Do you have a drug and alcohol problem in your workforce? Some of the indicators and costs of such a problem would manifest in absenteeism, low productivity, mistakes, and quality deficiencies, and even potential safety problems. The truth is, we are in a city, where drinking is part of the culture, but while on the clock, especially in certain industrial, hospital, or restaurant settings, intoxication can mean life or death.
For employers, drug and alcohol policies and procedures for how to respond to related incidents are imperative not just for protecting your business, but also for your employees. Employees need to know the business’s stance and expectations in order to meet those expectations and to perform.
Having a Drug-Free Workplace takes more than policies and procedures; it’s a cultural thing that works best when it saturates every level of the organization and is reinforced in the safety programs. Think about the following components of a Drug-Free Culture as you evaluate your own Drug & Alcohol-Free Workplace program.
- Do you have a Drug & Alcohol policy?
- Do you do Supervisor training? It should include policy, signs of violations, and reporting/documenting requirements.
- Do you conduct regular employee training related to culture, policies, compliance, ethics, and safety?
- Do you offer an EAP (Employee Assistance Program)? When you find someone is abusing drugs or alcohol it can be very helpful to refer them to actual resources, that are free, for immediate assistance, such as an EAP.
- Are you aware of the ADA considers addiction a disability? Responsible parties at your organization, such as supervisors/leaders or HR should be prepared with a plan of action, such as a communication and next steps/discipline/termination/suspension/requirements, when someone violates your Drug & Alcohol Policy.
- Do you have a drug test provider and process in place? Do you do random screening?
There is nothing about a Drug & Alcohol-Free Workplace that is coincidental. Creating a safe culture takes planning, anticipation, and some contracting with vendors such as drug testing providers. Let us help you build your Safe Culture, a culture that not only protects your business but also your employees. The positive ripple effects of these efforts are boundless.
