Drug use causes problems for a company both when the drugs are brought onto the premises and when the employees engage in drug use entirely off site. Addiction impacts your workers’ level of productivity and can cause issues for your company. When it comes to reporting drug abuse to the authorities, your company’s liability only goes so far.
Test Employees Regularly
The best way to discourage drug use among your staff is mobile drug testing services. OCCWELL can make regular visits to your company; whether or not your staff knows about the testing in advance, this should decrease their likelihood to do drugs in the first place, knowing their job is on the line.
Protecting Your Company
If we find evidence of drug use and you don’t find any illegal drugs on the premises, you do not have to report it to authorities. However, our tests may prove integral to protect your company in the event of a lawsuit; it’s proof that you had the right to dismiss the worker regardless of other performance. You can’t fire anyone on the guess that she’s doing illicit drugs off-site.
On-Site Use
If you find illicit drugs on-site, you should report the findings to police. Don’t confiscate it unless you think the worker will then hide the drugs, as you want the police to be able to identify who has the drugs and how much. Ask your human resources department about protocols to take to search a staff member’s locker or desk when you suspect drug use. You cannot search their vehicles even when parked on your property, although you can report suspicions to the police and have them decide whether or not to search.
Rely on OCCWELL to help you identify a staff member who’s abusing drugs so you can replace them with a more productive worker — but also encourage that person to get the help he needs.
