ODNR Human Resources

Working at ODNR

DISCIPLINARY POLICY
Effective	April 1, 2004
Purpose	To outline general guidelines regarding disciplinary action taken against exempt and non-exempt employees.
Authority	ORC 124.34 OAC 123:1-31-01, et seq. OCSEA Article 24 FOP Article 19
Reference	State Personnel Board of Review OAC 124 OCSEA Article 25 FOP Article 20 ODNR Disciplinary Procedure Minimum Fitness Standards Directive
Resource	Department labor relations officers, Division/Office personnel coordinators

In those cases where the employer must take corrective action, the disciplinary measures shall be taken for the purpose of correcting an offending employee and problem situation while maintaining discipline and morale among other employees.

The following list of offenses is a guideline. Other factors considered in applying the appropriate penalty for an infraction include but are not limited to: the severity of the offense, the employees disciplinary record, and any mitigating circumstances. Progressive discipline need not be triggered by the same/similar infraction. This list of offenses is merely illustrative and is not meant to be all inclusive. The forms of discipline listed with these offenses only provide a suggested range of appropriate action. Other forms of discipline may be utilized if deemed more appropriate.

Disciplinary action may include the following forms:

Oral Reprimand
Written Reprimand
Suspension
Working Suspension
Fine (five days or less)
Reduction
Demotion
Removal

Violation						First	Second	Third	Fourth
Neglect of Duty	Minor ? other					Oral Written	Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
Neglect of Duty	Major ? endangers life, property, or public safety					Suspension Removal	Removal
Participation in an illegal strike (non-exempt employees only)						Removal
Participation in a work stoppage strike, sit out, or any other activity that would interfere with the operation of a department facility, installation or program (exempt employees only)						Suspension Removal	Removal
Insubordination		Refusal to carry out a work assignment				Oral Suspension	Suspension	Suspension	Removal
		Willful disobedience of a direct order by a supervisor				Suspension Removal(1)	Suspension Removal	Removal
		Failure to follow the written policies of the Director, division/office				Oral Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
Using obscene, abusing or insulting language toward an employee or general public						Oral Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
Intentional acts of discrimination or insult on the basis of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), age, religion, national origin or handicap						Oral Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
Failure of good behavior						Oral Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
Failure of supervisor to discipline employee(s) as provided in this policy						Oral Removal	Suspension Removal	Suspension Removal	Removal
Misuse of and/or carelessness with state property						Oral Suspension	Suspension Removal	Suspension Removal	Removal
Deliberate destruction, damage and/or theft of state property, property of visitors to department facilities or property of another employee during working hours					Minor	Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
					Major	Removal
Theft in office						Removal
Consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs while on duty and/or while operating a state motor vehicle (2) (Causing danger to life, property or public safety)						Suspension Removal	Removal
Reportint Reporting to work under the Influence of any intoxicant (alcohol or illegal drug), other than required for medical reasons (2)						Suspension Removal	Removal
Sleeping Sleeping on duty						Written Suspension	Suspension	Removal
Immoral Immoral or indecent conduct						Written Removal	Suspension Removal	Removal
Unexcused tardiness (over four times in a ninety day period)						Oral Written	Written Suspension	Suspension	Removal
Leave work area without permission of supervisor						Oral Written	Written Suspension	Suspension	Removal
Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL) (3)			Less than one day			Oral	Suspension	Removal
			One day			Written Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
			Two days			Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
			Three days			Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
			Four days or more			Removal
Misuse of approved leave						Oral Removal	Suspension Removal	Removal
Excessive use/abuse of leave						Oral	Written	Suspension	Removal
Failure to return from an approved leave of absence				Three days or less		Suspension	Removal
Failure to return from an approved leave of absence				More than three days		Removal
Unauthor Unauthorized use of a state vehicle						Oral Written	Written Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
Misuse of state vehicle including violation of traffic code						Oral Suspension	Suspension Removal	Suspension Removal	Removal
Intentional misuse or removal of confidential material						Written Removal	Removal
Willfully falsifying any official document						Written Removal	Removal
Intentional misuse of federal or state funds						Suspension Removal	Removal
Accepting bribes in course of carrying out assigned duties						Removal
Engaging in political activities as prohibited in ORC 124.57						Suspension Removal	Removal
Violation of Section ORC 124.34 (4)						Discipline shall be commensurate with the offense
Threat or act of physical violence						Suspension Removal	Suspension Removal	Removal
Dishonesty						Suspension Removal	Suspension Removal	Removal
Failure to pass an alcohol or drug test (5)						Removal

Commissioned Officers Only (including plain clothes officers)

Violation	First	Second	Third		Fourth
Violation of Uniformed Officer’s Code of Conduct	Oral Removal	Suspension Removal	Removal
Leaving firearm unattended	Written Suspension	Removal
Loss of firearm through negligence	Suspension Removal	Removal
Failure to properly safeguard firearm while not on duty, causing injury or death to another person	Suspension Removal	Removal
Possession of unauthorized weapons in addition to or in place of authorized weapons while on duty (6)	Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
Use of unauthorized ammunition	Written Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
Failure to report removal of firearm from holster	Oral Suspension	Suspension Removal	Removal
Removal of firearm from holster without just cause	Suspension Removal	Removal
Failure to report discharge of firearm for any reason except qualifications firing practice or competition	Oral Written	Suspension	Removal
Discharging weapon without cause (7)	Suspension Removal	Suspension Removal		Removal
Failure to qualify with firearm after authorized retrain/retest program	Oral Written	Suspension		Removal
Firearms Negligence	Written Removal	Suspension Removal		Removal
Failure to meet Physical Fitness Standards after authorized retrain/retest program (8)	Written	Suspension		Suspension		Removal

Footnotes

This would include the failure to respond truthfully to questions after being provided with an internal investigation waiver.
On the date of the occurrence, the employee may be sent/taken home and a drug/alcohol test administered.
Regardless of disciplinary actions enumerated in a, b, c, and d, discipline for AWOL will follow progressively. Any combination of first, second and third occurrences may result in removal.
ORC 124.34 Tenure Of Office, essentially outlines the statutory rules of employee conduct.
Voluntary entrance into an alcohol or drug intervention program may mitigate the imposition of disciplinary action.
Includes officers not authorized to carry weapons.
Disciplinary action is based on issued findings of fact, as reported by the ODNR Firearms Board of Inquiry.
Fitness standards are outlined in the Minimum Fitness Standards Directive. Individual or remedial training may be required in addition to disciplinary action.

Job Hotline 614-265-6990 | Office of Human Resources 614-265-6981

HR Home | State of Ohio | Administrative Services | DNR Home

DISCIPLINARY POLICY