Why test employees?

Given the increasingly widespread availability of alcohol and drugs, companies need to understand and deal with the potential impact of substance abuse.  

The negative effects of substance abuse in the workplace are wide ranging:

  • Loss of productivity
  • Safety concerns
  • Lateness
  • Absenteeism
  • Negative effect on team morale and employee relations
  • Poor discipline
  • Adverse effects on company image and customer relations

Employees who have misused drugs or alcohol are a danger to themselves and those around them, leaving the company vulnerable to legal proceedings.  The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act introduces a new offence, across the UK, for prosecuting companies and other organisations where there has been a gross failing in the management of health and safety with fatal consequences.

A regular drug or alcohol misuser is 4 times more likely to be involved in an accident at work and 3 times more likely to claim against your company.  Alarmingly, alcohol is implicated in 60% of workplace fatalities.

To successfully tackle the issue of substance misuse in the workplace, employers must put in place a robust drug and alcohol workplace policy.  Drug and alcohol screening is a valuable component of this policy.