Dealing with misbehavior

Policy concerns

Any policy for dealing with employees or students who are suspected, arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime should be concerned with:

• The nature of the business.
• The nature of the crime.
• The expected length of incarceration.
• Whether the criminal conduct has relevance to the job the person performs.

The policy should be reviewed by legal counsel prior to implementation and should provide clear language relating to when on or off-duty conduct will result in a suspension or termination or place the employee on inactive or suspended status with or without pay.

For a person who is charged and tried, the policy should provide for reinstatement upon acquittal. For a conviction, the employee should be terminated.