Pubdate: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 Source: Petoskey News-Review (MI) Copyright: 2013 Petoskey News-Review Contact: http://www.petoskeynews.net/forms/lettertotheeditor.html Website: http://www.petoskeynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4115 Author: Brandon Hubbard Referenced: Emmet County staff policy amendments: http://media.trb.com/media/acrobat/2013-07/175758140-15091930.pdf EMMET COUNTY UPDATES STAFF POLICIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MEDICAL MARIJUANA Emmet County staff members have some reading to do this week on new policies concerning how they will now be allowed to use medical marijuana and social media. The Emmet County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved two staff code of conduct amendments to meet insurance concerns. Social media An entirely new subsection of the Emmet County handbook to deal with social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr was instituted largely at the urging of the county's insurance provider. "Some questions have come up recently that have caused us to look at having a 'social media' policy," Kathy Abbott, Emmet County attorney, told the commissioners last week. Employees are now expected to be "professional and respectful" to other county workers online, as well as with appointed officials, elected officials and other affiliates with the county. However, the county cannot require employees to give their passwords or profile names to the county under Michigan law. "If something comes to our attention through the public domain, we want to monitor that," Abbott said. The policy would also restrict inappropriate private information sharing, such as medical information, or speaking officially when not authorized to do so for the county. The policy is limited by First Amendment rights, though, which allow staff to collectively bargain and express personal opinions under freedom of speech law. "The policy is not intended to affect those rights," Abbott added. Medical marijuana The second amendment will regard Michigan's law allowing certified medical marijuana card holders employment with the county. The "drug and alcohol policy" of the employee handbook will now restrict the marijuana from being used, even when medically prescribed, during work hours if it impacts work abilities - similar to other prescribed narcotics. The wording now includes medical marijuana based on state law requirements. "Reporting to work under the influence of (marijuana) or testing positive for marijuana on a drug test conducted pursuant to this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including discharge, regardless of whether or not the employee is a certified medical (marijuana) user," the amendment states. "When an employee is tested upon a reasonable suspicion that the employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol on duty or on county property, a positive test for any prohibited substance (regardless of when actually ingested) will constitute a violation of this policy," the Emmet County employee handbook states. The full amended language will be available in this article online at www.petoskeynews.com . - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom