Guidelines

1. All awards are designed for individual’s whose contributions demonstrate a benefit to the Institute or unit operations.
2. All units shall have documented nomination/selection criteria for any award. If a unit chooses to have a selection committee, all members’ names should be documented.
3. Nominations for awards are open to any regular, temporary, or student employee of the sponsoring unit.
4. Nominations for all awards must be made to the designated official within each unit of the Institute.
5. All nominees must be in good standing (no current disciplinary action and a minimum of fully successful/meets requirement performance level) with the Institute.
6. All competitive awards must include a minimum of two (2)-qualified nominees. There may be up to three winners if there are multiple nominees or competitors. In no case will more than one half of the nominees be declared winners of awards.
7. The names of all winners of Awards will be submitted to the Director of Grants and Contracts.
8. All awards must comply with the State of Georgia and Board of Regents compensation policies.
9. No award may represent extra compensation or overtime payment to the employee.
10. All awards are subject to the appropriate federal, state and local taxes (see Employee Awards and Prizes).

Eligible Participants

Eligible participants include all non-student faculty and staff of the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia Tech Research Institute, their family members, and immediate significant others. Employees concerned about a problem are encouraged to contact FSAP. Supervisors are encouraged to contact FSAP regarding employees who may show substandard performance or unusual behavior on the job.

Employees will be seen individually for problem assessment. If the problem should require additional professional services beyond the scope of FSAP – such as psychological or medical testing, and/or extended counseling – the Employee Assistance Counselor may recommend qualified clinicians, treatment facilities and/or agencies that the employee may access. Follow-up contacts will be available, as necessary, to meet the employee's needs.

Confidential Referrals

Confidential referrals to FSAP may be made by:

1. Employee (self-referral)
2. Managers and supervisors (supervisory referral)
   • Suggested (voluntary)
   • Administrative (mandatory)
3. Office of Human Resources
   • Substance abuse referral
   • Result of a critical incident ( i.e. accidents, death, etc.)
4. Other Sources (e.g., co-worker or family member)

Appointments

Appointments may be made by faculty and staff members, supervisors, or OHR personnel by calling (404) 894-1225. Appointment information is listed below:

1. Information about persons who may have made an appointment with FSAP is not available to anyone except as described under "Confidentiality" below.
2. Sessions will be scheduled within 48 hours of call (excluding weekends and holidays) or as soon as possible thereafter.
3. FSAP appointments are available between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays.
4. Sessions will be held at the FSAP professional's office, either on campus or at various Atlanta locations. Other locations may be approved if warranted by the situation.
5. Basic information about the referral circumstances will be requested at the time of initial telephone contact.

Clients will be referred to appropriate outside resources as needed:

1. Situations involving longer term care may be immediately referred upon completion of assessment (1-2 sessions).
2. Clients will be responsible for verifying their own insurance eligibility and coverage as well as costs associated with an outside referral.

Confidentiality

No information will be shared with persons outside of FSAP without the written consent of the client except under the following conditions:

• Legal requirements for disclosure of confidential information where:
  1. There is a threat of injury to self or others.
  2. Child abuse is involved.
  3. In the event there is a court order to open records.
• Administrative referrals -- In all cases of administrative referral, FSAP will provide the client's supervisor with the following information:
  • Verification of scheduling and attending required FSAP sessions.
    • Verification of mandatory appointments will be made to supervisors within 24 hours of first session.
    • Verification of compliance with FSAP treatment recommendations.
  • Follow-up contact in writing upon completion of mandatory sessions.
  • Estimated length of absence if missing work is required for treatment recommended by FSAP.

All administratively referred clients will be asked to sign a voluntary release of information. Information to be released will be discussed with the client prior to disclosure.

• Office of Human Resources referrals - Information will be shared within the OHR on a need-to-know basis in order to resolve the current situation.
• Voluntary Release of Information is required:
  • When the client requests an outside party (i.e. supervisor, family member, etc.) become involved in his/her case.
  • When an outside referral is required and information is needed for
    • Insurance pre-certification.
    • providing outside clinical referrals.

Records

All records related to FSAP participation are kept within FSAP and maintained by the Employee Assistance Counselor. They are not associated with OHR employee records. FSAP will not note program participation on employee permanent records.

Supervisory Assistance

1. FSAP is available for supervisory consultation on a variety of worklife situations.
2. Periodically FSAP will provide supervisory training to first line supervisors and middle management to assist them in identifying and making appropriate referrals to the Faculty & Staff Assistance Program.
3. FSAP can only provide supervisors with the following information unless the employee gives permission for more information to be disclosed:
   • Verification of scheduling and attending required FSAP sessions.
     • Verification of mandatory appointments will be made to supervisors within 24 hours of first session.
     • Verification of compliance with FSAP treatment recommendations.
   • Follow-up contact at the conclusion of administratively mandated sessions.
   • Estimated length of absence if missing work is required for treatment recommended by FSAP.

Research

All FSAP client intake and follow-up data will be used without identifiers by FSAP (or other researchers approved by the OHR) for program evaluation and research data. The results of these efforts may be presented by FSAP for:

1. Training, supervision and evaluation purposes.
2. Professional publication

In order to have flowers sent for an occasion mentioned above, the person/organization desiring such should contact the Georgia Tech Foundation, (404) 894-5072. The Foundation will order the flowers, with a card reading "From the President, Faculty, and Staff of the Georgia Institute of Technology," and pay for them from the flower fund.