If you own or manage a business and have not yet put a rigorous drug testing program in place, this article is for you.
Unscreened employees in your factories, shops and offices could be costing you money and, worse, putting the lives of their co-workers at risk. Whether they are misusing illicit or banned substances, prescription medication, or alcohol and other substances, the cost to your business and the risk to your staff are the same. Drug testing is a vital part of any business model.
The cost of a drug-affected employee
Here are ten ways a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol can cost your business.
- Absenteeism. Drug use in and outside the workplace can increase absenteeism. You lose money in sick day payments, and you or your managers have to cover shifts and reorganise rosters. Absenteeism is linked to drug use, so a drug screening procedure helps protect your business against absenteeism and tardiness.
- Illegal activity at work. The use and sale of illicit drugs in the workplace goes hand in hand with their use and sale outside it. If a drug user is on your workforce, there is a real chance they will use or sell illicit drugs at work.
- Poor job performance. Job performance is one of the first things to suffer when someone starts using illicit drugs.
- Effect on colleagues’ performance. Drug use affects more than the person using. A drug-affected employee can distract colleagues and lower their performance too.
- Fatal accidents. This is the most important reason for rigorous workplace drug testing. Employees under the influence of drugs are far more likely to be responsible for a fatal accident than those who are sober. A drug screening culture encourages positive behaviour.
- Injuries. After fatalities, workplace injuries are the next biggest problem drug testing can help prevent. Accidents do not have to be fatal to have life-changing effects, and some drug-related incidents cause major injuries.
- Sleeping on the job. Few things waste more time and productivity than an employee falling asleep at work.
- Out-of-pocket health care expenses. If a workplace accident means you pay for an employee’s health care benefits, it costs you twice: the lost productivity while they are off, and the wages you still pay them.
- Disciplinary procedures. Reprimanding and disciplining employees takes your time and theirs.
- Training new employees. If an employee cannot be reached and you need to find someone new, hiring and training a replacement costs time and money.
How testing helps
Workplace drug testing helps reduce the likelihood of these incidents. Depending on the size of your organisation, screening your entire workforce can be done in a morning or an afternoon.