In 1988 Congress passed a variety of anti-drug legislation which included the Drug-Free Workplace Act (DFWPA). This act requires that agencies or individuals who receive federal aid or who contract with the federal government adopt specific policies regarding the illegal possession and use of controlled substances.

To comply with this act Missoula County adopted the following policy on Oct. 5, 1989:

All Missoula County employees are absolutely prohibited from unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing or using controlled substances in the workplace. Examples of controlled substances include illegal narcotics, cannabis, stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens.

Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Missoula County may require employees who violate this policy to participate in a drug-abuse assistance or rehabilitation program as a condition of continued employment.

To assist employees in overcoming drug-abuse problems the County provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and medical benefits for substance abuse treatment. Conscientious efforts to seek such help will not jeopardize an employee’s job status.

Any employee convicted of violating a criminal drug statute in the workplace or while conducting official County business must inform his/her immediate supervisor of such conviction within five days. That supervisor must inform the Human Resources Office of any such communication immediately.

Missoula County employees may be eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

For your student loans to count towards this program, employees must:

• Work for a qualifying employer. Missoula County is a government entity and, therefore, is a qualified employer under the PSLF Program.
• Work the required number of hours. PSLF requires that you work an average of 30 hours per week. HR will average all hours for part-time employees to determine if they have worked 30 hours or more per week. 
• Have direct loans. Direct must be in the title. All loans disburse after July 1, 2010 were issued through the Direct Loan program.
• Have the correct loan servicer: MOHELA. If you have another servicer than submitting the Employment Certification Form will move your loans from your current servicer to FedLoan Servicing.
• Have the correct type of repayment plan. You need to have an income- based payment plan and make 120 qualifying payments.

If you are eligible for this program, please contact us to get the proper forms to enroll.

Tuition Reimbursement is provided to both union and non-union staff. 

• Eligible employees are considered a regular employee and have completed your probationary period to be eligible to receive reimbursement.
• The amount provided in reimbursement varies by collective bargaining agreement, but most provide up to $600 in reimbursement for a full-time (40 hours per week) employee with the amount pro-rated for part-time employees that work 20- 39 hours per week.
• Tuition reimbursement runs on the fiscal year- July 1 through June 30.
• Pre-approval forms for the upcoming fiscal year are accepted beginning June 1.
• Reimbursement means you pay up-front. Once you have completed your class you are required to submit payment receipt and proof of completion to receive reimbursement.
• Requires advanced approval by your supervisor and Human Resources. Funds are limited and available to all employees. Once you receive approval in a fiscal year, funds are held and available for you. To be eligible for tuition reimbursement, classes must be at a post-secondary accredited institution, meaning an accredited institution of higher learning. For example, the University of Montana or Missoula College or New Hampshire University, etc. Whether the courses are on-line or in the classroom does not matter. The only other two institutions that are NOT post-secondary where tuition reimbursement is provided by Missoula County is for courses at the Lifelong Learning Center and the Red Willow Learning Center.
• Classes do NOT need to be work related for reimbursement. However, the one caveat is that classes taken for personal development rather than professional development are not tax-exempt. The reimbursement will appear in your paycheck, rather than as a check to deposit.

Graduate Certificate in Public Administration Tuition reimbursement of up to $1,000 per fiscal year is available for employees taking classes at the University of Montana as part of the Graduate Certificate in Public Administration program. This program is administered like regular tuition reimbursement with the same requirements. An employee taking classes under this graduate certification program are also eligible for regular tuition reimbursement (up to an additional $600 as described above) if funds are available.

Both tuition reimbursement and Graduate Certificate in Public Administration programs are subject to budgeted funds available and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Wait lists for requests are maintained by HR in case budgeted funds are not fully utilized or if other funding becomes available.