This article is intended as a companion piece to our other article on drug and alcohol testing programmes. It aims to give a brief introduction to some of the common positives and negatives, pros and cons that can be encountered when organisations decide to implement testing programmes in their workplaces.
Pros of Drug and Alcohol Testing.
Increased Safety:
Drug testing in the workplace can make the workplace a safer place to be for employees and customers alike. In safety critical industries this increase in safety is magnified and the positives benefits of drug and alcohol testing programmes massively increased. Testing programmes can also offer piece of mind to employees and customers alike.
Reduces Accidents:
Evidence exists which suggests that drug and alcohol use increases the risk of accidents in the workplace. Those under the influence of drug and alcohol whilst at work clearly increase the risk of workplace accidents. In industries where travel is an essential part of the role this risk of accidents increases greatly, given the well known increased risk of road traffic accidents by those impaired by drug and alcohol use. For employers with staff in this position it is their responsibility to ensure their staff are fit to travel on company business.
Good Practice:
For employers, the implementation of effective drug and alcohol policy is not just about drug and alcohol testing programmes. Employers will find themselves open to possible litigation if they do not have effective policies and procedures in place when problems arise. Employers have a responsibility under the misuse of drugs act 1971 to ensure that drugs are not used or possessed on their premises and have responsibilities under the road traffic act 1988 and the transport and works act 1992 if employees drive company vehicles. Employers also have legal responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. With this complicated policy and legal framework in mind, it is essential that organisations obtain professional advice to ensure that they are meeting their legal obligations.
Supportive for Staff with Substance Misuse Problems:
Companies with effective drug and alcohol policy in place are in a strong position to pro-actively support staff who may be experiencing difficulties with substance misuse. This support is not necessarily about detection through testing programmes, it is also about effective procedures that offer support and guidance to staff with substance misuse problems.
Cons of Drug Testing in the Workplace
Privacy:
Drug testing in the workplace can give an employer the option for staff to submit tests as a requirement of their employment. Some staff may consider this an invasion of personal rights, privacy and be discriminatory practice against employees, especially when there is no perceived cause to conduct a test.
Cost:
There is an inevitable cost attached to the implementation of drug and alcohol testing programmes. The different tests available (which are highlighted in another of our articles) all carry differing costs, timescales and accuracy. Whilst testing in safety critical workplace environments can pay for itself (as the cost implication if procedures are not in place can be extremely high) for other businesses the cost can be considerable, especially for large organisations with many staff to test.
Issues of Trust:
If not properly managed drug and alcohol testing programmes can result in negative perceptions from staff to managers and vice-versa. A ‘them and us’ culture can develop in organisations with drug and alcohol testing programmes becoming an example of ‘managers not trusting us’ or ‘thinking we are all using drugs’. These issues are a clear example of the need for organisations to employ and consult with experts in the implementation of drug and alcohol testing programmes.
As we have seen organisations need to be aware of the positives and negatives of implementing drug and alcohol testing programmes to ensure that the desired and positive outcomes are felt within their organisations.
Without professional support and advice from specialist organisations it can be easy for programmes such as drug and alcohol testing to have negative implications and consequences unforeseen when first envisaged. Like many issues it is vital that professional advice is sought and heeded to ensure that organisations observe more ‘pros’ than ‘cons’ after implementation.
Mark Bowles
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