Drug Testing in The Workplace

Drug testing is now considered an effective means of controlling the use of illegal substances in the workplace. It does not only provide a positive impact on the business, but it also helps employees to enjoy a safe and healthy environment.

Implementing a drug testing policy will help determine if employees or job applicants are using drugs. It can identify evidence of recent use of illicit drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol.

Drug testing works best when it is implemented based on a clear, written policy that is shared with all employees. This includes employee education about the dangers of both alcohol and drug abuse, supervisor training on knowing the signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse, and an Employee Assistance Program aimed to extend help to employees who may already have an alcohol or drug problem.

Alcohol and drug abuse are safety and health hazards that can eventually result in decreased employee productivity and reduces employee morale. Similarly, it can become a burden on the end of the employer as it can lead to additional costs in health care claims.

Reasons why employees implement drug testing

Generally, drug testing should not be viewed as an additional expense or an excuse for a certain individual to be denied employment. Drug testing is vital for employers for various reasons:

• Identify early and appropriately refer employees who have drug and/or alcohol problems
• Benefit from Workers’ Compensation Premium Discount programs
• Comply with state laws or federal regulations
• Deter employees from abusing alcohol and drugs
• Prevent hiring individuals who use illegal drugs
• Protect the general public and instill consumer confidence that employees are working safely
• Provide a safe workplace for employees

What are the Types of Drug Testing in the Workplace?

Drug testing in the workplace may be done in several instances:

Pre-employment Drug Testing

As part of the hiring process, applicants may be required to undergo drug screening to ensure that the individual will be able to perform the job as expected. Similarly, it prevents other employees from becoming a victim of any form of workplace accidents and injuries, which may otherwise affect the workplace. Applicants should agree to this type of testing as a condition prior to employment and may not be hired if the result tests positive.

Random Drug Testing

As indicated in the company’s Anti-Drug Policy, random drug testing may be performed unannounced. Employers may choose their desired testing frequency (ideally done every week or twice a month). Employees subjected to drug testing are randomly selected.

Doing this type of drug testing deters drug or alcohol use by employees while at work. As a result, employees will be able to perform their duties well.

Reasonable Suspicion

An employee may be required to undergo drug testing when supervisors notice any type of behavior that is not normal in the workplace. In order for this type of testing to be successful, middle and upper management should undergo training in order to properly identify the signs and symptoms of drug or alcohol abuse.

Post-Accident

Accidents or injuries may happen. However, supervisors should be able to rule out involvement of an employee in drugs or alcohol. Therefore, a drug test may be required to ensure that the accident that happened is not caused by the negative effects of alcohol or substance intoxication.

Return-to-duty

Employees who may have been found positive in a past drug test may be provided help through an Employee Assistance Program. After some time at the rehabilitation, the employee may be accepted to return to work.

These individuals should submit themselves to another drug test to ensure that they have completely recovered from the addiction. If found positive again, this may result to termination of the employee.

Conclusion

The effects of some drugs may seem to have a positive effect on an individual at a certain point. However, if this becomes a habit, it may alter brain functioning, thereby making an individual incapable of proper reasoning and dangerous to the workplace as a whole.

Not everyone may be happy about implementing such a workplace drug testing policy as they feel that it is an invasion of privacy. However, when viewed in a different perspective, drug testing in the workplace should be perceived as a helpful tool in decreasing the number of individuals who have become dependent on drugs in order to function normally.