As a business owner or human resources professional, you owe it to your stakeholders to maintain a safe working environment at all times. People who use recreational drugs and alcohol irresponsibly are not all bad people, but it’s a standard procedure at most workplaces to deny or terminate employment to individuals who test positive. It’s not unfair or a judgment call, either; statistically, people who abuse alcohol or recreational drugs are more likely to struggle with punctuality and absenteeism, and far more likely to subject themselves and others to a workplace accident. By making it a standard indisputable policy which is disclosed when the job is advertised, you’re never forced to debate the ethics of your decision.

Most people spend about a third of their lives each day at work, and the jobs that they have is more than just a way to earn money. Most jobs that are worth having are staffed with passionate workers who want to do them well, and the workplace is where they go each day to practice their trade. That’s why it’s so important to you’re your employees comfortable and safe. You also have a fiduciary responsibility to protect your business from lost productivity and expensive worker’s compensation claims.

Your employees are your company’s most valuable asset, and everything else is just stuff. A great physical plant and a great product aren’t worth anything if you don’t have a staff to handle your company’s daily operations. There’s a lot riding on your team, and you owe it to yourself to make sure that you’re always getting the job done and that you’re getting the best out of them. You need to ensure that your employees are not only drug free, but in good physical health. Workplace injuries are very costly, and you can’t take any chances on people who do not meet the physical requirements for the job; plus you need to know if you’re inheriting any former injuries or limitations this could be critical information if a claim arises.

Workplace accidents are always inconvenient and unexpected. They also have a tendency of occurring at unusual times. As an employer, you have an obligation to perform all necessary due diligence to protect your company from exposure to liability in worker’s compensation claims. You have to confirm that your employee’s accident wasn’t caused by them being under the influence of controlled substances or alcohol. The standard protocol is to drug/alcohol test the employee right away.