Drug testing at the workplace- Why

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drug testing

Drug abuse has become a significant problem in many countries and is more prevalent in offices, colleges, schools, and more. Unfortunately, the consequences of abusing illegal drugs are not confined to an individual’s job and health; instead, it influences the workplace environment. Moreover, employee drug usage costs businesses in several ways, including decreased productivity, an increase in injuries and workplace accidents, and an increase in insurance claims. These factors prompt many firms’ management teams to start performing drug test at work to ensure a drug-free working environment.

Why do businesses prefer doing drug tests at work?

Drug tests can find evidence of illegal drugs in the user’s body. Organisations prefer performing different tests during different stages of employment, for example, reasonable suspicion drug testing, random drug testing, pre-employment drug testing, return to duty testing, follow-up drug testing, and more. The most straightforward test to administer is a saliva drug test. Other types of drug tests performed at the workplace include hair follicle testing, urine testing, and blood testing. There are many benefits of these tests for businesses, a few of them are as follows:

Improves safety

Employers can check for employee drug use and prevent crimes, injuries, accidents, and absenteeism caused by addiction simply by administering drug tests to their workforce. Testing also improves the safety and security of other workers at the workplace. This testing aids in identifying drug-abusing individuals and enhancing workplace safety. Drug-using employees get weeded out by this test, which guarantees that only effective workers are kept on staff. Additionally, administering random drug tests ensures that current company employees do not use drugs before reporting to work. Drug and alcohol testing also results in less management disciplinary action because there are far fewer employees misusing drugs.

Prevent accidents

Employee drug testing weeds out drug users and aids in preventing workplace mishaps, injuries, conflicts, theft, and fraud, among other things. Employees who are addicted have abrupt mood changes and irrational behaviour, which frequently cause mishaps at work. In many industries, heavy machinery and equipment are used, and workers addicted to such substances are more likely to cause accidents and are in high-risk positions at work. Businesses can save themselves from paying for the medical care of such personnel by eliminating workplace mishaps that addicted workers can bring on. By dismissing such workers, the workplace climate is preserved as one that fosters virtues like honesty, professionalism, discipline, etc.

Improves productivity

Employees who work in drug-free environments are likelier to exhibit virtues like honesty, dependability, discipline, and productivity. Promoting these beneficial traits boosts employee productivity and work quality, boosting an organisation’s profitability. A more wholesome work atmosphere results from effective drug testing that can identify individuals who abuse drugs. Employee productivity and the calibre of work both rise further in a healthier workplace. Additionally, the exam lowers employee absenteeism, illness, injury, etc., which boosts productivity even more.

Reduces expenditure on healthcare

Due to the employee’s abstinence from drugs, there are fewer hospital visits due to poor health. There are fewer ailments and complications, which reduces the cost of hospitalisation. Employee-related insurance claims typically decrease. This lowers the premium cost for the employee’s health insurance.

Conducting a drug test is a deterrent to employees as they fear being caught. Additionally, it may lead to consequences like sending the employee to a referral programme or making a health screening which is probably embarrassing for everyone. Therefore, drug testing serves as a strong disincentive to employees.