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.
The war on drug and alcohol abuse continues to rage on, and in spite of our best efforts to encourage people to use alcohol responsibly, its abuse is rampant. And an increasing amount of people are turning to illegal recreational drugs as a social stimulant, and often a coping mechanism for life’s challenges. Drug and alcohol abuse has long-term health consequences for the abusers, tears families apart, and can often lead to legal problems due to bad decision making while under the influence. As an employer, you have a fiduciary responsibility to your business to keep drugs and alcohol out of the workplace.
Whether your business has 10 employees or 10,000, you depend on them to run your entire operation. In order to run an effective business, you have to give the members of your team the tools and access that they need to do their jobs. They are often entrusted with sensitive information, access to company assets, and keys to the building. And they are also the face of your company when dealing with customers and people in the community. With so much at stake, you owe it to yourself to maintain a “trust, but verify” policy with all existing personnel and new hires.
Workplace drug testing programs are an effective way to reduce your company’s risk to the consequences of illegal drug use by employees. Employees are notified of screening procedures when they first apply for employment, and agree to submit for additional testing as required. Most employees willingly comply with your screening policies, but there are also many who are prepared to resort to some shady actions to conceal their recreational drug use.
