitating possible use of the Disciplinary Procedure e.g. a member of staff smelling of alcohol at work. In such situations the procedure described below will be followed.
• Other means, where a member of staff seeks or agrees to accept assistance on a voluntary basis and informs the Company management.

These procedures define management responsibilities and provide guidelines on:

• Where assistance to a member of staff should be provided and the nature of and limits to such assistance.
• The application of the Company’s Disciplinary Procedure.

Through the Occupational Health Service / Approved Company Doctor (or if appropriate through the individual’s GP or other appropriate professional), the Company will provide:

• Confidential advice and support to the managers and supervisors of the individual on
  1. whether an alcohol or drug related problem exists
  2. progress in treatment
  3. Re-establishment or continuation at work of the member of staff or other appropriate arrangements.
  4. Any requested assistance to the member of staff concerned where this is practicable and reasonable in the circumstances.

This does not include directly providing treatment or specialist help which is the responsibility of GPs, hospitals and other agencies working in the field.

Situations where use of the Disciplinary Procedure is Appropriate: Abuse of alcohol or drugs can affect performance and behaviour at work, ie, either through serious misconduct at work, (where there is a direct and demonstrable breach of the disciplinary rules regarding alcohol or drug abuse at work), or where there is a falling off of standards of work performance or behaviour, and abuse of alcohol or drugs is a possible cause.

The immediate supervisor / line manager will be responsible for responding to such situations, carrying out either counselling or disciplinary investigations and interviews, supported as appropriate by a more senior Manager.

In such interviews the possible existence of an alcohol or drug abuse problem should be explored. The manager is not required to diagnose the existence of an alcohol or drug abuse problem, merely to assess whether such abuse is a possible factor. Any requirements of the Disciplinary Procedure regarding allowing the member of staff representation will be observed.

Determining the existence of an alcohol or drug abuse problem.: Should the interviews lead to the conclusion that an alcohol or drug abuse problem might exist and the member of staff accepts referral, the manager should refer the matter to the Occupational Health / Company Approved Doctor (or where appropriate a report should be requested from the individual’s GP), who will be responsible for establishing whether or not a diagnosis of alcohol or drug dependence can be made.

Disciplinary action should be suspended until diagnostic advice is obtained. However If appropriate, immediate suspension arrangements in the Disciplinary Procedure may be followed.

If the interview fails to lead to the conclusion that an alcohol or drug abuse problem exists, or the member of staff rejects, or fails to co-operate in referral, disciplinary action should be continued, where and as the situation justifies.

Confirmation that an alcohol or drug abuse problem exists and treatment arrangements: If a positive diagnosis of an alcohol or drug dependency problem is made, and the member of staff agrees to co-operate in treatment, treatment arrangements should commence.

Where necessary, either the Occupational Health Service / Company Approved Doctor, or the individual’s own GP will advise the member of staff regarding treatment and will be responsible for monitoring progress with this treatment.

Neots Limited will request a regular update on the individual’s progress from the medical professional concerned (the member of staff must agree to this). This advice should be available at least monthly following commencement of treatment and thereafter as appropriate. (Disciplinary action should be discontinued unless the member of staff fails to co-operate on the treatment arranged.) Should a diagnosis of alcohol or drug dependence not be confirmed or should the member of staff refuse to co-operate in treatment, the Company will review the facts and consider whether or not there needs to be a return to the use of disciplinary action.

Where medical certificates are submitted, sick leave should be given. Should the employee continue to be fit for work during the period of treatment, he/she should be permitted to continue in his/her post or alternative work unless such an arrangement would have an adverse effect on Company services. In such circumstances, annual or unpaid leave should be approved or, exceptionally, suspension arranged.

If a member of staff has been off work during the period of treatment, before returning to duty, he/she will be seen by the Occupational Health Service / Company Approved Doctor, or a report sought from the individual’s GP to advise management regarding capability for continuation in his/her own post and whether any special supervision or other arrangements are required.

Every effort should be made to comply with the advice provided. If it is not reasonably practicable to do so, and as a result, the member of staff is not able to resume duty, employment may be terminated on the grounds of incapacity (ill health).

If a member of staff is again involved in disciplinary situations resulting from alcohol or drug abuse related problems, a second referral to the Occupational Health Service / Company Approved Doctor and suspension of the disciplinary procedure may be appropriate. If they advise positively on the possibilities of further treatment or help and the willingness of the member of staff to co-operate, the disciplinary procedure may be suspended again to permit treatment and help to be undertaken. This second referral will not apply if the further disciplinary problems involve serious misconduct. Third and subsequent referrals are not permissible.

Situations where a Disciplinary Situation does not exist: There may be situations where the possible existence of alcohol or drug abuse problems affecting a member of staff comes to a manager’s attention, although there is, or has been, no discernible effect on work performance or behaviour. This could arise if a member of staff confides in his/her manager about an alcohol or drug abuse problem, or a manager could see a need to approach a member of staff after observing possible “indicators” of an alcohol or drug abuse problem e.g. an absence pattern, information provided by the member of staff’s colleagues, etc.

In such situations, Neots Limited would wish staff to feel they could seek help from their employer (in complete confidence) without worry that their job security would be in jeopardy. Accordingly if managers should be faced with a situation of this type they should:

• seek the advice of the Occupational Health Service / Company Approved Doctor / other appropriate professional regarding how the matter should be dealt with;
• Discuss the situation with the member of staff and, if appropriate, arrange for the member of staff to be interviewed by the Occupational Health Service / Company Approved Doctor, or at least to attend their own GP.
• As in the procedure described above, the Occupational Health Service / Company Approved Doctor / their own GP will play a facilitating role in seeking to establish whether a problem exists and advising and directing the member of staff towards appropriate forms of treatment and help.

These steps cannot be taken without the co-operation of the member of staff. If the member of staff does not wish to co-operate, no further action should be taken. There are however a number of external organisations which provide help and support for individuals with an alcohol or drug related problem

Should a member of staff take up the opportunity of assistance on this voluntary basis there need be no further formal involvement of management in terms of action or the right to learn of progress with treatment? It may be however that the member of staff would wish, or agree to, further involvement of management as a means of assisting progress with treatment.

Use of the disciplinary procedures and/or the application of the approach described above would only be appropriate if subsequently, the member of staff is involved in a breach of Company rules.

Should the problems of the member of staff develop to an extent that his/her continuation in post or employment became impossible, it may be necessary to identify alternative work or arrange for termination, on the same basis as the Company operates for staff with problems of incapacity due to ill health.

Hilary Neots
Managing Director
Policy review: September 3rd, 2021
Email: hilary@neotsng.com