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California Cannabis Laws Offer New Protections for Employee Use in 2024
California Cannabis Laws Offer New Protections for Employee Use. Learn how this impacts workplace drug testing policies.
Dr. Awais
August 28, 2024
Infographic: TOP 8 BENEFITS OF WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING
Many businesses forego workplace drug screening due to perceived costs and legal steps related to establishing a federal and state compliant drug testing policy.
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TOP 8 BENEFITS OF WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING
Many businesses forego workplace drug screening due to perceived costs and legal steps related to establishing a federal and state compliant drug testing policy. American Addiction Centers report that in general, less than 2% of jobs conduct pre-employment drug testing.*
However, the benefits of drug testing are clear. The top 8 advantages of implementing a drug testing policy follow.
by Drug Test Kit USA
1. PROVIDING A SAFE WORKPLACE
Some workers who perform dangerous or safety-sensitive tasks can hurt themselves or others if they arrive to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Employees who know they will be regularly screened are less likely to commit an infraction. This leads to fewer impaired workers, reducing the risk of accidents and conflicts. An employer’s top priority should be a safe workplace.
2. IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY
Improvements in employee morale, productivity, and performance will aid in business growth and success. When less injuries, accidents, and other negative situations arise, workers can focus on their tasks and be productive.
3. REDUCED THEFT
Up to 40% of employee theft in the workplace is caused by drug abuse (U.S. Department of Justice). Drug testing employees increases security at the work and improves employee morale.
4. FEWER WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS
50% of workplace accidents are due to drug abuse according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Up to 40% of industrial fatalities in the U.S. result from drug abuse according to the National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance (NDWA).
5. PEACE OF MIND
70% of the 14.8 million Americans who abuse drugs are employed (The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence aka NCADD). 47% of young people use an illegal drug by the time they graduate from high school (drugabusestatistics.org).
6. AVOIDING CONFLICT
According to the National Safety Council, employees who abuse prescription drugs are two to five times more likely to take unexcused absences, be late for work, be injured or violent at work, file workers’ compensation claims, and quit or be fired within one year of employment.
7. EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE COST
$11 billion was incurred in healthcare costs related to the use of illegal drugs and $26 billion for prescription opioids (drugabusestatistics.org). As most employers provide healthcare to their workers, this is an important issue for business owners.
8. REHABILITATION & SAVING LIVES
Drug addiction can happen to anyone– even top-performing employees. Identifying the problem is the first step to recovery. A drug test can do just that. The addicted employee can get treatment, improve their mental and physical health and return to work as a productive member of the team. With the recent exponential increase in lethal overdoses, this may also be lifesaving.
*American Addiction Centers. “Analysis: Employer Drug Testing.” American Addiction Centers, 2 August 2018, updated Dec 27, 2023, https://americanaddictioncenters.org/blog/analysis-employer-drug-testing.
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