FYI Employee Background Screening
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New London, Connecticut (WTNH.com) — The arrest of a New London teacher on drug charges(crack cocaine) has parents demanding stricter hiring policies including drug testing.
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Photo Credit: compujeramey
Drug-Free Work Week (October 20-26, 2008) is a dedicated time each year to highlight the benefits that drug-free workplace programs bring to employers, workers and communities. And, it’s a time to work toward making every week a drug-free work week!
It spreads the word that working drug free works to…
According to recent research, it’s a message that many workers need to hear.
Drug-free workplace programs help protect employers and employees alike from the potentially devastating consequences of worker alcohol or drug abuse. Establishing policies, educating about the dangers of alcohol and drug use, deterring and detecting use, and urging people to seek help for alcohol and drug problems are smart safety strategies. They’re also smart business strategies.
Drug-Free Work Week is a time to reinforce the importance of working drug free in positive, proactive ways. To get Drug-Free Work Week resources or learn more about how your organization can participate, select one of the following:
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Photo Credit: singsing_sky
As a hiring manager, you may initially feel uncomfortable with the thought of requiring drug tests from job applicants. Some human resources personnel feel that doing so encroaches upon applicants’ privacy. In truth, drug screening prospective hires can protect your company and your employees. Here are a few reasons why you should drug screen job candidates…
Drug Screening Protects Your Business
If you hire an employee who has a history of drug abuse, you could be held partially or fully liable for his actions while on the job. By drug screening applicants, you can eliminate those who have had a drug problem in the past. If something drug-related were to happen in the workplace and an employee is injured, prior drug screening would help insulate your company from a negligent hiring claim.
It Maintains Employees’ Safety
Some jobs require employees to operate machinery or potentially-harmful devices. If an employee who is operating this machinery under the influence of drugs makes a mistake, other workers can be injured. Not only will a drug screen prevent drug abuse in the workplace from endangering your staff in the first place, but it’s often a legal requirement for employers.
Drug Abuse Can Have A Massive Cost
If your workplace or your staff is exposed to an employee with a drug problem, the costs can be enormous. It can lead to employees becoming hurt, expenses related to negligent hiring lawsuits and damage to computers, machinery and other company assets. In some cases, the actions of employees who are under the influence of drugs have resulted in businesses having to close.
Drug screening job candidates plays a key role in finding high-quality employees for your company. Doing so protects your current staff from injury and insulates the workplace from damage and disruption. Finally, it helps shield your company from negligent hiring lawsuits. If you’ve been reluctant to conduct drug screening on new hires, consider the above reasons. The sooner you include it in your employee screening program, the better.
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released a new drug-free workplace toolkit. The toolkit provides employers with the latest information, resources, and tools for producing and maintaining a drug-free workplace.
Why You Should Care About Having a Drug-Free Workplace?
Because Substance Abuse in the Workplace Is a Widespread Problem
Alcohol and other drug abuse is widespread in our society. It affects us all in many ways. Although national, State, and local efforts have begun to show encouraging results, the problem of alcohol and other drug abuse remains a serious problem. No workplace is immune. According to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 74.9 percent of all adult illicit drug users are employed full or part time. Most binge and heavy alcohol users are also employed full or part time.
Because Substance Abuse in the Workplace Can Have Serious Consequences
Substance abusing employees often do not make good employees. Studies show that, compared with non–substance abusers, they are more likely…
Workplace substance abuse can also have a serious effect on people other than the abuser. For example, some studies suggest that working alongside a substance abuser can reduce nonabusers’ morale and productivity. It also is quite common for substance abusing workers who are involved in workplace accidents to injure other people (rather than themselves), especially if they work in safety-sensitive industries, such as the transportation or construction industry.
Because, in Some Cases, It’s the Law
In 1986 the President signed an Executive order mandating that all Federal agencies be drug-free.
In 1988, Congress passed the Drug-Free Workplace Act, which requires Federal grantees and recipients of Federal contracts of $100,000 or more to comply with certain regulations.
And Because Good Programs Can Help
Employers who have implemented drug-free workplace programs have important experiences to share:
Click HERE to download “Making Your Workplace Drug-Free: A Kit for Employers.”
(This is a PDF download. Please be patient)
