Pre-employment drug testing is essential. These tests are a critical component of wise hiring protocols designed to attract and onboard safe, honest, qualified talent. At the same time, the truth is that pre-hire drug tests only capture one moment in time. Most employers run urine tests that provide a snapshot of the past week or so in the individual's life; these tests do not offer any information about prior use of alcohol or drugs. They offer zero info or assurance about future use.
Ensuring that your workforce remains safe from the hazards posed by impaired workers requires a program of ongoing, random employee drug testing. Random testing provides the following benefits:
Drug-Free Workplace
The only way to maintain a drug-free workplace is to monitor employees for drug use. Saying you're drug-free isn't sufficient; you've got to test regularly to make the claim a reality.
Better Deterrence
When your employees know that you conduct random drug tests, they can't plan their use or prepare for tests. Since the date and time of the test are random – unpredictable – most employees will determine that the risk of failing a test and losing their job is too great, and they'll abstain. It's important to note that people struggling with addiction will make different risk calculations and will likely not be deterred by random drug tests. Casual users, however, will think twice, knowing that a random drug test could come at any time.
Better Morale and Higher Productivity
Impaired workers hurt productivity and morale. Coming to work hungover or while still compromised by drugs affects everyone.
● Accidents are more likely to occur.
● Absenteeism rates are higher.
● Turnover is higher.
● The quality of work for the whole team goes down.
Keeping the workplace free from these negative consequences makes work life better across the board.
Cost Savings
Can random drug testing, which costs money, actually save money? Especially when cost savings are considered over the long run. The adverse effects of drug use in the workplace listed above are expensive; the costs associated with a transparent, consistent random drug testing program are pennies compared to the costs of accidents, high turnover, and poor work.
The Bottom Line
If you don't already have a random drug testing policy, now is the time to start. The keys to success include the following:
● Develop a clear, written policy that includes what you're testing for, why you're testing, and what the consequences for positive tests will be.
● Consult your legal team while working out your policy to ensure it's legal and compliant.
● Communicate your policy clearly with your employees about what they can expect and why.
● Continue to be transparent about drug testing, so no one is surprised.
● Work with a third-party testing agency every step of the way to ensure smooth implementation and management of your policy.
Don't wait. Start today.
