1.9 Employee Property, Workplace Privacy Limitations, Attendance, Breaks and Dress Codes

1.91    Liability for Employee Property

Employees may bring their own personal property into the workplace with the approval of the Department Head. Mohave County shall not be liable for any damage that might result thereto from theft, fire, or any other type of loss.

1.92    Workplace Privacy Limitations

A.    Employees have no expectation of privacy when using County-provided equipment, resources and/or property, which includes but is not limited to: computers, computer files, records of all computer related activities performed by the employee, County owned cell phones and cell records, offices and cubicles, desks, lockers, file cabinets, storage containers or any other storage device, and County owned vehicles. Any County-provided property, equipment or resources is subject to monitoring, entry, search and inspection by authorized personnel without prior notice.

B.    Any privately owned property contained in such equipment that is visible upon gaining access to the County owned equipment, resources or property may be examined without prior notice and without permission. Contents of briefcases, purses or other personal effects being stored in County property or equipment shall not be subject to search unless probable cause exists that these items are being used to engage in criminal activity or other grievous workplace misconduct. Workplace searches shall be authorized by the County Manager, Human Resources Director or Risk and Emergency Management Director.

1.93    Attendance

The purpose of this policy is to promote the efficient operation of the County and minimize unscheduled absences. In accordance with federal and state laws, employees are expected to report to work as scheduled, on time and prepared to start work. Employees also are expected to remain at work for their entire work schedule.

A.    Work Schedules and Hours.

1.    Mohave County business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2.    The hours of work for each department shall be at the discretion of the Department Head in accordance with federal, state laws, and the necessity of the department.

B.    Absent.

1.    An employee is deemed absent when they are unavailable for work as scheduled and such time off was not approved in advance as required by their supervisor.
2.    At the discretion of the Department Head, medical documentation after an absence of three (3) days may be required.
3.    Absences due to illnesses or injuries that qualify under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) will not be counted against an employee’s attendance record. Medical documentation within the guidelines of the FMLA may be required in these instances.

C.    Tardy.

1.    An employee is deemed to be tardy when they:

a.    Fail to report for work at the scheduled work time.
b.    Leave work prior to the end of scheduled work time without prior supervisory approval.
c.    Take an extended meal or break period without approval.
d.    Arrive to work past their scheduled start time.

2.    If an employee is unable to report to work, notification shall be made to the immediate supervisor or authorized department representative prior to the start of the shift, but no later than two (2) hours after the start of the work shift. Exceptions to this Rule may be permitted if extenuating circumstances exist. Failure to notify without good reason shall constitute an unauthorized absence without pay and may lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

D.    Lunch Periods.

1.    Generally, one hour is the allotted time for employee lunch periods.
2.    Lunch periods shall be scheduled in such manner that County offices remain open throughout the entire business day.

1.94    Breaks

A.    Morning and afternoon breaks are a benefit to the employee and not a right, as such, breaks may be granted at the discretion of the Department Head.

B.    Full time employees may be allowed a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon break, each break not to exceed 15 minutes.

C.    Employees may not combine morning and afternoon breaks to receive a longer period of time away from the job. Any break that is taken shall be taken at least one hour after the beginning of the duty day or one hour prior to end of the shift unless specifically authorized by the Department Head.

D.    Employees cannot in any way accrue or bank break time for compensation or future use.

1.95    Lactation Breaks

Nursing mothers shall adhere to Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act – Break Time for Nursing Mother’s for a period of one (1) year following the birth of that employee’s child. (www.dol.gov)

1.96    Dress Codes

A.    Employees are expected to represent the County to its citizens in an exemplary, professional manner both in conduct and appearance. The attire worn by employees is to be clean, neat and in keeping with the nature of the duties performed. There are certain expected norms for professional appearance, neatness, and hygiene, which are applicable to all employees.

B.    The Department Head is responsible for determining and enforcing the dress code for their respective areas of responsibility.

C.    When uniforms are required, it is the responsibility of the Department Head to determine the standards for wear of the applicable uniform including the display of name tags, rank or other insignia, patches, etc.

D.    Mohave County strives to ensure the comfort and safety of our employees and visitors by encouraging an environment free from smoke, fragrances, and unpleasant smells. These odors are distracting and may trigger allergic reactions or create health problems for sensitive individuals. This policy is meant to cover noticeable odors from any source, including foods, personal items, perfumes, and grooming.