Last updated : November 11, 2024
A drug free workplace means employees will have a safe and healthy environment for work, and employers will see a decrease in absenteeism, accidents as well as improved morale. Drug free workplace programs are often welcomed by employees, their representatives and unions, and some organizations may qualify for incentives such as lower insurance costs for workers’ compensation.
A drug-free workplace program discourages alcohol and drug abuse and encourages employees who may suffer from addictions to get treatment, recover and return to work. Addictions are not always obvious. Research shows that 77 percent of illegal drug users are employed. For the employer, this means they have a percentage of unhealthy employees who may create:
- Unsafe working conditions
- Higher medical claims
- Smaller profits
- Loss of productivity
Drug and alcohol abuse is harmful to the addict’s family and community, but the workplace is especially impacted because when productivity is reduced, the business loses money, which is bad for everyone. It is estimated that businesses lose about $160 billion per year because of employees who use drugs, and it costs each business thousands of dollars more every year to employ a drug user than a drug-free person.
- A drug-free workplace would require a program that included:
- A written policy that all employees understand. Any business that has a drug-free program automatically becomes undesirable to applicants who are drug users.
- Access to assistance. Employees need to feel they can get help and will not lose their jobs.
- Employee education. This could prevent employees from becoming drug or alcohol addicted.
- Supervisor training. It’s not enough that the company policy is supportive, the lower management also needs to understand the purpose of the program.
- Drug testing on a regular basis.
A drug-free workplace program can also help employee’s family members. Statistics show that about 26 percent of employees have family members who abuse illegal substances or alcohol and 42 percent of them are worried and disturbed in the workplace. They admit this makes them less productive and distracted while at work because 89 percent say their thoughts drift to the problem, which causes them to miss deadlines or have a lot of absenteeism.
The solution to this is for the employer to put into practice a drug-free workplace program that offers counseling for family members of addicted people, gives better health insurance coverage and provides time off or a more flexible work schedule. It makes good business sense to get help for the drug and alcohol users already employed in a company.
