Why You Should Drug Test Employees

Federal Regulations require many companies to have their employees and potential employees undergo drug testing. Others may even stipulate it in their contracts, and have workers complete a drug testing program. But other than legal implications, there are other practical reasons why businesses should drug test their employees. Here are some of the reasons why:

Safety

Often the prime reason for companies to require employee drug testing, workplace safety benefits everyone in the company. Workers who use and abuse drugs pose a danger to both themselves and the people around them. This includes people that they work with on a daily basis. Drug testing identifies those who use drugs, so that proper intervention can be done in order to prevent them from putting themselves and their co-workers at risk for any questionable judgment calls they might make.

 

Productivity

People who have drugs in their systems tend to function erratically and are less productive than those who don’t use drugs. Hence, with the competitiveness of the business world, companies cannot afford to continue paying for the services of employees who are less productive than their counterparts.

 

Benefits

Drug testing can reduce the total cost of benefit programs that employers provide significantly. A lot of states offer discounts to employers who comply with drug testing regulations. Similarly, employers who implement drug testing at the workplace receive group benefit discounts from many health care insurance providers. For workers, more than half the states in the United States have laws in place that disqualify employees from receiving compensation if they are found to have violated the drug policies of their workplace.

 

Savings

Drug users are more likely to incur more medical expenses than the average employees. Not only that, they also put their co-workers at risk for injury on the job. This means more expenses for the company to shoulder. All of which can be avoided by weeding out those who use drugs, and taking proper action with them.

 

Prevention

A company that’s known to uphold a drug-free reputation may deter prospective applicants from seeking employment with them, or avoiding drugs in order to be employed. In this case, drug testing may also include a hair drug test to also identify those who smoke weed on a regular basis without medicinal intent.

 

Rehabilitation

Drugs can be destructive, so being able to uncover problems related to drug dependency gives the drug user a chance to reform and live up to the problems that their drug dependence has caused them and the people around them. Drug test can be the start of a life-saving journey.

 

Public Relations

Drug testing is also a way for companies to show their integrity to the general public. By doing drug testing on the very people that they rely on to maintain their reputation, they are also, in a way, giving back to the community by doing their part in the war on drugs.

Whatever the reasons are for you to have your employees drug tested, it is a decision that should not be made without thought. What’s certain, though, is that drug testing is just one of the many ways that companies can do to protect both their employees and business.