The most important reason why employers should implement pre-employment drug screenings is due to the liability that employers have when an employee is injured at work and the employer was aware of their drug use.
Employees who drink before work or take drugs on a regular basis will create an unsafe working environment for themselves and their co-workers.
Simply put, employees who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol cannot work properly. The inability to work causes the employer to lose money and creates a liability situation for them as well.
If an employer hires someone who is using or under the influence of drugs, it can have substantial negative effects on their organization, including reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, and tardiness, accidents, injuries, or death.
History Of Pre-Employment Drug Test
The first recorded pre-employment drug test was performed in 1971. The drug was marijuana. The first randomized controlled study to compare the impact of drug testing with no intervention for drug-using employees was in France in 1980 and had 1,200 participants. The conclusion? Drug testing reduced absenteeism from 5% to 3%, improved productivity, and decreased injuries on the job.
The history of pre-employment drug screening is important when you consider that it has been around for a long time and organizations have been using it since the 1970s. Pre-employment drug screening is an effective way to keep your company safe and help your employees be better people.
Pre-Employment Drug Screening laws
One major set of laws that regulate the use of drugs and the consequences for individuals who are using them is The Controlled Substances Act. The Controlled Substances Act provides for penalties for both individuals and businesses who violate federal law with regard to the use of illegal drugs.
One example of recent legislation in this arena is from the state of Colorado, which just legalized marijuana. This has led to more controversy about pre-employment drug screening and how it should be enforced.
There are different approaches at certain levels when it comes to such legislation. For example, President Obama has been reluctant to legalize marijuana federally, but he has embraced Colorado’s decision in this matter.
Individual states are taking more action against the use of drugs before employees.
Finally, it comes down to the employer’s drug test policies. Employers should take legal counsel and set up ‘Company Drug Test Policies’ to avoid any litigation from drug test violations.
Company Drug Test Policy List
To stay out of legal trouble, make sure that you include in your policy:
-Procedures for reporting violations
-Definition of what a violation is
-Penalties for violating the policy
-Testing procedures and how to protect the rights of employees who are being tested
-An appeals process to ensure all employees are treated fairly.
You should also be aware of various laws that may govern your company policies, such as equal employment opportunity law and disability discrimination law. Make sure you comply with state laws regarding pre-employment drug screening.
Read More: Top 5 Tests for Alcohol Screening In the Workplace
Other Common Reasons Why Employers Should Implement Preoccupation Screenings
- It can reduce the risk of workplace accidents
- Drug screening is a highly effective way to reduce substance abuse in the workplace
- Drug screening reduces absenteeism and turnover rates, which saves money for employers
- Drug screens are an easy way to identify potential drug abusers before hiring them
- Employers can use drug screenings to create work-related incentives and penalties that encourage employees to remain clean and sober
- Drug screening is a good way to protect your company and its employees
- It helps employers avoid lawsuits from injured workers who had drugs in their system at the time of injury
- Drug testing can also help identify drug abusers, which could lead to disciplinary action or termination
- Employers may be exempt from liability for injuries caused by an employee’s use of illegal drugs if they have followed state law and company policy during drug testing
- Drug screening is also a good way to find out about possible substance abuse that could affect job performance before it becomes too serious
