PERSONNEL POLICY MANUAL

3.8 Institute Personal Assistance Program

The Institute recognizes that certain personal problems, among them alcoholism, drug abuse, and marital and family discord, can seriously compromise an individual's effectiveness. Such problems can be successfully handled in the majority of cases, provided that they are recognized in the early stages and referral is made to the appropriate resource. The Institute Personal Assistance Program, within the Social Work Service of the Medical Department, is intended to provide specialized counselling and referral services to troubled individuals. Since an individual's effectiveness may be compromised by the personal problems experienced by members of his or her family, the program is available to spouses and children as well.

Implementation of this program and its related procedures is the responsibility of the supervisor. (Supervisor is understood to include deans, department heads, faculty, administrators, and managers.) Consideration for referral will be based solely upon evidence of unsatisfactory performance or the direct request of the individual. Compliance with recommendations is the voluntary responsibility of the individual. Self-referral, prior to supervisory intervention, by individuals suspecting that they may suffer from a personal problem which may jeopardize their effectiveness in carrying out their responsibilities, will be encouraged.

No one will be denied any rights or benefits on the basis of participation in the program. All referrals and treatment records are strictly confidential. In instances where it is necessary, sick leave will be granted for in-patient treatment or rehabilitation on the same basis as it is granted for other health problems. (See Section 4.3, Sick Leave/Personal Leave and Section 4.6, Paid Leave for Medical Examination and Care.)

Implementation of this program does not require nor result in any special privileges or exemptions for participants, nor does it supersede any existing personnel practice or collective bargaining agreement. When refusal to accept counseling or repeated treatment failure results in continued ineffectiveness, normal personnel procedures apply, up to and including termination. (See Section 6.3, Termination for Poor Performance or Failure to Comply with Institute Policy.).