MDOC Employee Handbook - Michigan Corrections Organization

14. MAINTAINING ORDERAny action or inaction by an employee that maydetract from maintaining order of Departmentoperations is prohibited.15. CHAIN OF COMMANDEmployees shall follow their chain of command.Proper morale and discipline require a recognition ofauthority within the various units and divisions of theDepartment. It is important to know the immediatesupervisory official in charge so that all work-relatedquestions are addressed to the proper person.Complaints and concerns shall be submitted to theimmediate supervisor for resolution before going to ahigher level, or to an outside source.An employee may bypass an immediate supervisoronly in an emergency or in accordance with specificDepartment policies. Supervisors shall inform theiremployees whom they should contact in cases ofemergency, questions or problems. If the chain ofcommand is not followed, issues should be sent backto the proper supervisor by the recipient.The requirement to follow chain of command is notintended to abrogate the ability of employees to filecomplaints under their respective collective bargainingagreement or under the Whistleblowers’ ProtectionAct, PA 469 of 1980, as amended, or other State orfederal law, to report a violation or suspected violationof the law.CRIMINAL ACTS, CONTRABAND ANDCONTROLLED SUBSTANCESWork Rule #5 and Work Rules #16 through #22 prohibitbehavior involving criminal acts, contraband, andcontrolled substances both on and off duty. Controlledsubstances are defined in the Michigan Public Health Code.23