Last updated : December 23, 2024
Denver employers that enforce a drug free work place policy have received a significant discount on worker’s compensation insurance coverage while providing a safer, more productive and happier work environment for their employees.
Employers statistically have experienced upwards of a 51% reduction in injuries in the work place after implementing a mandatory drug testing program. These findings are not surprising when you consider the DEA statistic that 74% of adult age people who use illegal drugs recreationally do have jobs.
If you are a business owner, or in charge of managing employees in any capacity, instituting a mandatory drug testing program can be very beneficial for your company, your employees and your customer base. A contractually managed testing company can implement this for you, creating a customized drug free policy for the workplace and providing education and training for employees and supervisors. They can also assist you with computer aided, randomly scheduled testing, on site, that includes a secure online reporting feature. Employee assistance is also recommended. All testing regiments are administered according to State regulations as well as the Federal Drug Free Work Pace Guidelines.
Drug or alcohol addiction is a serious topic. Drug use in the work place not only puts the user at risk, but also risks the safety and wellness of the people around them. Habitual and repetitive drug use causes chemical changes in the brain, affecting judgment, choices and decision making abilities. Making sure your work environment is a drug free zone is simply better for business. You want your employees to feel safe and secure in the work place and confident in your leadership abilities. Mandatory drug testing programs have proven to cause significant improvement in overall employee productivity, peace of mind and morale, because they know they can count on a safe and secure drug free work environment.
A drug free work place program can improve business safety in Denver and all cities across the United States. Employees deserve to work in a safe environment, and if you are in charge, their safety and well-being becomes your responsibility. Employees with drug problems also deserve to get help; often a drug addicted person does not seek help until they are caught or called out at work. To a drug user, being drug tested at work is often the reality check they need to a) realize they have a problem with addiction and b) seek professional help. Often drug rehabilitation programs are included in a company’s policies under the benefits category.
Also in an effort to provide a drug free work place, there are comprehensive employee education programs tailored specifically to your company’s needs. Alcohol and drug education and awareness provides collaborative training for supervisors and their employees that comply with the most up to date federal Department of Transportation (DOT) as well as other State requirements for alcohol and drug education.
The DOT publishes regulations and provides authoritative interpretations concerning alcohol and drug testing, how to properly conduct employee testing, as well as evaluation and treatment guidelines put in place for employees returning to work after a drug or alcohol violation has been revealed. The DOT also coordinates the Department of Transportation’s official participation in the President’s National Drug Control Strategy once every year.
Employers are held responsible for creating and enforcing effective work place alcohol and drug programs that provide clear details of the company’s policy, as well as training and education, alcohol and drug testing and referral for evaluation, and treatment when necessary. All of this information should be made available in the company’s employee and supervisor hand books.
