3. Employee Responsibilities
3.1 Hours of Work Schedule
The hours of your scheduled work shift will largely be determined by the operational needs of the department in which you are assigned. Some departments will have regular schedules, which rarely change from week to week, and other departments will have schedules that vary to meet the needs of the department or Triad River Tours. If an employee has a specific schedule request, efforts may be made to accommodate that request, taking into account the operational needs of the department or Triad River Tours as a whole. However, in all events, work schedule and schedule changes are determined at the sole discretion of Triad River Tours.
Every employee is responsible for knowing and following his or her work schedule, including, but not limited to, reading the schedule and schedule updates or changes, knowing start and end times or workdays, shifts, and breaks, complying with such times, and knowing when meetings are and attending such meetings on time. It is your responsibility to, if applicable, clock in and out at the designated times on your schedule. Any desired schedule changes must receive prior approval from your supervisor.
3.2 Attendance and Punctuality
When you accept a position with Triad River Tours, you assume obligations. One of those obligations is to perform the duties of your position during the times specified. You are expected to be punctual and keep absences to a minimum. Failure to report, unjustified or excessive absence or tardiness may result in discipline, up to and including discharge from employment. Additionally, punctuality and attendance are factors that may be taken into account when determining promotions, salary increases and qualification for other benefits.
3.3 Absenteeism
Definition of Absence: Absence is any time (other than tardiness described below) that you are scheduled to work and fail to be present at the designated work location for all of the scheduled time or shift or if you fail to report to your workstation less than 5 minutes late. It includes time off for sickness but does not include pre- approved time off for vacation, leaves of absence, or designated holidays when you are not scheduled to work.
3.4 Meet-ups and Commuting
TBA
3.5 Conduct
The maintenance of extremely high standards of honesty, integrity, performance, and conduct is essential to the proper performance of our business, the satisfaction of our clients, and the maintenance of our clients’ trust. Triad River Tours expects its employees to have careful regard for our standards and avoid even the appearance of dishonesty or misconduct. Our employees are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a professional and courteous manner, to exercise good judgment in the discharge of their responsibilities, and to conduct themselves in a manner that can be supported by management.
Any misconduct or violation of the policies in this handbook or otherwise of Triad River Tours may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Following are examples of conduct that may result in such disciplinary action:
Unsatisfactory or careless performance or neglect of duties.
Failure to use or maintain Triad River Tours or client property in a proper manner.
Altering, removing or destroying Triad River Tours or client records and/or property.
Deliberate or careless damage to Triad River Tours or client property.
Inappropriate, malicious, disparaging or derogatory oral or written statements concerning Triad River Tours, or any of its clients, employees or representatives.
Falsifying personal, client or Triad River Tours records, including any employment application or other employment information, or any other records or documents related to Triad River Tours, its business or any of its clients, employees or representatives.
Absenteeism or abuse of any paid time off policy.
Failure to give proper notice of an expected absence.
Dishonesty of any kind, including theft or misappropriation of property of Triad River Tours; its employees; or past, current, or prospective clients or representatives.
Failure to learn from your mistakes
Failure to respect the chain of command, your Trip Leader, or company ownership.
Refusing to communicate with other guides.
Failure to uphold the principles that the company stands for.
Failure to run conservative lines when taking inexperienced guests down the river
Consistent mistakes on the river.
Lack of knowledge of rivers and river conditions.
Failure to study the company policies and database.
Cheeky comments.
Possession, use, or display of any weapon on Triad River Tours premises or while on Triad River Tours business.
Possession, use, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol on the premises or while on Triad River Tours business, including but not limited to: Caboose, Boatyard, Parking lot of caboose.
Any conduct endangering or any verbal or nonverbal threat to endanger, property, life, safety or health.
Disrespect for management or any supervisor or employee or client of Triad River Tours, insubordination, failure to perform any reasonable assignment, or obscene or abusive language or behavior.
Willful violation of HIPAA privacy laws.
Sharing confidential information.
Violations of Triad River Tours harassment policy or any other form of unlawful or unethical conduct, harassment or discrimination.
Off-duty or pre-employment conduct that reflects or may adversely reflect on Triad River Tours if the employee were to remain employed.
These examples are not all-inclusive, but merely illustrate the kind of conduct that may be detrimental to Triad River Tours, its clients or employees.
3.6 Employee Professionalism
Even though we are not a large corporation, we believe that the behavior and professionalism of our guides pervades the industry; we believe in leading by example. All guides are required to respect their peers and ensure a safe and positive work environment for all employees. We are all professionals creating a professional workplace atmosphere, sometimes far away from home. Triad River Tours is truly dedicated to ensuring a positive workforce, and we feel that one of the ways to do that is to remain committed to a diverse workplace. This is a workplace that relies heavily on teamwork and interpersonal communication.
3.7 Customer Relations
As an employee, you make a major contribution to our business growth. Your honesty, integrity, and competence in performing your job are necessary for customer satisfaction. Your ability to develop positive customer relations is essential to our job performance.
3.8 Appearance
Your personal appearance is an important part of the way you represent Triad River Tours to the public. Customers form an opinion of Triad River Tours from your appearance and attitude. Neat and conservative attire creates a favorable impression. Please refrain from eating, smoking, or chewing gum in the presence of customers. Such actions may be offensive to customers and portray an unacceptable image.
When you greet your guests or are at work, you represent our company. Your attire should reflect both the rugged look that guides often behold, as well as a level of professionalism and sophistication. If you are wearing an old worn out or otherwise apparently unsafe piece of equipment, see that you replace it with something that is on par with the expectations of your profession.
Whenever you operate a scenic or non-whitewater tour, you should meet your guests in a buttoned shirt. You can wear whatever you would like on the river, but at the time of meet up, unless it is too cold, you should be wearing a buttoned shirt or something of equal “sophistication” if you will.
These are the factors you should consider:
Maintaining the highest standards relating to personal hygiene, including regular bathing and use of deodorant, brushing of teeth and using mouthwash as necessary, maintaining clean hands and fingernails at all times and the moderate use of cosmetics.
The nature of the work.
Safety considerations, such as necessary precautions when working near machinery.
The nature of the employee's public contact, if any, and the normal expectations of outside parties with whom the employee will work.
The prevailing practices of other workers in similar jobs.
The requirement of the Triad River Tours’ management that all employees are expected to exercise good judgment and dress appropriately for their jobs.
Any bandage worn must be kept clean and changed as often as necessary or appropriate. An employee with an open sore or wound is not permitted to handle any food products and may be restricted from other activities, especially in the health care area.
Please note: Your particular job may include more specific requirements, which will be provided by your supervisor.
3.9 Use of Triad River Tours Equipment
Employees may not use Triad River Tours equipment or resources for personal use or benefit without prior supervisor approval. Generally speaking it is company policy to support you in any endeavor to improve your skills as an employee, and Triad River Tours generally likes to provide you with whatever resources it can within reason. If you would like to borrow a piece of equipment, simply ask permission and then return it in the same condition which you took it in the first place. If you damage any piece of equipment while borrowing it, you are solely responsible for repairing or replacing that piece of equipment.
3.10 Personal Property
All employees are cautioned not to bring valuables or large amounts of cash to work. Purses and wallets should be kept with you or stored in a locked place at all times. Triad River Tours is not responsible for personal property that is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed; this includes your personal vehicle or other means of transportation. If you ride a bicycle to work, be sure to securely lock it in the designated space. Employees are responsible for providing their own locking devices.
3.11 Outside Employment
While subject to other policies, including Conflict of Interest below, Triad River Tours has no objection to an employee holding another job (in addition to his or her employment with Triad River Tours) as long as he or she can effectively meet the performance standards for his or her position with Triad River Tours. However, we ask employees to think seriously about the effects that another job may have on their endurance, personal health and well-being, performance, and effectiveness with Triad River Tours.
3.12 Conflict of Interest
During your employment with Triad River Tours, you are prohibited from directly or indirectly competing with Triad River Tours, including, but not limited to, providing, owning an interest in, or assisting any other person or entity that is in competition with Triad River Tours or that provides any product, service, or offering of a type that is the same or similar to that provided by Triad River Tours from time to time. Additionally, during your employment with Triad River Tours, you are prohibited from at any time directly or indirectly working for, assisting, or owning an interest in any business or venture that constitutes a conflict of interest. Triad River Tours will determine in its sole discretion whether any work or interest constitutes a violation of this policy. Before you begin to directly or indirectly work for, assist or own an interest in any other business or venture other than Triad River Tours, you must notify your supervisor. If you were offered work with another outfitter, please let management know the situation and your intentions.
3.13 Supervisors
Questions about your job, pay, benefits, relations with your co-worker, policies and procedures, or Triad River Tours in general should be directed to your supervisor. Look to your supervisor for guidance and seek his/her assistance when you encounter difficulties. Cooperation and communication with your supervisor will promote a mutually beneficial work environment.
Each employee must follow the directions of his/her supervisor. Your supervisor is responsible for directing your work throughout your shift; evaluating your performance, providing instruction and guidance in your job, and taking any disciplinary action that may be necessary; though others at Triad River Tours from time to time also may exercise one or more of these responsibilities. Disrespect of management or a supervisor, or disregard of the authority of either, will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
