Last updated : November 11, 2024
A drug free workplace does more than provide a work environment and reduce accidents—it improves productivity.
It’s a program that can be ultimately efficient for the business by increasing productivity and reducing losses.
Investing in methods to encourage employees to remain drug free could be as invaluable of a company program as strong marketing techniques or advertising.
Dangerously High Statistics
Currently, as many as 77 percent of illegal drug users are employed in the United States. As 80 percent of the US workforce is employed by small and medium-sized businesses that do not have drug testing or programs in place, there are a considerable number of workers that put themselves and others at risk on a daily basis. For industries that rely on labor personnel and machinery use, this could promote a deadly workplace. Promoting a drug free zone could greatly reduce the chances of an injury and insurance claims.
Annual Losses
Between employees being absent from work, decreased productivity and ever growing healthcare costs, companies may lose as much as $1,000 per employee every year. For a small company, this could be excessively high considering the good that could be done with the money that’s lost. By promoting a drug free workplace, employers could recuperate some of the losses over time and use the money for corporate improvements such as marketing or up-to-date equipment.
Affected by Abuse at Home
A drug free workplace shouldn’t focus merely on the business establishment. Offering assistance to employees who’s family members abuse drugs and alcohol may assist as many as 26 percent of adults. Although only 42 percent of these employees admit that substance abuse at home affects the employee’s decisions at work, the gesture could still improve the lifestyle and morale of the other 58 percent. Roughly one out of every eight employees with the company could have increased performance due to implementing drug free programs for workers and their families.
How to Help
According to a survey taken of employees that are impacted by drug abuse whether it’s personal or family-related, there are ways that a company can improve the efficiency of the business. This includes:
- Implementing a drug free program
- Offering counsel for employees and family
- Offering better health coverage
- Offering more flexibility in scheduling work
When an employee abuses any drug, the results could be damaging to the business dynamic. This could include anything from methamphetamine to over-the-counter cough medicine. The benefits to a business may surpass any extra costs that drug free promotion could incur. Don’t merely contemplate the effects of drug abusing employees in the here-and-now. Consider the damage done to the company during the long term exposure of drug abuse.
