With millions of American workers using illicit drugs during their downtime, drug testing within the workplace has become a hot button issue. There are arguments to be made on both sides of the equation and each viewpoint carries a certain level of validity.
Those who own businesses believe that they should always be able to test their employees for evidence of illicit drug usage, while other sees a person’s body as their own personal property. Those who believe that drug testing is wrong think that a business owner should take the time to hire the correct staff in the first place, as opposed to policing their employees.
Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons associated with workplace drug testing, so that an informed decision can be made about what to do with the issue going forward.
List of Pros of Drug Testing In The Workplace
1. Increased Workplace Safety.
Even the safest of workplaces can become dangerous if there is an employee on staff who is under the influence of drugs during their shift. Fellow employees are more confident and empowered to complete their duties when they know that their workplace is safe, an assertion that has been corroborated by a number of different studies that have been performed at a variety of job sites.
When employees are fearful or are forced to cover for an employee that reports to work under the influence of drugs and alcohol, safety is decreased. An employee who reports to work every day on time, without ever having their judgment impaired by the usage of drugs, deserves to be able to work in an environment that is safe and accident free.
2. Treatment For Drug Addicted Employees.
A common misconception is that employers perform drug tests so that they can nab drug addled employees and kick them to the curb, leaving them to suffer during one of life’s lowest moments. However, many employees recognize the importance of obtaining help for employees who are in need. They will provide a course of treatment for the employee in question and allow them to put the pieces of their life back together.
This also leads to more loyal employees, as they know that their employer is not testing them out of disrespect, but out of thoughtfulness and consideration for their overall well being. Employees that know that their employer has their back through thick and thin are much more likely to go the extra mile to accomplish their daily tasks.
3. Accidents Are Significantly Reduced.
In the majority of workplaces, employees know that any sort of accident that takes place on the job will result in an immediate drug test. This leads to a decrease in accidents, as employees are well aware of the consequences, should they have a slip and fall that is brought about by the consumption of drugs and alcohol prior to reporting for work.
Drugs lead to slow reaction times and an inability to handle complex tasks. When an employee allows themselves to work under the influence, they are not only a greater risk to cause an accident, but they are also putting their fellow employees at risk.
List of Cons of Drug Testing In The Workplace
1. Drug Testing Is Expensive.
One of the many factors that supporters of drug testing in the workplace fail to mention is the costliness associated with this approach. An employer can decide to make a bulk purchase of drug testing kits, but long term storage capabilities are shaky and when tests have been allowed to sit in the same area for lengthy periods of time, it can have an adverse effect on their accuracy.
A urine test is not always accurate and while testing hair and blood can produce a more accurate result, these tests tend to be even costlier. If an employer spends a great deal of money accusing an employee and turns out to be wrong, they leave themselves open to litigation.
2. Invasion of Privacy.
If an employer decides that they can simply drug test their employees whenever they want, without even having any sort of probable cause, this can lead to serious distrust on the staff’s behalf. There is no other way for them to view such an edict as anything other than a blatant invasion of privacy.
Not allowing an employee to work without worrying the violation of their basic constitutional rights can be problematic for an employer. This causes reduced morale among the staff and fosters an overall environment of distrust. Drug tests are not always effective at revealing the the time and circumstances of usage, causing a great deal of consternation among employees who feel as if they are being singled out.
3. Impairment Tests Are More Accurate.
Let’s say an employee smokes a joint two weeks prior to an innocuous accident that was not their fault and led to no serious injuries to themselves or a fellow employee. Even though the employee was not under the influence of marijuana when the accident took place, a traditional drug test would never be able to tell the difference and the employee could lose their job unnecessarily.
In recent years, drug tests have advanced to the point where the employee’s current state of mind can be examined, allowing the employer to learn whether they are under the influence at the exact moment the accident took place. These tests are much better at determining fault.
