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The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon [Ordinances]

Last amended: 2003



  ORIGINALLY ADOPTED: 8/25/93
  DATE AMENDED: 3/22/00; 10/23/02
  RESOLUTION NUMBER: 056-93; 041-00; 190-02


Personnel Management Ordinance

Tribal Code § 370


(a) Authority and Purpose:

(1) The authority for this Ordinance is found in the Tribal Constitution under Article III, Section 1.

(2) The purpose of this Ordinance is to establish policies which promote the development of a high quality work force, ensure the protection of employee rights, and set forth the expectations of all employees and managers in conducting employee relations matters.


(b) Background:
The Tribal Council has, in the Executive Management Ordinance, authorized the General Manager to hire, supervise, promote, discipline, and discharge employees in order to carry out the operations of the Tribe, in accordance with Tribal law. The Council has determined that certain policies should be set forth to guide the General Manager and other Tribal employees in the performance of their jobs. The purpose of these policies is to create an environment where employees can enjoy their work, feel secure in their positions, and make a positive contribution towards the goals and mission of the Tribe.

The Council seeks to attract qualified employees, particularly Tribal members, to the Tribal work force. It is the intent of the Tribe to effectively compete with other employers for personnel who have the abilities and skills necessary to effectively achieve Tribal goals and provide quality services to the Tribal membership. It is further the intent of the Tribe that Tribal employees have input in the development of personnel policies.


(c) General Expectations of Employees:
Tribal employees are expected to act professionally and contribute positively and productively in carrying out their assigned tasks. Employees are expected to maintain the highest standards of ethics in performing their duties and to deal cooperatively and courteously with other employees and members of the public. Employees shall not engage in activities that might disrupt the workplace, lower the morale of other employees, or otherwise reduce the effectiveness of the Tribal work force.


(d) Personnel Policies: The General Manager shall develop and implement personnel policies and procedures which govern all aspects of employment with the Tribe, are consistent with the provisions of applicable Tribal, Federal and State law and which, at a minimum, address the following:

(1) Conflicts of Interest: The General Manager shall develop policies and procedures prohibiting employees from engaging in activities that would create an appearance of, or actual, conflict of interest.

(2) Drug Free Work Place Policy: The Tribe recognizes drug dependency as a major problem. The Tribe also recognizes drug abuse as a potential health, safety and security problem. The Tribe is committed to the safety and well being of the Tribal membership and Tribal employees. Accordingly, it is the Tribe's intent to maintain a work environment free from the influence or use of illegal drugs and unlawful possession or distribution of controlled substances on Tribal land.

The General Manager shall develop and implement a Drug Free Work Place Policy which complies with all applicable laws consistent with the Tribe's commitment to provide a drug and alcohol-free working environment and which, at a minimum

(A) Strives for an alcohol and drug free work environment;

(B) Requires testing of employees as follows:

(i) When there is reasonable suspicion to believe the employee(s) is under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the work place;

(ii) All new employees prior to employment;

(iii) Random testing as permitted by applicable Post accident testing of employees deemed to have caused or contributed to an accident involving significant property damage or physical injury; and

(iv) Random unannounced drug testing of employees by a method that ensures all employees, including management, have an equal opportunity for selection.

(C) Provides that employees who violate the policy are subject to, disciplinary action, up to and including termination, provided; however, that employees shall have an opportunity to seek help in dealing with a drug dependency problem before termination of their employment pursuant to the Drug-Free Workplace Policy; and

(D) Pursues all efforts to terminate and prosecute employees involved in drug trafficking.

The General Manager shall make a quarterly report to the Council on the effectiveness of the drug free work place policy.

(3) Sexual Harassment: The General Manager shall develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent the sexual harassment of employees, applicants, clients and Tribal members.

(4) Political Activities: The General Manager shall implement a policy prohibiting employees from engaging in political campaigning during work or when acting as a representative of the Tribe.

(5) Safety: The General Manager shall develop policies for preventing and reporting work-related accidents.

(6) Grievances: The General Manager shall provide procedures for resolving disputes that arise between employees and their supervisors. Such procedures shall include time frames for filing and responding to grievances. The Tribal Court shall have jurisdiction over all final employment decisions in accordance with the Tribe's Employment Action Review Ordinance.

(7) Preference: It is the policy and intent of the Tribe, to the extent consistent with applicable law, to apply certain preferences in hiring and training. The General Manager shall develop a Preference Policy which gives preference in hiring as follows:

(A) Tribal Members;

(B) Other Indians;

(C) Tribal Employees; and

(D) Veterans.

(8) Compensation and Benefits

(A) Salaries and wages: The Council shall establish salaries for the EO General Manager, the Tribal Attorney's Office, the Finance Department and the Intergovernmental Affairs Office. Salary ranges for all other employees shall be established by the General Manager as follows:

(i) The General Manager shall adopt salary/ wage ranges for all positions consistent with, equal to, or slightly higher than similar positions in the area;

(ii) Ranges for all positions shall be available for review by the Council annually and at any time as salary ranges are established or adjusted.

(iii) The General Manager shall adopt compensation schedules, which shall be reasonably consistent with positions of similar employers, for determining actual salaries paid to employees within a salary/ wage range. Salary adjustments shall be based on performance and consistent with the adopted compensation schedules.

(iv) Salary ranges for employee positions shall be made available to Tribal members and employees on request.

(v) The actual salaries paid to individual employees shall be confidential; provided, however that Council may obtain this information on request.

(B) Employee Benefits: The General Manager shall develop benefit plans and programs reasonably consistent with similar employers, and affordable within the resources available for program expenditures provided that, no formal pension plan shall be adopted except as approved by the Council by resolution and no benefit plan or program may be approved which requires the obligation of the Tribe to pay benefits other than the amount budgeted.

(C) Vacation/Sick Time: The General Manager shall develop policies for employee accrual and use of vacation and sick time based upon length of continuous service with the Tribe.


(e) Holidays

(1) Standard holidays of the Tribe shall include:

(A) New Year's Day

(B) Presidents Day

(C) Memorial Day

(D) Tribal Restoration Day

(E) Independence Day

(F) Labor Day

(G) Veterans Day

(H) National Indian Day (4th Friday of September)

(I) Thanksgiving Day and following day

(J) Christmas Day

(2) Employees shall be entitled to holidays occurring while they are taking authorized annual leave.

(3) Employees required to work on holidays shall be permitted a substitute day off, within 1 week.

(4) The Council may declare additional holidays, provided such holidays shall be approved by resolution.


(f) Education & Training:
It shall be the policy of the Tribe to encourage, coordinate and promote education and training opportunities for employees to allow the employee to render more effective services.

I certify this to be a true copy of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Personnel Management Ordinance.

_____________________________________
TRIBAL COUNCIL SECRETARY

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