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- During
contract negotiations in
1986, The Communications Workers of America and
Mountain Bell signed a Letter of Agreement recommending the
"exploration, development and implementation of a program to raise
employee awareness and education of the magnitude and cost to the
company..." of problems of substance abuse. The letter further
recommended that "... the program should also provide adequate help to
employees in seeking appropriate assistance in dealing with chemical and
substance abuse..."
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- The
PEIR program flourished in the Central region of U S WEST Communications
during the 1986-1989 time period. During 1989 bargaining between the
Communications Workers of America and US WEST Communications, in 1991 the
program was expanded to include the Eastern and Western regions.
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- Currently
there are 140 PEIR Facilitators throughout QWEST, offering help and
support for employees and members experiencing problems with substance
abuse, Chemical dependency or other stress issues.
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- PEIR
facilitators help by:
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-
· Forming a bridge between employees and Health Care
professionals that facilitates appropriate evaluation and treatment,
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·
Encourage
adherence to a treatment plan developed by an appropriate professional,
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· Assisting
employees involved in treatment with matters pertaining to daily life
activities,
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· Participating
in return to work conferences, if requested to do so by the employee.
-
-
- PEIR
facilitators follow these guidelines:
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-
·
Activities
are initiated only at the request of the employee.
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· Facilitators strictly follow the guidelines for confidentiality.
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· Facilitators
do not represent themselves as counselors or attempt to function as such.
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· PEIR activities are carefully differentiated and
separate from any and all grievance and/or
disciplinary activities.
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· PEIR facilitator activities are in
addition to the performance of normal job duties as a
QWEST
employee.
