Pros and Cons of Employee Drug Testing
Employee drug testing is a topic that elicits strong opinions from people on both sides of the issue. Some people believe that it is an invasion of privacy, whilst others feel that it is necessary to ensure a safe and productive work environment. There are pros and cons to employee drug testing, and it is important to weigh them all up before making a decision.
For information on New York employee drug testing laws, follow the link to know about this side of drug testing, so that your human resources department stays within the legal regulations with your approach as a business.
Pros of Employee Drug Testing
On the pro side, employee drug testing can help to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. It can also help to protect the company from liability in the event of an accident or injury that is caused by an employee who is under the influence of drugs.
The major advantages of drug testing in workplaces include:
- It allows employers to identify drug use in the workplace.
- Drug testing provides considerable employment benefits, such as reduced health care costs, reduced accidents, and improved productivity.
- Drug testing is cost-effective and can often be performed at a lower cost than other kinds of employment screening.
- Drugs abuse in the workplace is unhealthy for employees and can lead to decreased productivity and safety. This safety will relate to the employee themselves and others around them within the same working environment.
- Drug testing can also help to identify employees who are struggling with drug addiction and may need help.
Cons of Employee Drug Testing
While drug testing employees can have its benefits, it can also have some drawbacks. Some of the cons of drug testing employees include the following:
- It can be costly for companies to administer and process the tests.
- It can be a violation of employee privacy rights.
- It can lead to more employment lawsuits.
- It can lead to resentment amongst employees who use legal drugs safely.
Employee drug testing can, in the first instance, seem costly for businesses to implement and maintain. But then when they think about it, they can save in the long term by finding out about potential problems with their employees sooner rather than later before problems result.
Drug testing at work premises can lead to employees feeling persecuted and uncomfortable in the workplace. Workers might think their workplace is a hostile one where “big brother” is watching over them. This can be solved by handling the procedure of drug testing employees carefully and sensitively and stressing it benefits. It can be said that the welfare of the individual employee and those around them benefits from drug testing. We all want to feel safe within our work environment.
Inaccurate results could potentially lead to the wrongful termination of employees but this is about finding a reliable and reputable testing service.
Why Drug Testing Employees is So Important
Employees who are under the influence of drugs can create several problems in the workplace. Their performance can be affected, and they may be more prone to accidents. They may also be less productive, and may even cause safety issues. In some cases, employees who are on drugs may even behave aggressively or inappropriately.
Everyone suffers from the actions of those under the influence of drugs. The solution is to regularly test employees.
On balance, it would seem that the drug testing of employees is the best approach to maintain a safe working environment for everyone employed and to look after their health as a responsible employer should.
When it comes to employment drug testing, there are pros and cons to consider. On the one hand, drug testing can help to identify employees who are struggling with drug addiction and may need help. On the other hand, some people argue that drug testing is an invasion of privacy and that it unfairly penalises employees.
From an employer’s point of view, drug testing is essential to adhere to a safe working environment and to protect valuable staff from harm and feeling uncomfortable because there is no drug policy in place.
