Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Discover How To Come Up With A Drug Free Workplace Policy

By Jessica Ward


A place of work that has drug abuse issues is not safe. It is also inefficient. Substance abuse in the workplace leads to losses, which usually result from accidents. People who use drugs are likely to change jobs often, miss work and not achieve much. Some of the signs of substance abuse in a workplace include paranoia, unforeseen bursts of energy, fatigue, slurred or slow speech, aggressive behavior and frequent absences that are unexplained. Employers are able to transform an organization. As an employer, you can do several things to achieve a drug free workplace.

You can create a detailed plan for minimizing the risk of substance use in your workplace by creating a written policy. You can outline the regulations and laws about substance abuse and the consequences for violating them. You may also include information about the community resources available for people dealing with substance abuse problems in the employee handbook.

The other thing employers need to do is to train their employees about the dangers of coming to work while having consumed drugs or alcohol. This kind of training should encourage healthy behavior. It should also inform employees how they can live without using controlled substances. Wellness programs are beneficial for all employees.

It is also important to perform drug tests in your place of work. Testing for drugs can prevent employees from abusing substances and let you know the individuals who need assistance. As you prepare to implement drug testing, consider which drugs to test for and how to perform the testing. Inform the employees about your drug testing policy and treat everybody equally and fairly.

It is also possible to keep your place of work substance free by using an employee assistance program. This program is customized to help employees with personal issues, which can affect how they perform their job. Some employee assistance programs emphasize on substance related issues, but most of them address many issues and offer a wide range of services. They provide psychoeducation and counseling among other wellness resources to workers. It is cost effective to prevent substance abuse in places of work. Moreover, demonstrating to your employees that your organization gives first priority to their physical and mental health will help increase wellness levels at work.

Employers also need to offer customized training to the supervisors. This has the potential to make drug free programs and policies more effective. Employers should ensure that the supervisors have adequate information about the policies and programs. The supervisors should also know how to document potential problems fairly and systematically. In addition, they should honor confidentiality and be able to refer the affected individuals to professionals who can assist them.

Creating a place of work that is free from drugs takes work, but the effort is worth it. You will see higher productivity and morale in your organization. Your employees will also feel happier and healthier. This is a win-win situation for everyone.

By keeping your place of work free from substance use, you will also reduce injuries. Research shows that 1 in 6 deaths and 1 in 4 injuries that occur in workplaces involve the use of drugs or alcohol. Therefore, with a drug free policy in your organization, it is possible to reduce workers compensation claims.




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