Drug-Free Workplace
The Federal government passed
the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, which essentially requires any company
doing business for the government must meet certain criteria to reduce drug and
alcohol-related liabilities in the workplace. Since then, many companies large
and small have recognized the benefits of having a drug-free workplace program
at their business to help cut down on workplace accidents, the number of
workdays missed and to increase the overall productivity of their staff. An
added benefit of the money saved/earned of having such a program in place is
that there are often discounts on workers' compensation insurance coverage. In
Georgia, for example, it is actually a state law that any certified drug-free
workplace will receive a 7.5% discount on ther workers' comp premium.
Becoming Certified
There are generally 5 key principles that get implemented on the way to becoming a certified drug-free workplace. Southern Health Care Resources can help your company establish and/or maintain all five of these areas, as a whole or in part.
1. Develop a substance abuse policy.
2. Employee drug testing. There are several ways that drug testing may be implemented, including pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and/or randomized testing.
3. Employee drug education (2 hrs the first year and then 1 hr each year after that)
4. Supervisor Training (2 hrs the first year and then 1 hr each year after that)
5. Employee Assistance Program - a service that can provide assessments and referrals to drug education and rehabilitation resources in the area if a problem arises)
Why a Drug-Free Workplace?
Many people in businesses think that substance abuse doesn't affect their workplace. Think again.
Approximately 75% of the current illicit drug users in the United States are employed either part-time or full-time, as well as 80% of the heavy drinkers.
In addition to periodic drug or alcohol use, nearly 63% of people in need of substance abuse treatment had a job, and about one out of twelve employees is a current illicit drug user or heavy alcohol user (more than 8%).
Some of these drug and alcohol users are under the influence during working hours, but even those who aren't still cause problems for your workplace.
Employees with heavy alcohol use or illicit drug use, as well as workers reporting dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs, are more likely to have worked for more than three employers in the past year, meaning less stability and higher training costs. Those employees are also more likely to have skipped work more than two days in the past month.
Workers reporting illicit drug use or dependence on or abuse of illicit drugs were also more likely to have missed more than two days of work due to illness or injury. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce states that substanc abusers have an absentee rate of about 30 days per year. In addition to their own illness and injury, drug and alcoho abuse dulls a persons ability, and therefore they become more accident-prone and endanger the work environment for others, or at the very least make their jobs more difficult by having to compensate for others' mistakes.
Drug abusing employees acquire 300% higher medical costs and benefits which consequently increases health insurance rates, and illicit drug users are five times more likely to file a workers' compensation claim.
So, what are you waiting for? Contact Southern Health Care Resources today to find out more about how we can help you become a certified drug-free workplace. Call our Atlanta area office at 770-704-6368.