Employers and Work Environment and Alcohol

Employee drug and alcohol misuse or abuse is a problem worldwide. National and international organizations– such as the World Health Organization; the Occupational Safety & Health Offices (of the U.S., UK, Canada, etc.); and the International Labor Office (ILO)– recognize the extent of the problem, its negative impact on business and industry, and emphasize the need for drug-free workplace programs.

Employee Drug and Alcohol Misuse or Abuse

Employee drug and alcohol misuse or abuse can cause health, safety and productivity hazards within your company. Consequences can include:

• Higher costs:
• For recruitment and training (if need for employee termination)
• from absenteeism
• from impaired productivity
• from workers’ compensation claims
• Interpersonal conflicts
• Violence in the workplace
• Increased risk of accidents caused by impaired judgment
• Lower employee morale
• Deterioration of job performance
• A damaged company reputation
• Increased personnel turnover

Benefits of a Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace

Benefits of a drug and alcohol free workplace include:

• assisting employees
• preventing accidents
• protecting your business and bottom-line profits
• safeguarding the health and safety of all workers
• improving productivity, efficiency, and workplace morale
• complying with laws and regulations (as applicable)
• reducing use of medical benefits

What You Can Do To Have A Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace

It is vital for all businesses to have a drug-free environment for workforce health and safety, and to ensure that the company’s reputation, integrity, and productivity remain at an optimal level of quality.

Things you can do:

• Have a written policy for maintaining a drug and alcohol free workplace. Your policy should: (a) clearly state why the policy is being implemented, (b) describe what behaviors are prohibited, and (c) explain the consequences of policy violation.
• Have a drug and alcohol free workplace education and training program
• Have a system in place for assisting employees with a drug and/or alcohol problem
• You may also choose to implement a drug testing program

For more information about implementing a drug and alcohol free workplace program, visit the Drug Free Workplace website of the U.S. Department of Labor.

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