City employees will be seeing some changes in the future.
Humboldt City Council approved a Standards of Conduct policy for city employees during a regular council meeting on November 26.
"The policy is in regards to off-work behaviour," said James Moller, City manager.
The policy is based on similar policies used by the City of Yorkton and both the governments of Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Right now, there is no policy in place for city employees. Moller said the policy will protect employees by providing guidance and an overall framework for how employees are expected to behave and conduct themselves.
"The policy asks that all employees acknowledge their outside activities and interests," said Moller.
It will be placed in orientation sessions for new employees to read and acknowledge.
"Other councils are doing this as well and bringing this kind of stuff to their operations," said Mayor Malcolm Eaton.
The policy has two purposes, according to Eaton. "I think it protects employees, prevents them from stepping into things that will get them into situations unintentionally. It fulfils that protective function," said Eaton.
"It also creates an understanding of standards and expectations. Certainly, the outside work, I like the disclosure part of that. Basically, we are asking people to be up front about what other interests or what other things they are involved in," he added.
The only problem council had with the policy was the acknowledgement section. Eaton said it may make people question what they are signing off on.
"I see the value to knowing all our employees are aware of the policy but I think that falls on the department heads and supervisors to make sure that new staff (have this) as part of their orientation," said Eaton. "To me, that is the more important part than the employee signing off on something and not paying attention to what is being said."
The policy also said they would comply to any revisions made to the policy, which was a problem for the councillors.
"How can they sign for something in the future?" asked Coun. Roger Nordick.
"It should just say 'I have read and understand,'" said Coun. Leon Fleischhacker.
After making the revision so the acknowledgement form said, "I have read and understand the Standards of Conduct Policy for the City of Humboldt," council was comfortable with the policy.
"I am comfortable with the policy and I think we should review it a year from now," said Eaton. "We know we have employees that have other employment opportunities and there is nothing wrong with that. We just need to make sure that there is no conflict, that it is up front and we are aware."
