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Workplace drug and alcohol testing is mandatory for new employees in several industries. This is to ensure that safety and security are not compromised on the job, and that employees do not put lives or property at risk by indulging in irresponsible behavior.
But drug testing is also a matter of furious debate because many employees feel that it infringes on their personal freedom. Drug testing restricts an employee’s activities even outside of office hours. Also, in several jobs, drug testing does little to enhance safety or productivity, and is an added cost that employers incur for no additional benefit.
Despite the drawbacks, drug testing stays relevant in industries where safety is of critical concern. This includes construction, mining, defense, aviation, and other safety-sensitive industries. Drug testing is legally required for most jobs in the public sector and if your firm is involved in contracting work from federal or state governments, then all employees are required to comply with the applicable drug testing laws.
Let us see how beneficial it is to opt for drug and alcohol testing in industries like architecture and construction.
Architecture and construction industries often carry out lucrative contractual projects for state and federal governments. Since this involves public work and state funds, drug testing will be routine for most jobs.
If you are in a role that involves handling large amounts of money, you can expect to be tested for drug and alcohol use. The tests are conducted to find out if your exposure was beyond a certain limit during a particular period. This can hamper your ability to function properly and safely, thus compromising the critical nature of your job.
Several construction jobs involve usage of heavy equipment and machinery. Some roles may also involve transporting materials and goods. In such cases, it becomes . Also, many states have laws in place as to how and where pre-employment screening tests can be carried out. Random testing of employees is also done in several safety-sensitive jobs.
Small and boutique architecture or design firms may not insist on employee screening for drugs and alcohol. This is usually because the cost associated with putting in place a comprehensive testing program does not justify its benefits. But, even smaller firms choose to test employees if they are keen to work on federal or state government projects.
The common perception is that workplace testing encourages employees to be responsible with substance and alcohol use. And this is . Several companies have implemented wellness programs which include drug and alcohol testing. This is intended to help employees adopt healthier lifestyles. And more importantly, drug testing is not a disciplinary tool, but more of an initiative to improve employee wellbeing.
Drug and alcohol testing can deter employees from indulging in irresponsible behaviors outside of office. Legalization of recreational marijuana in several states has made workplace drug testing complicated. But, the existing rules allowing employers to terminate employees testing positive still remain.
For any employee health initiative to succeed, it is important that policies and procedures are well-documented and explained. This information should also be easily available to employees for reference.
An open-door-initiative may prove to be more useful in tackling employee drug and/or alcohol use. The policy will allow an employee to voluntarily come clean on his or her habits before any testing is done. The employer also states clearly that the organization is willing to support and help the employee rehabilitate from alcohol or drug problem, provided he or she readily admits to it before any workplace testing is carried out.
This allows the employer to direct the employee towards suitable health programs which help him or her recover. Alternatively, the employer can also reach an agreement with the employee wherein he or she is part of a program that entails periodic random drug testing and compulsory participation in occupational health initiatives.
Such workplace drug and alcohol testing policies treat substance use as a health issue rather than as a disciplinary matter, where erring employees need to be punished. Though this may not be practical, highly safety-sensitive industries like aviation, architecture and design firms can explore this option to get the best results. Testing companies like offer several programs to meet every organizational need.
Organizations will always find it challenging to implement workplace drug and alcohol testing in a way that enhances employee morale and productivity, and in a non-intrusive manner. But if employee wellbeing and work satisfaction are treated as primary goals, achieving this will not prove to be difficult.
