Drug Testing in the Workplace
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Drug Testing in the Workplace
Drug abuse has been on the increase in the world today, with its effects causing greater challenges at the workplace. Drugs can cause ill health, increase accidents at work and substantially reduce an employee’s output. Therefore, employers have been keen to keep drug misuse off the workplace. With most employers implementing drug testing at their workplace, it can be difficult for drug users to get employment in the future. Drug testing at the workplace has proven to reduce work accidents, and improve workers performance. It has also proven to be a cheaper strategy in identifying those workers who can need assistance, with the five common drug tests being: blood, hair, saliva, urine and sweat (David R. Russell 258).
Employers can be advised to have a policy on drug testing, due to safety risks from drug misuse. This policy should be between the employer and employees. The drug policy clearly state out the disciplinary action for those found misusing drugs at the workplace, how the drug tests can be conducted, the objective of the policy and how the drug abusers can be assisted (Gregory Rice 486). Regardless of an employer’s motive for testing, they need employee consent so as not to violate the employee’s right to be safe from seizures and unreasonable searches. Before a company or organization decides to carry out a drug test, it should consider several factors, like government regulations, insurance requirements and contract agreements. Some contracts can demand a drug-free workplace for employers, and, therefore, the need for a drug test. The employer should restrict the testing to the employees that need it under justified reasons (Gregory Rice 485).
In 1979, drug usage was at its peak in America but has been steadily falling from then. The awareness of health concerns and drug prevention programs have contributed significantly to reduced drug use. This means there can be other better
Instructor:
Course:
Date:
Drug Testing in the Workplace
Drug abuse has been on the increase in the world today, with its effects causing greater challenges at the workplace. Drugs can cause ill health, increase accidents at work and substantially reduce an employee’s output. Therefore, employers have been keen to keep drug misuse off the workplace. With most employers implementing drug testing at their workplace, it can be difficult for drug users to get employment in the future. Drug testing at the workplace has proven to reduce work accidents, and improve workers performance. It has also proven to be a cheaper strategy in identifying those workers who can need assistance, with the five common drug tests being: blood, hair, saliva, urine and sweat (David R. Russell 258).
Employers can be advised to have a policy on drug testing, due to safety risks from drug misuse. This policy should be between the employer and employees. The drug policy clearly state out the disciplinary action for those found misusing drugs at the workplace, how the drug tests can be conducted, the objective of the policy and how the drug abusers can be assisted (Gregory Rice 486). Regardless of an employer’s motive for testing, they need employee consent so as not to violate the employee’s right to be safe from seizures and unreasonable searches. Before a company or organization decides to carry out a drug test, it should consider several factors, like government regulations, insurance requirements and contract agreements. Some contracts can demand a drug-free workplace for employers, and, therefore, the need for a drug test. The employer should restrict the testing to the employees that need it under justified reasons (Gregory Rice 485).
In 1979, drug usage was at its peak in America but has been steadily falling from then. The awareness of health concerns and drug prevention programs have contributed significantly to reduced drug use. This means there can be other better
Cited: David R. Russell, Executive KnowledgeWorks (Firm). Drug testing in the workplace. Michigan: Anthony J. Fresina & Associates, 1987. Print. David Walsh, Lee Elinson. "Worksite drug testing." Annual Review of Public Health (1992): 197-221. Journal. Davidson, Christopher. Workplace Privacy: Issues Paper. 31 December 2002. Website. 9 6 2012. Gregory Rice. "Drug testing in the workplace." New Law Journal (1997): 484-486. Journal. Hanson, Michael. "‘Overview on drug and alcohol testing in the workplace." Bulletin on Narcotics (1993): 3-44. Journal. Karch, Steven B. Workplace Drug Testing. Alabama: CRC Press, 2007. Print. Lumas, Kay. Drug Testing in the Workplace: A Pilot Study on Trace Detection Technology. Toronto: Dr. Kay Lumas, 2007. Print. Parish, David Charles. "‘Relation or the pre-employment drug testing result to employment status: a one-year follow-up." Journal of General Internal Medicine (1989): 44-47. Journal.