Section A

Since a variety of problems can adversely affect employee behavior and job performance at all levels of responsibility, employees who are suspected of having a medical-behavioral problem will be afforded the opportunity for counselling, as provided by District Personnel Rules and Regulations and the Department’s Orders and Policies. In appropriate cases consideration shall be given to mitigating and aggravating circumstances prior to taking adverse action.

Section B

Both the Employer and the Union recognize that all employees in the bargaining unit deal with varied amounts of stress. Therefore, the Employee will be encouraged to seek assistance from the Department’s Stress Management Program and other appropriate Agencies to deal with stress and burnout in the performance of their jobs.

Section C

The Memorandum of Understanding on Procedures For Substance Abuse Testing, dated October 21, 1987, shall not be subject to and takes precedence over this Article.