UnitedHealth Group reserves the right to inspect all parts and aspects of its premises for illegal drugs, alcohol or other contraband. All employees, contractors and visitors may be asked to cooperate in inspections of their persons, work areas and property (such as purses, wallets, tool boxes, lunch boxes, water coolers, thermos bottles, flasks, briefcases, desks, cabinets, lockers or cars) that might conceal illegal drugs, alcohol or other contraband, unless prohibited by applicable law.
UnitedHealth Group encourages employees with drug and alcohol problems to seek help from UnitedHealth Group's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) before becoming subject to discipline for violating this or other UnitedHealth Group policies.
Employees will not be disciplined by UnitedHealth Group because they request assistance. Employees may not, however, escape discipline by requesting assistance after they violate UnitedHealth Group's policies or are notified of their selection for drug and/or alcohol testing. In addition, employees who request assistance will not be excused from complying with UnitedHealth Group's policies, including its standards for employee performance and conduct.
Employees who are convicted of, plead guilty to (including a plea of nolo contendere or no contest), or are sentenced for a crime involving illegal drugs in the workplace must report the conviction, plea or sentence to Employee Center within five (5) calendar days after such conviction, plea or sentence. If an employee who is convicted of, pleads guilty to or is sentenced for a crime involving illegal drugs performs work directly relating to UnitedHealth Group's contracts or grants with a state or the federal government, UnitedHealth Group will report such conviction, plea or sentence to the appropriate agency within ten (10) calendar days after it receives notice.
Information and records relating to test results and other medical information shall be kept confidential and maintained in files separate from employee’s personnel files. Such records and information may be disclosed to employees and applicants to whom they relate, any third party designated in writing by an employee or an applicant, the MRO, UnitedHealth Group's EAP, a substance abuse professional, physician or other health care provider responsible for determining an employee's or applicant’s ability to safely perform his/her job and/or the employee's successful participation in and/or completion of any and all evaluations, counseling, treatments, and rehabilitation programs, Employee Center, to and among UnitedHealth Group's Human Capital Department personnel, supervisors, and other employees on a need to know basis, where relevant to UnitedHealth Group's defense in a grievance, arbitration, administrative proceeding, lawsuit or other legal proceeding, or as required or otherwise permitted by law.
Adulterated specimen – A urine specimen that contains a substance that is not normally present in human urine, or contains a substance that is normally present but is at a concentration in-consistent with human urine.
Alcohol – The intoxicating agent in beverage alcohol or any low molecular weight alcohols such as ethyl, methyl or isopropyl alcohol. The term includes beer, wine, spirits and medications such as cough syrup that contain alcohol.
Company premises – Company premises include, but are not limited to, all land, property, buildings, offices, facilities, grounds, parking lots, and places owned, leased, managed or used by UnitedHealth Group.
Company vehicle – All vehicles owned, leased or used by UnitedHealth Group and all vehicles that are used by employees, regardless of who owns or leases them, while performing work for UnitedHealth Group.
Dilute specimen – A urine specimen that has creatinine and specific gravity values that are lower than expected for human urine.
Illegal drugs – All controlled substances, controlled substance analogues, cannabinoids (including cannabidiol (CBD) products that contain unlawful amounts of THC), marijuana extracts, synthetic drugs, designer drugs, and other substances that are not being used or possessed under or in accordance with the supervision of a licensed health care professional’s prescription or whose use or possession is otherwise unlawful under the federal Controlled Substances Act. (Controlled substances are listed in Schedules I-V of 21 U.S.C. § 812 and 21 C.F.R. Part 1308.)
Medical Review Officer (MRO) – A licensed physician who has knowledge, training and clinical experience regarding substance abuse disorders and who will, among other things, review candidates' and employees' positive drug test results and evaluate any medical explanations for such results.
Refuse to cooperate – Refusing to take a drug and/or alcohol test, not promptly proceeding directly to a collection site when told to do so, attempting to provide or providing an adulterated or substituted specimen, failing to provide sufficient specimens, failing to sign testing and other required forms and any other conduct that disrupts or interferes with the collection and testing process.
Substituted specimen – A urine specimen that has creatinine and specific gravity values that are so diminished that they are not consistent with human urine.
Test positive for drugs or alcohol – To take a drug or alcohol test that results in a concentration of alcohol or drugs (or their metabolites) that exceeds the cutoff levels that are established by UnitedHealth Group. See more information in Cutoff Levels for Drug and Alcohol Testing.
Under the influence – To test positive for drugs and/or alcohol or display actions, appearance, speech or bodily odors which reasonably cause UnitedHealth Group to conclude that the employee is impaired because of illegal drug use or alcohol use.