CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT
This policy and all other Library policies do not constitute a contract of employment. Any potential employee, with his/her signed consent, will be subject to a security check by the Palos Heights Police Department prior to his/her appointment. The results of the check will be kept confidential. A criminal conviction may be grounds for not hiring. Members of the immediate family of the Library staff and/or Library Board of Trustees shall not be eligible for employment. Immediate is defined as spouses, siblings, father, mother, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, grandparents and children. Employment at the Library is strictly at will.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990:
The Palos Heights Public Library is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It will make reasonable effort to accommodate the disabilities of qualified applicants or employees.
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES
A full-time employee is defined as a person who works 37.5 hours per week and has completed the introductory period. Full-time employees are salaried and are eligible for benefits and vacations according to their classification.
PART-TIME EMPLOYEES
A part-time employee is anyone who works less than 37.5 hours per week. All part-time employees are paid on an hourly basis.
INTRODUCTORY PERIOD
All new employees are considered temporary until the introductory period is over. The
introductory period for full-time employees is one year; for part-time employees, it is six months.
During this time the supervisor will observe and evaluate the employee’s performance and
discuss strengths and weaknesses. Normally there will be two evaluations during the
introductory period; the first one will be within the first three months of employment. A written
evaluation will be placed in the employee’s personnel file prior to the end of the introductory
time. At any time during the introductory period the employee may be dismissed if his/her
work/performance is not acceptable. The termination will be effective immediately.
If an employee’s work and performance are satisfactory at the end of the introductory period,
the employee will become a regular employee. Satisfactory completion of the introductory
period, however, does not connote any additional job protection.
Eligible employees are credited with vacation and sick leave credits during the introductory
period.
Other benefits will begin as outlined in individual policies.
If an employee resigns from the Library but is re-employed at a later date, the Library Director
has the right to determine whether that employee would be required to go through the
introductory period again.
HOURS
All full-time employees work 37.5 hours per week, exclusive of a half-hour duty free lunch in a 7½ hour day. A week is defined as beginning 12:01 a.m. Sunday and ending 12:00 midnight on Saturday. All employees will earn time and a half for any Sunday hours worked. Full time employees working a Sunday may adjust their work days the following week to exceed 7.5 hours a day to allow for an entire day off. Schedule approval is needed by the Library Director.
PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS
It is the practice of the Library to fill staff vacancies by promotion or transfer from within, assuming the candidate has the appropriate experience and qualifications for the opening. In keeping with this merit approach, mere length of service, unaccompanied by professional growth and above average work performance, will not be considered, in itself, a basis for promotion or transfer.
RESIGNATION
Acceptance of a position in the Library incurs an obligation to remain long enough (at least six months) to repay the Library for the expenses incidental to training. A full-time employee wishing to leave the Library in good standing should submit his/her resignation in writing to the Board of Trustees, via the Library Director, one month in advance. Two weeks’ written notice is requested of a part-time employee. In the event of such resignation, earned vacation not taken will be paid.
SALARIES
Employees are paid biweekly on Friday. All deductions for federal and state withholding tax, FICA, and other taxes are made by the payroll service so that the check received by the employee will be for the net amount. All deductions are shown on the check. Deductions for personal time or leave without pay will be made at the current hourly rate for each employee, and will be taken out of the paycheck for the pay period in which the personal time is taken.
WORKERS COMPENSATION
Employees are protected by Workers’ Compensation as provided in Chapter 48, Sections 138.1 et seq., Illinois Revised Statutes (1983), in the event of accidents or death occurring in the course of employment.
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION:
Personal information and records regarding Library patrons or employees must remain confidential.
MEAL BREAKS
Employees are required to take an unpaid half-hour meal period if they work over 6 continuous hours in a day.
REST BREAKS
A relief period of 15 minutes with pay may be taken during each continuous work period of four hours. This period is not to be taken in conjunction with the lunch or dinner break, nor can it be used to arrive late or leave early. The rest breaks are to be taken within the Library confines. All breaks must be scheduled as to not conflict with the efficient operation of the Library. Breaks must be taken and completed no later than the last hour of scheduled work time or no later than the last hour which the Library is open for the day.
FOOD AND DRINKS
No food is allowed in the public areas of the Library. Drinks are allowed in covered containers.
SMOKING
The Library building is a smoke free building and smoking within the building is prohibited. Smoking within 15 feet of a public entrance is also forbidden. Smoking includes using e-cigarettes or any other form of inhaled tobacco products.
DRUGS
The use, distribution, dispensation, sale, unlawful manufacture, or possession of any drugs or
other controlled substances for non-medical reasons, on Palos Heights Public Library premises or
in any Palos Heights Public Library work environment (including parking areas) is prohibited.
Disciplinary action, including possible dismissal, may be taken in cases where violations occur.
Employees who are under the influence of any such non-medical drugs are prohibited from Palos
Heights Public Library premises or any other Palos Heights Public Library work environment.
The Palos Heights Public Library position is the same whether narcotics, marijuana, sedatives,
stimulants, or other drugs are involved.
Supervisors are responsible for communicating to every employee that this policy applies to all
drugs or other controlled substances, including marijuana.
All current Palos Heights Public Library employees must abide by the above statement and must
notify Palos Heights Public Library of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation no later
than five days after such conviction. The Library may require drug testing at its discretion.
DRESS CODE
Staff members are expected at all times to be well groomed and to dress in a manner which is suitable to the professional atmosphere of the Library. This includes wearing proper footwear at all times, including but not limited to no sandals, flip-flops, or any other open-toed shoes.
POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Library employees may not: (1) use their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the results of an election or nomination for office, (2) directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command, or advise any other Library employee to pay, lend, or contribute anything of value to a party, committee, organization, agency or person for political purposes during work hours.
Adopted: September 28, 2017