Your Right to a Drug Free Work Place!
Dr. Chipley saw a need in southern WV for small businesses to have affordable access to the same Drug Free Workplace Programs that many larger companies and corporations like big box retailers and chain restaurants already have. Now, if you are a small business in southern WV we can help you put together your drug free workplace. Read on to learn more about the history and legality of a drug free workplace and how we can help.
Alcohol and other drug abuse is widespread in our society, and it affects us all in many ways. Although national, State, and local efforts have begun to show encouraging results, the problem of alcohol and other drug abuse remains a serious issue. No workplace is immune. In 1991 the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that 68 percent of illicit drug users were employed. Employers who think alcohol and other drug abuse will never be a problem in their workplace should consider this: Job applicants who can’t pass a drug test tend to apply to companies that don’t test. To find out if your Workers’ Compensation carrier offers a premium discount, call your WV Workers Compensation Insurance Agent. Employers who have implemented drug-free workplace programs have important experiences to share:
An effective program can keep you from being the employer of choice for users, abusers, and addicts. The Drug-Free Workplace Act: The Basics Programs aimed at health promotion and alcohol and other drug abuse prevention in the workplace are not new. Recent legislation, however, has reinforced the importance of the workplace in combating alcohol and other drug abuse. In 1986 the President Ronald Regan signed an Executive Order mandating that all Federal agencies be drug-free. In 1988 Congress passed the Drug-Free Workplace Act, which requires Federal grantees and recipients of Federal contracts of $25,000 or more to comply with the following:
Are You Required to Have a Drug-Free Workplace Program?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you are probably required to have a program. Even if you are not required to comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act, it provides guidelines that you can use to develop a drug-free workplace program. If you have questions about whether you are required to have a program in your workplace, call the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP's) Workplace Helpline at 1-800-WORKPLACE for assistance. The Helpline is a free and confidential service of the center for Substance Abuse Prevention, an agency of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. Drug-Free Workplaces: Other Elements Many drug-free workplace programs go beyond having a policy and providing education about alcohol and other drug abuse. Some other options are listed below: Training for Supervisors, Stewards, Managers, and Business Agents. In larger workplaces, people in supervisory positions are often closest to employees; therefore, they are usually the best ones to be responsible for implementing the policy and increasing employee awareness about alcohol and other drugs. To do this, they will need the right knowledge and skills. Employee Assistance or Referral Programs. In some cases it may be necessary to refer troubled employees for treatment or counseling. Increasingly, employers do this through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). An EAP can help to connect troubled employees with counseling or treatment for alcohol, drug, and other problems. EAPs can also assist with related personal and family problems. Drug Testing. Drug testing may be required by Federal, State, or local regulations. Some employers choose to test even when it isn’t required. In some cases, testing is included in agreements between employers and unions. You May be Wondering If You’re Not Required to Drug Test, Why Bother? Long before there was a Drug-Free Workplace Act, a number of larger employers and unions offered ways to help employees and their families find help for alcohol and other drug problems. Even before there were statistics to prove it, employers knew that alcohol and other drug abuse costs them money. Encouraging employees to find help when they need it saves money. It may even save an employee’s life, family, or job. Creating a drug-free workplace program or enhancing an existing program can be an important part of solving one of our country’s most persistent and serious problems and can lead to a healthier, more productive work force. Chipley Chiropractic is dedicated to helping Employers provide Drug Free Workplaces. We can offer sample programs for small employers. We can provide everything from a framework to create your Drug Free Workplace Program, to actually starting the program with pre-employment drug testing and adding in a random drug testing program. We have even helped some employers put together selective drug free workplace programs when they have requested to no include certain substances in the testing. For more about our Employer Services, Click here. |
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