If, after testing your employees, non-negative results are confirmed with laboratory testing, the next step is deciding how to confront the situation. The main task to remember performing is Risk Management. This is, in the end, the goal of drug and alcohol testing in the workplace. Determine the level of current or potential risk due to substance abuse and consider the following options:
- Is the individual a potential risk to him or herself, a few employees or an entire workforce?
- Does their substance abuse affect their performance, punctuality or efficiency?
- If small changes were made in their behavior and work ethic, would the problem or potential problem be solved?
- Would the possibility of or implementation of a form of punishment be effective in correcting the potential liability?
- Did change in substance abuse occur directly after a change in status or income?
Not all employers feel the need to fire an employee after positive results during a drug screening are confirmed. However, the potential threat of injury, liability or decreased productivity[1] can be a factor in determining how to handle the transgression. If the employee uses or abuses in sporadic intervals, then perhaps the resulting behavior can be corrected without giving notice. If this is the case, it is still recommended to determine the cause of the drug or alcohol usage, and whether work conditions or environment are in any way contributing to personal stress levels.
However, if the employee is a habitual substance abuser and this is significantly affecting their work behavior and productivity, then more serious consequences might be necessary in order to preserve the integrity of the business and the levels of safety felt by other employees.
Whether or not the drug or alcohol abuse is affecting the individual performance of the employee, it is also necessary to consider the environment of their coworkers. Fear for personal safety, slowed group productivity, and irrational reactions or behavior are all factors to consider. In addition to this, if drug or alcohol abuse is treated lightly within a corporation, then other employees might consider it an unimportant issue and begin to abuse substances themselves. While an overly-strict working environment can be detrimental to job productivity, insufficient consequences for inappropriate behavior can be equally destructive.
Mediscreen™ provides on-site drug and alcohol screening, which helps to decrease inappropriate behavior and to grow an environment of safety in which to work. This is key to an efficiently run business and a satisfied workforce.
For professional onsite drug and alcohol testing, call Mediscreen on 1300 79 70 40.
1. “ScienceDirect – Safety Science : The development of a measure of safety climate: The role of safety perceptions and attitudes*1.” ScienceDirect – Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VF9-3SWTPH1-3&_user=10&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F1997&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1553315326&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_vers
