Business owners who have not already done so may find themselves considering the possibility of drug testing their employees. Whether concerns are with safety issues, productivity, or both, many companies have chosen to implement drug tests in the workplace. Developing a company drug testing policy is the first step in the process.
Before the policy is outlined, it is important to be familiar with both state and federal laws regarding employee drug testing. Many people are strongly opposed to drug tests, and have filed lawsuits as a result. Obtaining legal council will insure that a drug testing program is correctly administered.
One important factor to consider is who will be drug tested, and when. Will only new employees be tested, or will all employees be subject to random testing? If random testing is done, there will need to be a policy in place for determining how often the testing is conducted, how the employees are selected, and who will be assigned to carry out the testing process. Some companies also test when there is reasonable suspicion that an employee may be under the influence of drugs, or after an accident occurs in the workplace, to determine whether drugs played a part.
The policy needs to state what will occur if an employee fails a drug test. Possible outcomes may include a warning, suspension, termination, or rehabilitation. If rehabilitation will be offered, all of those details need to be worked out ahead of time.
Once policies and procedures have been clearly written, the method of testing needs to be decided upon. Although specimens that may be used include urine, blood, saliva, hair, and sweat, urine is probably used most often.
Testing that follows the guidelines of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will test for five drugs:
Amphetamines
Cocaine
Marijuana
Opiates
PCP
Sometimes, alcohol will be tested for in addition to the five. There are also 8 Panel Drug Test and 10 panel drug test which detect other drugs in addition to the types listed above. Drug testing supplies may be purchased from reputable companies in bulk to lower the cost.
Since an employee must give their consent before taking a drug test, it is recommended that all employees be required to read and sign a copy of the employee drug testing policy. Meeting with employees to explain the policy beforehand provides an opportunity to promote the benefits of drug-free work environment for all employees.
