The goal of any company is to be able to provide quality service to its clients. One of the factors that could make this possible is by having a carefully thought out plan to deliver services in a way that the employees would be encouraged and become more productive. Productivity is affected by many factors, one of which is having a safe workplace environment.
Workplace Drug testing or Employer drug testing is the action of an employer to determine if employees or job applicants are using drugs. Pre-employment testing is the most common type of drug testing and allows employers to make the best hiring decisions possible. It can identify the evidence of recent use of alcohol, prescription drugs and illicit drugs.
Workplace drug testing is not something that can be implemented instantly. A program needs to be carefully thought of to ensure that the workplace will be safe for all concerned. This article should be able to provide information that you need to know about workplace drug testing.
Components of Workplace Drug testing Policy
Following is a list of what HR Managers and Directors should incorporate into a comprehensive company policy regarding workplace substance use and abuse.
Drug and alcohol use and abuse are prohibited in the workplace. Employees are encouraged to seek help if they have any substance use problem.
3. Timing - at which times does the policy apply?
During working hours While on call While on official business off company premises During company-sponsored events outside the office
Drug Abuse in the Workplace
Drug abuse in the workplace affects not only its employees but also the company’s productivity and integrity. Using drugs impairs the ability to come up with the right decisions and physically handicaps people. It is definitely inappropriate to be in a place where drug abuse may lead to a large scale of inefficiency, productivity and safety.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Adiministration (SAMHSA), at least 68.9 percent of drug users are employed and active in the workplace. Illegal sale of drugs is not uncommon in the workplace. The Department of Labor and Workplace Development of Tennessee reported that at least a third of all employees are aware of this.
Both the employer and the employee suffer in this kind of environment. Roughly 10-20 percent of American workers who died at work were found to be positive with drugs or alcohol. SAMHSA added that among the industries with high incidents of workplace drug abuse are mining and construction due to the nature of their jobs.
With the incidents of drug abuse in the workplace, employers suffer from hiring these people. It does not only increase the risk of having dangerous accidents occur, but substance abuse cost employers a large amount of money that can hurt them financially.
Substance abuse may lead to the following:
Drugs Commonly Used in The Workplace
Drug use in the workplace is an expensive problem for businesses and various industries. This causes loss of productivity, injuries, absenteeism, theft, fatalities and low employee morale.
Drug abuse accounts for 50 percent of all on-the-job accidents, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, employees who abuse drugs are absent from work at least 10 times more than non-using co-employers.
The following are the most commonly used drugs in the workplace:
Workplace Drug Testing Methods
Urine testing is the most widely used method for employee testing, but saliva testing has gained in popularity in recent years owing to the improvements in saliva testing technologies.
Drug testing procedure varies very little between collection and testing facilities. More differences will be noted when collecting different samples, like saliva, blood or hair.
Benefits of Workplace Drug Testing
The increase in the number of drug-related incidents in the workplace has pushed companies to use workplace drug testing due to the following reasons:
It promotes a safer working environment. This is very important most especially to those who are working with safety-sensitive jobs and handles hazardous chemicals as well as those who operate heavy machinery or drive company vehicles. It helps reduce potential legal liability to employers. Workplace drug testing ensures that the workplace is healthy and safe for the employees. It helps identify those who may be using drugs or alcohol during work which can pose danger to everyone in the workplace. Any accident that happens in a workplace puts the employer liable, most especially if the employer is unable to detect who are using drugs while working and has not ensured the safety of the employees. It helps employees with drug problems. Along with the workplace drug testing, employers create an educational program wherein the employees are informed about alcohol and drug abuse and can also extend help to those employees suffering from alcohol and drug problems. Safety in the workplace ensures productivity. The use of drugs impairs the decision-making capability of an individual which can also affect efficiency and productivity. By keeping a drug-free workplace, it ensures that all employees are able to perform better without fear of meeting accidents related to any substance abuse. This also eliminates frequent absences of employees due to alcohol drug abuse. Recruitment cost becomes lower. When employers discover drug abuse among its employees, they will need to relieve them from work, which will lead to ending their days of work in the company. Hiring new applicants often may pose additional recruitment costs. With workplace drug testing, it ensures that all employees may be able to continue working efficiently without having to hire new employees too often. It helps improve employees’ morale. This makes the employees feel that their safety is being valued by their employer. It assists families to better handle the situation. It can extend help to family members of employees who are found to have substance abuse problems through the EAP. The assistance given could come in the form of counseling.
It could be used as a qualification for hiring. Pre-employment drug testing may be regarded as unnecessary because of its cost, but it could definitely filter out applicants with drug abuse problems prior to hiring. It boosts the reputation of the organization. It shows how committed an employer is in providing a healthy and safe environment to his employees, therefore elevating customer trust and the company’s reputation.
Disadvantages of Workplace Drug Testing
While some employers may see workplace drug testing as a great opportunity to increase productivity and safety, some see it otherwise.
The costs can be too high. Not all companies can afford such. An employer may spend up to $40 per person. Employers could be spending more while waiting for the test results of applicants. Violation of privacy. Not all people may welcome the idea of being subjected to drug testing. Invasion of privacy and right to do whatever a person pleases may be a reason why some would not submit themselves to such testing. Legalization of marijuana use may not be welcomed in all states of the U.S. However, those authorized to use medical marijuana are not exempted to undergo drug testing. Those who may be found out to be using such substance may result to resentment among employees, which may lead to loss of interest, decrease in productivity, and lower company revenue.
Unfair dismissal suits may be filed by former employees against the company due to illegal termination. Employees released from their jobs may feel being discriminated and may lead to loss of self-esteem and loss of job opportunities as some people may brand them in a way that can destroy the user’s reputation.
Reasons for Workplace Drug Testing
Workplace drug testing is being implemented by companies for the following reasons:
To protect the employees and its customers
Employees who may be working under the influence of drugs or alcohol may pose danger upon themselves, fellow employees and the general public. Aside from the possible accidents that can happen, most especially those employees who are working on heavy machinery, any wrong decision could bring huge problems for the company.
To maintain productivity
Employees who are into alcohol or drug use have a higher possibility of frequently being unable to report to work. If they ever find the opportunity to push themselves to report for work, they may not be as productive as usual due to drowsiness or lack of coordination.
To decrease health care costs
Companies suffer from having to pay worker’s compensation when an employee meets an accident at work. This is why some companies would deny coverage of any injury when the use illicit drugs or alcohol comes into play.
To help the community
Companies are able to do their part in addressing drug problems in their community by way of implementing workplace drug testing. The fight against drug abuse and addiction is not something that only the government can solve; everyone in the community has a role to play.
To hopefully prevent drug use
When applicants or employees are aware that the company supports a drug-free workplace, they are more likely to stop using illegal drugs. Otherwise, they may find themselves applying for employment elsewhere.
To help rehabilitate employees
Workplace drug testing is part of a comprehensive drug program that companies implement to provide assistance to employees who are found to be positive with drugs or alcohol. By conducting workplace drug testing within the bounds of a company drug policy, employees who are found using drugs may be referred to specialists who will help them in the treatment and recovery process.
In compliance with state laws or federal regulations
Some jobs require the clearance of workplace drug testing, especially those who are working in critical and safety-sensitive industries such as aviation, transportation and mining.
Drug-Free Workplace Policy
Some employers may be in denial that any of their employees are using illicit drugs. However, careful scrutiny and the conduct of drug testing can change all that. In contrast, the absence of workplace drug testing may allow employees to work without the employer knowing that some of them are reporting to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The best way for any company to be spared from accidents waiting to happen is by implementing a workplace drug testing program. The employer needs to come up with a policy that will hopefully address the company’s thrust in maintaining a drug-free workplace. A drug-free workplace advisor from the U.S. Department of Labor can help guide employers in formulating such policy.
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A standard drug-free workplace policy should contain the following information:
The purpose or goal of the program The individuals covered by the policy The time and date when the policy will take effect The type of behavior that will be prohibited Employees informing the company about past drug-related convictions Implementation of drug testing The consequences if the policy has been violated Return-to-work agreement The type of assistance available for those who were found to be positive
It should be made clear in the policy that all current employees and new hires should be informed that any use of drugs or alcohol in the workplace – no matter how small or rare – will not be tolerated.
The policy should be cascaded to all employees, who should affix their signatures as proof that they understand. The same policy and other information pertaining to the dangers of drug use and its consequences should be handed out in the form of flyers or pamphlets. In addition, opportunities for education on workplace safety and substance abuse should also be available.
What Employees Should Expect in Workplace Drug Testing
Some employees may deem workplace drug testing unnecessary and an invasion of privacy. However, when visualized in a different perspective, employees should realize that workplace drug testing is not done for the sake of the company alone but rather for the safety of all employees.
The Drug Testing Index determines the status of drug users among employees. Despite the steady decline on rates of drug use in past years, employee drug use is starting to pick up again, particularly marijuana use. This should cause alarm to both employers and employees, as a rising trend in drug use increases the likelihood of accidents and injuries in the workplace.
A drug-free workplace policy should clearly indicate that workplace drug testing may be conducted in different situations, which include the following:
Companies are now keener in ensuring that all prospective employees are free from any alcohol or drug problems that may interfere with the quality of work. Apart from the job interview and background check, pre-employment drug testing is now included in the hiring process.
Upon the discretion of employers, random drug screening may be conducted on workers who have been under strict performance evaluation. Results of the drug test may be used by the employer as basis for referring employees to drug treatment specialists.
Employers are allowed to carry out random testing on employees. However, singling out a particular employee may be discriminatory unless it is justified by the nature of the job.
Searches may also be done, but this should be stated in the policy signed by the employee. Searches should be carried out by the same sex only, and should take place in the presence of a witness.
All employees found to be positive for drugs should undergo therapy and treatment. The employer may only allow the employee to go back to the job when a return-to-work drug test produces a negative result. Otherwise, the employee will be denied to report to work or may be terminated.
TestCountry’s White Papers will help you design a workplace drug testing policy to keep your employees safe, sound and sober.
How to Come Up with an Effective Drug-Free Workplace Policy
One way to address drug abuse in the workplace is to create a drug-free workplace policy. Every establishment has a different policy. A drug-free workplace policy should always comply with the existing laws and regulations of the state. When creating a drug-free workplace policy, organizations should take into consideration factors like the nature of their business and job vacancies, values, and priorities.
An ineffective drug-free workplace policy can cause waste of money, lives, and opportunities. Hence, this article will walk you through the several steps on how to come up with an effective drug-free workplace program as suggested by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association (SAMSHA).
Determine the purpose of a drug testing policy
An effective drug-free workplace policy can serve a lot of purpose. Determine the reason why your organization needs to put up a drug-free workplace program. Is it because a certain law requires your organization to create a drug-free workplace policy? Or is it because your organization’s insurance carrier requires you to abide with their rules as an insurance grantee? You must have a purpose why your organization needs a drug testing policy. Once you are able to determine the purpose of your program, you will be able to clearly define your objectives – the most important part of the drug-free workplace program that will lead you on creating a successful implementation strategy for your drug testing policy.
Know the basic elements of a drug testing policy
An effective drug-free workplace policy should outline the state’s requirements on workplace drug policies, background or history of the organization, goals of the policy, expected outcomes and specific prohibitions, techniques of effective implementation, and consequences and appeals. It should also define the drug testing policy as means of ensuring safety and an assurance of a drug-free workplace for employees.
Be resourceful
Every organization that aims to create a drug testing policy to achieve a drug-free workplace should always make sure that the policy meets the needs of the employees and the organization. Evaluate the nature of your business to determine the extent of drug test you can perform to tackle your company’s goals and address specific concerns. For instance, you may consider drug testing that addresses the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal substances to prevent the negative outcomes of drug use, such as habitual absence and poor work performance.
Look for existing models of a drug-free workplace program from the national, regional, or local level to help you create an effective drug testing program. Familiarize yourself with your city and state’s labor practices and federal laws on drug testing, so that you will be able to cover your employees’ legal rights while protecting your business’ interest.
Ask a lawyer to review the drug testing policy
To keep you on the safe side it is important to have your drug testing policy checked by a lawyer. Ask for a legal expert to assess the drafted policy. Evaluate the effectiveness of the policy, correct its flaws, and suggest better ideas in accordance with the federal and state laws. An experienced corporate lawyer will be able to help in making the drug testing policy remain fair to both employers and employees by evaluating its legal, health, safety, and productivity aspects.
Prepare the workplace
After the finalization and approval of the policy, part of an effective implementation of a drug-free workplace policy is to educate employees on the new rules. An employer should ensure that new employees are oriented with the company’s existing drug testing policy before their official first day at work. The purpose of this is to avoid possible negative behaviors that may threaten the safety of all employees in the workplace. An organization may also conduct forums, workshops, and training to inform employees of the new drug testing policy and make them adhere to it. As part of the training, the organization should ensure that supervisors will be well-informed on how to effectively communicate and fairly enforce the policy to their subordinates.
Determine the issues and provide assistance
In order to be effective, a drug-free workplace policy should not only state the dos and don’ts in employee drug testing, but also state that the supervisors will remain vigilant to any health and safety issues in the workplace. The policy may also assert that there will be an annual review of the work performed as part of the organization’s data gathering and policy effectiveness evaluation. Additionally, it may discuss specific types of assistance programs that can be extended to employees who are found to be affected by drug abuse and workplace related hazards.
An effective drug-free workplace program strikes the balance between two philosophies. The first is sending a clear message and the second is encouraging employees to seek help in case of a drug problem. It helps provide a safe place to work, discourages alcohol and drug use, and encourages treatment and recovery for employees with a drug problem.
Designing and implementing a drug-free workplace program can be time-consuming. Therefore, we are enumerating 9 important characteristics that your organization should consider to make a comprehensive and effective drug-free workplace program.
Must be clear and complete – Before starting a drug-free workplace program, your organization must learn about the existing labor, federal, and state laws that deal with workplace drug abuse. The drug-free program must be planned carefully and must be referred to legal experts for advice and corrections. It must also state goals and expected outcomes, such as maintaining violence-free workplace, boosting employee morale, improving employee productivity, and so forth.
Must be fair to employees – The drug-free workplace program must state the employees’ rights to access drug test results, make an appeal for any positive drug test result, and seek recovery treatment when necessary – among others. It should also be open to employee suggestions and complaints. After all, a drug-free workplace program should be seen as a strategy to improve employees’ workplace safety and quality of life.
Must contain a written policy – A drug-free workplace program should have clear written policies and procedures that will be distributed in visible worksites. The policy must include provisions of appeal and must be consistently applied.
Must consider the collective bargaining process – If applicable, your drug-free workplace program must also be properly discussed with a union of representatives.
Must protect confidentiality – The drug-free workplace policy must ensure that the right of employees to privacy is protected. It must spell the process of drug testing and state the consequences for those who violate the process. Your organization must also know the proper ways to keep and dispose of drug test results.
Must ensure accurate testing and objective review – Since drug testing is an important component of a drug-free workplace program, an organization must ascertain the following:
Must undergo expert’s review – The first and final draft of the drug-free workplace policy must be reviewed by a lawyer. Lawyers have the widest knowledge about labor and employment, making them the most reliable people to advise you on relevant state laws governing workplace drug use. They can also alert you to the changes on existing rules and regulations that you might not be fully aware of.
Must address workplace drug abuse in the context of health, safety, and productivity –Your drug-free workplace policy must not aim to intimidate employees; instead, it should discourage your staff to stay away from drug use. It must be imposed to promote good health, safety, and productivity among employees. A drug-free workplace program that thinks about the welfare of the organization’s employees eliminates social stigma and is proven to be more effective and successful.
Must ensure good communication and ongoing review – An effective drug-free workplace program must ensure that both employers and employees are knowledgeable about their roles, rights, and responsibilities under the program. The program must also be communicated effectively (i.e. the organization may facilitate a drug education program or hold meetings, a question-and-answer session, and seminars, as well as distribute suggestion box for employees). Employers should also keep track on how the program works on a daily basis, invite feedback, and revise program in case of changes on existing rules and regulations.
Challenges with Drug-Free Workplace Programs
Facing Resistance
Putting up a drug-free workplace program will not make HR Managers very popular among employees, as some of them will out-rightly object to drug testing. They feel that drug testing is intrusive and that it invades their privacy. HR has to make employees understand the rationale behind the policy, hence the recommended employee training. They should also make sure that all employees are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
Supervisor Training
As HR establishes the drug-free workplace program, they should also train their supervisors on how to deal with employees who may be having drug or alcohol-related performance issues - from observing signs of substance abuse through behavioral changes to spotting intoxication or impairment while on the job, all the while properly documenting everything. In short, if a supervisor is responsible for referring an employee for drug testing based on reasonable suspicion, that supervisor should be given the proper training in order to make that determination.
Spotting Cheaters
HR practitioners, hiring managers and supervisors should try to learn every trick in the book. Drug use is so prevalent that the chances of having users and abusers in your organization (many of whom will likely try to cheat on their drug test) is practically guaranteed. The only times however that you or other safety officers in your organization will be in attendance for a drug test on an employee is when you are doing it on-site or post-accident and in some cases when there’s reasonable suspicion. Still, it couldn’t hurt to have some knowledge of how cheating on a drug test is done.
The Employee Assistance Program
The EAP is another major consideration when instituting a Drug-Free Workplace Policy. It is an employee benefit where employees and their families can receive assistance if the employee’s performance is adversely affected by stressors on the job, personal problems or substance abuse. EAPs vary from company to company but they do share common components like education, healthcare management and training and referrals to service providers like substance abuse clinics.
Building your own Drug Testing Policy is a daunting task but it should not feel like rocket science either. It does need an inexhaustible amount of patience when sifting thru the tons of information already floating around on the internet. But that’s just it, all the information you will need are already out there. Just remember to run everything through your legal counsel to make sure you have covered all the
Workplace drug testing is very significant in any setting as it maintains a healthy and safe environment for employees while generating quality products and services to customers. However, not all employees may be complying with the company policy for a drug-free workplace.
Based on the provisions of a workplace drug testing policy, the employer has every right to dismiss any employee who is found to be:
Informing employees about your drug-free workplace policy is the main key to make your policy work. However, helping your employees adjust to the policy can be a challenge.
The following are some tips on how to effectively communicate the drug-free workplace policy to your employees:
1. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of your organization must write a letter informing all employees about the implementation of a drug-free workplace policy.
Listed below are the things that the CEO letter should contain:
2. Reinforce the message from the CEO through a specially tailored communication with supervisors and managers in order to establish consistency and understanding of the policy.
If applicable, arrange a meeting with the union of representatives.
3. Make sure that all employees get a copy of the written policy.
If your organization has a website, upload a copy of the policy. Additionally, provide a hard copy in case your employees are not able to download them from the Internet.
4. Create a policy fact sheet that will highlight the major points and implications of the drug-free workplace policy.
The following are things that your fact sheet may contain:
5. Hold regular activities to keep your employees reminded of the policy, such as safety meetings, staff meetings, and supervisor training.
6. Inform job applicants and new-hires of the drug-free workplace policy during the job orientation.
If applicable, provide them an updated employee handbook.
7. Call for an emergency meeting with supervisors and managers whenever there are changes and updates to the drug workplace policy.
The supervisors and managers should make it a point to inform their subordinates of any changes.
Having a drug-free company will not only be beneficial to the owners but to other employees as well. That’s why it’s very important that you can adopt a drug testing program right at your own organization. However, it’s never going to be that easy, especially when the management itself is totally apprehensive about it.
Here are some tips on how to convince the management to begin a drug testing program in your company:
1. Inform them of the benefits of developing one.
One of the best ways to get their nods is to let them know what the rewards are when you have a drug-free company. These may include lesser conflicts in the organization, more productive employees, lesser turnover, and a healthier working environment for everyone.
To help you out during the persuasion process, you can cite a drug-free company and how the program helps them to become a more successful one and achieve their goals.
2. Create drug-related policies.
Sometimes the management would just like to see if you mean what you want to happen. What you can do is to create drug-related policies in the workplace. Make sure that they are very easy to understand and will not be misinterpreted by anyone.
It’s also essential that you can identify the possible sanctions a drug user may face if found violating the drug-related policies. When they see that you’re willing to take on the challenge of leading the drug testing program with your policies, it will be easier for them to give you the blessing you want.
3. Stress the laws that govern the development of a drug-free company.
Workplace drug testing is not only compliant with work or contract requirements, but it’s also mandated by law and supervised by various federal agencies. When your arguments will be backed up by proper regulations and provisions of the law against substance abuse, there’s a huge possibility that the management would not mind having one in your company.
4. Focus on the long-term cost than the initial investment needed for a drug testing program.
One of the reasons why the management may be lukewarm to the idea of a drug testing program in a company is because of the cost. After all, you can’t start it unless it has its own budget, which will have to come from the coffers of the company. Nevertheless, you can inform the leaders that it’s better to invest now than continuously develop liabilities in the company along the way.
Having a drug user is no joke, and when they are too many, they can already be too costly. They will be unproductive, basically, need more money than the others, and will push those who are not into substance abuse to eventually leave the company for their own safety. With the drug testing program, you can already correct the problems of a drug user, give him/her the necessary treatment so he/she can be more fit to work, and, if it still fails, remove him/her from the organization before he/she does more harm than good.
Drug testing at work is a necessity. It is very important that we all live in a safe environment. The workplace should be as safe as possible to all employees to be able to provide good performance in their job that can help businesses meet the demands of their customers.
Drug testing may not be seen as something significant to some, but the drawbacks cannot outweigh the benefits. In fact, both the employers and his employees are in a win-win situation with a good workplace drug testing policy.
Any person who notices that a fellow employee may be involved in drug use should immediately give feedback to the employer so that accidents may be prevented. Drug testing applicants prior to hiring them is not meant to discriminate or shame them but rather designed welcome them in a safe environment. After all, they seek employment in order to sustain their daily needs.
Not keeping the workplace safe endangers not only the user’s health but also the safety of other employees working in the company. There should be no room for the unsafe use of substances that may affect so many lives.
