Your company schedules pre-employment and random drug tests for its employees. Good! Some people don’t like the procedure very much. So what’s the best possible attitude to have about this matter? Employees can joke about it―that’s okay. Employees can grumble about it―that’s natural. But you can never change the company policy and stop the testing. Here is what that would probably mean:
- Companies that do not test these days tend to end up with a greater percentage of drug users, since word gets around about which companies test and which do not. This increases the chance that someone on your work team would be “high,” and not able to maintain work quality, safety, and production levels.
- A typical “recreational” drug-user, compared to a nondrug-user in today’s workforce is three times more likelyto injure himself, herself, or another person in a workplace accident. This means you may not be safe around such a coworker, no matter how careful you
- The typical recreational drug user is 2.2 times more likely to request time off, and 2.5 times more likely to have an absence of eight days or more during a year. This means you may have to personally make up for what’s not being done during that person’s absence.
- Drug-users are 5 times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim. Just as your car insurance goes up when you have an accident, your employer’s insurance costs may go up when many claims are filed. This has an effect on company profits and potentially on your own wages or bonus.
- Workplace-accident rates are two or three times higher than normalfor alcoholics.
- A recent survey of drug-users who were seeking help in regard to their drug habits revealed:
- 75% had used drugs on the job.
- 44% had sold drugs to other employees.
- 18% had stolen from coworkers to support their habits.
So your drug-screening program is an advantage to you. Always remember that. It helps assure that your employees will be alert, hardworking, and responsible―and that your nondrug-using employees will go home safely. It may also help individuals who are trying to kick the habit. It’s smart to have the program.