A drug-free environment is a common aspiration among businesses, big or small. Companies uphold values and regulations that promote workplace health, safety, and productivity. Below in this article, we cover the information about 4 Reasons Random Drug Testing Works for Businesses.
Some employers conduct drug tests to screen and safeguard the interests of the business. Random drug testing is one type: it comes unannounced, and its participants are not targeted.
The rationale behind a surprise drug test may not be as straightforward as that of a pre-employment or for-cause test. Nonetheless, it serves a purpose beneficial to the company and its workers in the long run.
If you own a small business or you are part of the management, there is merit to random drug testing in your organization for the following reasons.
The Test Serves as a Deterrent
With a random drug test possible, workers may be deterred from taking or succumbing to addictive substances. This point is crucial to specific jobs exposed to a high risk of injury or that involve the safety of the person, the company, and the public.
Cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamines lead the pack of the illicit-drug category. Each random drug test is configured to detect traces of such substances within a definite window. For cocaine, a saliva test can confirm a day or two of using it while a drug test using the hair follicle can detect at least three months of use. Accordingly, the employee has to act prudently to pass the test and continue working in the company.
It Complements the Organization’s Drug Program
Random drug testing works better when it goes alongside other drug-testing initiatives in the company with these objectives:
- Pre-employment drug test for prospective candidates. It acts to reduce the number of applicants vying for the same position or is part of the conditions for getting the job offer.
- Incident-driven drug test for current employees. The testing is predicated by an accident or injury and an ensuing investigation to determine the cause. Unexplained or untoward behavior that can be deemed as threatening to others can also be a ground for drug testing. The management can act on a reasonable suspicion based on logical facts to submit an employee to a drug test.
A random drug test may fall under for-cause drug testing. The potency of random drug testing lies in its ability to catch a person off guard and thus yield more accurate results.
It Calls for Effective Intervention
Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious problem facing users. Over time, the use of drugs can result in disorders that impair a person’s ability to function at home, school, or work. The addition can also cause health issues, per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). However, it’s not just the users, but the people around them and the community are also affected by substance use.
That there’s a drug problem in the company, as shown by unannounced testing, must be recognized and addressed. You can consult with human resource experts to draft and implement policies that help affected personnel or those showing early signs of drug or alcohol abuse. With an effective intervention program, your business can reduce the costs of absenteeism and loss of productivity.
It Improves the Safety and Health of the Workplace
Random drug tests thus aid in the creation and adoption of rules to deter and mitigate alcohol and drug addiction in the workforce. The company is responsible for seeing to it that these programs are rolled out, and the employees can take the necessary actions to be clean and free from the influence of harmful substances.
You can also look into activities that can help improve the mental health of your workers for them to avoid resorting to drugs. Here is a list of OSHA publications on workplace health and safety, as applicable to your site or setting.
Certain Considerations
- A company may have to provide notice and obtain consent for pre-employment drug testing under relevant regulations.
- Existing employees have to be informed about drug tests and related regulations specified in the handbook and company correspondence.
- States have laws on the conduct of drug tests, including random testing, in the workplace. These statewide regulations may provide remedies and resolution for disputes arising from such testing.
Notwithstanding the above considerations, the case is in favor of random drug testing toward a better workplace.