Substance abuse is unfortunately everywhere, and the effects can strike at any time. You can only know so much about your employees, no matter how many checks you put them through before hiring them. If you suspect substance abuse, then you really need to be proactive before someone gets hurt. Whether that’s the person who’s abusing drugs or alcohol or their fellow coworkers, you need to know the truth about this nationwide problem.
The Odds Aren’t in Your Favor
Studies suggest up to half the claims filed for workers compensation come from substance abuse when on the job, and the claims cost twice as much as those who do not take drugs. It also increases the likelihood of violence and other incidents that will inevitably cause your insurance premiums to rise. It’s not that your employees are bad people, but their actions could be erratic and your business is too important to be taken by surprise.
Invoking the Power of Procedure
As much as employees may not love the idea of procedure, it really is helpful if you want to curtail the wrong behavior. Employees get used to routines in both good ways and bad, so if you’re lackadaisical then they might assume there will be few consequences of testing their limits. Aside from paying attention and trying to address problems that may trigger the wrong behavior, like stress or depression in employees, try implementing the following plan instead.
Write It Down: Make sure that your policies are all in place, make people aware and then live by that code. Some rules can be bent for extenuating circumstances, but the less watchful you are, the more likely it is you’ll have a problem.
Training: Supervisors, employees and you will inevitably miss certain things. We’re not all-knowing, but we can be trained to be better attuned to the warning behaviors. No matter what anyone says about an accident happening out of the blue, there were probably a lot of signs that they missed over time. Encourage employees too to come forward when they know things – specially if you’re in an industry with a lot of hazards.
Education: General education about drugs in the workplace heightens awareness and can lead to safer practices. Make people aware of help that they can receive if they’re currently suffering from any type of addiction problems. This also shows the commitment you have to their safety.
Screening: Random checks may be a good way for you to get some peace of mind that you’re doing everything you can to prevent danger from befalling your employees. Ultimately, trust is better between employer and employee, but if the risks are too great then you may want to try this as an option.
