Enforcing a Drug Testing Policy
Careful consideration must be done before implementing any drug testing policy in your company. There are various drug and alcohol policies. Some employee manuals contain simpler prohibitions on drug use while others contained detailed provisions relating to drug testing at both pre-employment and post-employment stages.
Many employers utilize drug testing to ensure that their workplace is drug-free. The law does not require employers from making their employees to undergo drug testing but they still want to enforce such policy to guarantee that the workplace is safe and conducive to production. It is important for a company to draft a drug testing policy while considering various legal issues.
A simple drug testing policy can be stated as such. It is the company’s stand that they refuse employment to illegal drug users and people who abuses alcohol. The Company reserves the right to require every employee to submit to mandatory or random drug testing as a continuing condition of their employment as the Company deems this as necessary for a safe and efficient operations of its goals. Any person who refuses to undergo such procedure or has been tested positive for illegal drugs are suspended until further investigation and is subject to discipline including termination.
In crafting a drug testing policy, employers must ensure that the policy suits your employee’s line of work. Employers should make sure that their policies are fit for the dangers that drugs and alcohol dispense. Employers should state in their policy the detailed descriptions and enumerations of what is prohibited. It must list down the situations that are not allowed, the types of drugs that are considered prohibited, and even the appropriate alcohol level when coming to work.
It is important to know that a drug testing policy coincides with a reputable drug testing facility. This would make sure that the results would be irrefutable.
This would make sure that the identities of the people being tested are secured and there is no breach in confidentiality.
Finally, it is important that a drug testing policy is clearly written and understood by employees, and they should affix their signature stating this. This would make sure the company would be protected from suits arising from the tests.